Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum

Another great morning trip is the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum. We like going here when the weather is bad or we need somewhere that is stroller friendly and free.

This museum is actually really neat and surprisingly well though out for being free. Sam loves looking at all of the animals and since they are all inanimate, he can get pretty close to them.

They have a ton of animals there including 2 giraffes, a huge elephant, zebras, lions, bears, fish, a hippo... ok, pretty much any animal you would want to see. 

They also have a play place area that Sam really enjoys. It includes a slide and a tunnel. The opposite wall has a magnetic puzzle for older children.

I like that many of the animals are positioned in a "true to life" way. They depict many of the animals as if they were in the wild.

This museum would be great for an educational trip, but it's also great just for a fun morning.

They also offer free live animal shows which could be a bunch of fun. We've never been to one of those so I can't comment on what they are like, but I bet they are great.

This free museum is definitely worth a trip. http://mlbean.byu.edu/ 

BYU Museum of Paleontology

It's been so long since I've posted and a lot of that has to do with my new little bundle of joy. I have been adjusting to life with 2 kids and our adventures have had to adjust to that as well. Much to my delight (and Sam's as well) we have continued having fun and making great memories with a newborn in tow.

One place we went was the BYU Museum of Paleontology. This little museum is perfect for a quick morning out of the house and made even better with friends.

The museum is free, though they do accept donations in a little box when you walk in. Sam and Charlie like to play in the windowsill.

This is no front desk or reception area, so you can just walk in and begin to explore.

Many of the exhibits are off-limits to little hands, but a few are hands-on. 

Through the window in the back, you can sometimes see various BYU students working on recovering real dinosaur bones in the Paleontology Lab.

This museum would be great for homeschooling or as an educational day about dinosaurs. It doesn't have a ton of fun things for the little ones, but Sam enjoys running around and looking at all of the dinosaurs. 

Check out their website for more info: http://geology.byu.edu/museum/

University Mall in Orem, UT

Sometimes on days when we can't think of anything to do but I want to get out of the house, Sam and I end up at the University Mall in Orem, UT.  My husband and I are in the "poor students" category right now, so I don't go to the mall to actually shop there, but it can be a fun place to walk around or play with Sam! Sam is familiar with this mall because of the cool dinosaur play place. 

 In the northwest corner of the mall (near the See's Candies and H&M entrance), there is a fun little play place for younger kids. Sam and I usually grab a snack from the food court and then come down to this area and he has fun running from place to place and sliding down the slide.

Overall, it's a pretty minimal little play area. It has a slide and a little treehouse, as well as a dinosaur for kids to climb on. I've seen older kids play there, but typically children ages 6 months-4 years seem to have the most fun. 

There is lots of seating around the play area for parents to watch their children and the play place is generally out of the way from other stores or high-traffic areas. We've tried playing at a couple of other malls (like the Provo Town Centre) and while there are some fun things to do there, the University Mall is Sam's (and therefore my) favorite. 

You should check it out sometime on a day when the weather is bad or you aren't feeling too adventurous but would like something new and free to do with your little one(s). 

Here is their website!

http://www.shopuniversitymall.com/

Provo Rec Center Playground

Sam and I love the Provo Rec Center, and we especially love the playground! There is an indoor play area that is free and available to anyone without having to worry about a membership or fees. It is located right inside the Rec Center. We often go there on days when the weather isn't as nice, or at times when I just want to sit and let Sam run around for a little while. It is completely enclosed and safe for big and little kids. 

The big jungle gym is meant for ages 5+ but Sam can play on it if I help him climb up the initial platforms, even though he is only 2. 

There is also a small toddler area with a couple of slides and some wall toys. Sam likes this area the best and spends most of his time going down the slides over and over. 

He is also a fan of the cool fountain in the front of the Rec. We always have to stop for a little while and admire it. ;)

Check out the Provo Rec Center website for more info:

http://www.provo.org/community/recreation-center/

Temple Square in Salt Lake City

Before Isaac began his Fall semester, we wanted to have a family day. We decided to take Sam to Temple Square in Salt Lake City since we hadn't been there with him in a while. There is no way I could adequately cover all of the things that are available at Temple Square, but I wanted to highlight it as a wonderful, family-friendly, and free place to go if you are in the Salt Lake City area. 

The grounds on the Square are immaculately kept and always completely peaceful and beautiful.

The LDS Salt Lake City Temple is the center point for Temple Square and is quite a sight to behold. Non-LDS people and families with kids can walk around the temple and enjoy its beauty. There is also a visitor's center and various others places to visit throughout the Square. 

