Five Great Summer Adventures for Kids
Photography: Courtesy of Park City Mountain Resort
Whether you live in Park City or are just visiting this summer, there are plenty of opportunities for playtime. Rather than turn to the obvious solutions for obliterating boredom, look into these five fabulous adventures to keep your summer playful!
1. Park City Mountain Resort’s Alpine Slide offers patrons a chance to zip down the mountain on a cement track while holding tight to an aerodynamic sled. At the base of the mountain there is also a rock-climbing wall for those who like adventure and exercise combined. Visitors who want to bounce into an adrenaline rush should try the Legacy Launcher. It’s a harnessed trampoline ride with an adjusted tension cable to allow jumpers more flexibility and power. More brazen thrill seekers may want to try the Zip Rider. Harnessed within a basket, patrons ride the zip line straight down the mountain while taking a vertical drop of 550 feet. Folks with more fragile constitutions may prefer to visit the Little Miners Children’s Park, where there is a merry-go-round and a bouncy tent. 649.8111 or www.parkcitymountain.com.
2. The Norwegian Outdoor Exploration Center is offering a variety of camps for children this summer. Perhaps its most unique offering is the Hawk Watch experience for children. Occurring during “bird week,” a spokesperson from the Hawk Watch organization will bring a bird of prey to camp and give a presentation to the children. The youngsters also head out on a birdwatching expedition to Rockport Reservoir where they will spy osprey nests and birds in flight. With binoculars in hand, they will be able to see many fabulous winged creatures at their best. The week also includes crafts with bird themes and a trip to Salt Lake City’s Tracy Aviary. 649.5322 or www.outdoorcenter.org.
3. Families who like to fill their lungs with pure mountain air while getting their hearts pumping can venture out to the Mormon Trail. This hiking ground is perfect for children of all ages because it is not steep and offers myriad exploring opportunities. The original Donner party of Mormon settlers, who blazed a path into Utah, cut this trail as they made their way into the Salt Lake Valley. There are many photo opportunities throughout the hike and a beaver lodge at the end of the trail. Access the trail at the end of the Jeremy Ranch Road, where it turns to dirt and heads toward East Canyon.
4. Each Wednesday afternoon, mid-June through October, a Farmers Market is held in The Canyons’ Cabriolet parking lot. Vendors from around the state gather and offer the freshest produce around. Lush fruits and vegetables as well as homemade breads and pastries are ready for the picking, while talented locals provide music for shoppers. Local craftsmen display their handmade wares and specialty booths serving ice cream, candy and kettle corn delight the kids. 649.5400 or www.thecanyons.com.
5. Fitness enthusiasts who want to hone their skills as mountain bikers can venture to the trails above Trailside Park where they will find a bike-training zone. Within this upper area of the park, ramps, curves and jumps for bikers young and old alike will help improve riding skills. These trails are free to the public and very easy to locate. 655.0999 or www.basinrecreation.com.
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