Check out this website that talks all about the places to see and things available there!

http://www.visittemplesquare.com/

Seven Peaks Fun Center Lehi

We recently discovered the Seven Peaks Fun Center in Lehi, Utah. It is included in our Pass of all Passes, but we had never gone. One night on a whim, Isaac and I took Sam there and we were so glad that we did! Sam got to ride all of the rides for free and loved every second.

Many of the rides are geared toward small children ages 3-8, but Sam happened to be tall enough to be able to ride all of them. 

He liked the rides so much that we decided to have his 2nd birthday party there. 

It was the perfect place for a birthday party. We set up presents and cupcakes at the outside pavilion. Technically, their policy dictates that we reserve/ pay for the pavilion and that no outside food/drink is allowed. We took a risk and set up at the pavilion without reserving it. We were able to celebrate his birthday for 3 hours without someone ever bothering us! We even ate cupcakes and hit a pinata and none of the workers cared. We were prepared to pay for the pavilion if asked, but it was nice to enjoy such a fun day for free. 

Some things to keep in mind about the Seven Peaks Fun Center: 

1. Without the Pass of all Passes, it would be pretty expensive to enjoy. Even with the package deals that are available, I don't think it would be worth it for a family to go and spend the day there.

2. Though there is something for everyone to enjoy, it definitely seemed more geared toward small children. Even the adult-sized rides like the bumper boats and go-karts were more fun for Sam than for Isaac. 

3. This is one of the places that makes the Pass of All Passes so worth it! We are so glad we invested in these passes because they last all year and many of the places included in them are free and unlimited. 

Check out their website for more info:

http://www.sevenpeaks.com/FunCenterLehi/Home.aspx?SITEID.1001=4

Kangaroo Zoo

This is one of my very favorite places to go with Sam right now. Kangaroo Zoo is located in Pleasant Grove about 2 minutes from the freeway. They also have locations in North Salt Lake and Ogden. I haven't been to the other locations, but I can definitely vouch for the one in Pleasant Grove.

Basically, this place is a big gym/warehouse that is filled with various blow-up jungle gyms. They have a good variety of jungle gyms, so even the younger children (under 3) can enjoy it. 

I have gone there several times with Sam since moving here and he has gotten braver each time. He is now at the point that he can go on pretty much any of the bouncing house and slides, some of which go all the way to the ceiling! 

This is the toddler jungle gym that is still one of Sam's favorites. They have age limits posted on the ones that are for smaller children, and mostly the bigger children stay off of them.

 There is also a little space for kids ages 2 and under that is completely enclosed, but it only has a few toys in it. Somehow Sam always ends up over there though. He uses it as a nice place to take a break when he's tired of jumping.

Some features I really like about Kangaroo Zoo:

1. It's completely enclosed. There is only one way my child could escape, so it's easy for me to watch for him without having to hover. 

2. It's nice mom time. I love this place for play dates because my friends and I can let our kids just run around while we sit at the tables or the comfy couches and talk. I also love it if I just need some time to myself that doesn't involve chasing an energetic toddler around (which I have definitely needed more of lately as I near the end of my pregnancy). 

3. The price is right.* For children 2 and under who are going to be jumping, it's $5 per time and the jumping time is unlimited. There is no charge for adults if you plan on just watching, so for our current situation it's perfect.

4.It's good for kids of all ages. My 2 year old loves this place, but I have seen children ages 8+ that also have a blast. There are some really tall slides and some fun obstacle courses that the older children seem to really get into. 

*The price might be a little more challenging for me if I had older/ more children. Children above the age of 3 are $8.99 per time, so that would add up quickly. We receive coupons about twice a month in the mail for $2 off the normal admission price which would make it only $6.99, and they are good for 2 kids, so that might help those of you who would like to check it out some time but don't want to pay full price. They also have this coupon on their website right now.

During the summer, they ran a "bounce back" promotion that allowed you to pay half-price for admission if you came back within 14 days. We did that a couple of times and I loved only paying $2.50 for hours of fun! (As far as I can tell, that promotion is over for now but will be coming back next summer.)

Some other things to be aware of: 

1. Bring socks for both you and your child. They don't allow any shoes in the jumping area, even if you are just watching. I prefer not to go barefoot (though that's an option if you forget socks), so I always bring socks for myself. The kids have to have socks if they are going to jump so you will have to buy some there if you forget to bring them.

2. No outside food/ drinks. They allow water if it is in a non-store-brand water bottle. There is also a water fountain there. I almost always sneak in some outside snacks for Sam and I and I haven't gotten in trouble for it yet. I'm just careful about how I eat it and the mess it might make. If you would like, they have snacks available to purchase there as well. 

As always, check out their website for more info!

http://www.kangaroozoo.net/