Top 10 Best Free Family Activities in Provo + Utah Adventure Package Giveaway {$500+}

1. BYU Museums

BYU has so many activities and facilities that community members can use. I think one of the best things BYU offers to the public are the amazing museums. They are all free and the exhibits usually switch out regularly. There are four museums – The Museum of Arts, The Monte L. Bean Life Museum, Museum of Paleontology, and the Museum of Peoples and Cultures. The largest ones are the Museum of Arts (more commonly known as the MOA) and the Bean Museum. The Museum of Arts is always having new exhibits, and some of the ones I’ve seen have been beautiful. My recent favorite there was the Carl Blocke paintings. The MOA Cafe is also absolutely delicious, and it’s a must-try if you are there during lunch. The Bean Museum is always a family favorite because of all the animals it has – they also have free live animal shows, family home evenings, and more. The other two museums are a smaller and less well-known, but they are definitely worth checking out. I am partial to the Museum of Peoples and Cultures because I was the office manager there for awhile during my undergrad. They have some fun exhibits, weekly story time, and a lot of free community events throughout the year. The Dinosaur Museum is also fun – it’s pretty small, but I think it’s perfect for young kids especially.

2. Splash Parks

A few years ago, splash parks started popping up everywhere in Utah and Salt Lake County and Provo was definitely not an exception. There is a splash park at the Riverwoods on University Avenue, and then there’s another great one on 500 West near the Fresh Market. These are free and a great place to go during the summer. It’s fun to take a picnic lunch to eat while your kids are playing.

3. Disc Golf

My husband’s family (especially his dad) love disc golf. It’s often called “Frisbee Golf”, but my husband is always quick to remind people of it’s proper name. It’s a fun game where you use discs and throw them into baskets on a course. Provo has a couple of courses, and they are free to use! Our favorite is at Bicentennial Park in South Provo. It doesn’t have a ton of “holes” but it’s still a lot of fun. There’s also some great playground equipment and lots of areas for picnics.

4. Hiking the Y

BYU has a giant “Y” on the side of the mountain, and hiking up to it is kind of a rite of passage. I’m not going to lie — it’s not my favorite hike, because there’s lots of switchbacks, but it’s definitely something everyone should do at least once. I’ve done it quite a few times, and I always saw kids just running up the trail. There are a lot of great hikes in the Provo area as well – my favorite is Bridal Veil Falls, just up Provo Canyon.

5. Botany Pond

Just south of BYU campus is a great little botany pond. It was recently revamped with a nice, wooden deck you can walk on. We always enjoy going there on Sunday afternoons and feeding the ducks, having a picnic, and just walking around. There’s some really pretty trails with a creek that was added a few years ago, and it’s a great place for a family walk. Oh, and even though this isn’t free, Brick Oven (amazing pizza) is right next to to the Botany Pond, so you can go there right after for a fun family dinner. My husband and I used to have a class on Monday evenings, and we would walk right past it afterwards…and we pretty much couldn’t resist stopping!

6. Pioneer Museum

On 500 West, right next to the Rec Center and Veteran’s Memorial Pool, there is Provo Pioneer Village and Museum. It’s free, interactive, and it’s a great place to take the family. The buildings are original constructions from pioneers who settled in Provo, and they have various events throughout the year. It has limited hours, so be sure to check their calendar for upcoming events and hours!

7. Library

The Provo Library is one of the best libraries I’ve been in. Not only is it beautiful, but they have tons of events! There are children’s activities and workshops multiple times a month, and the story time is so fun. It’s a great place to come as a family.

8. Parades

There are a lot of parades that happen in Provo throughout the year. My favorite is the BYU Homecoming Parade. I got to participate in it once when I worked at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, and it was so fun to see all the families lined up along the streets. Parades are always so much fun for kids and adults, especially because the floats are always so unique. The BYU Homecoming Parade always has free pancakes for everyone, as well, which is an added bonus.

9. Outdoor Movies

This is more seasonal, but there are TONS of outdoor movies during the summer. My husband and I used to go to them while we were dating, and we started taking Jack to them this summer. THey are typically free and sometimes there are treats and popcorn available. It’s a great activity to take your family to, because, well, it’s a free moving on a big screen, and it’s outside. What more could you ask for?! We went to one at Bicentennial Park in August, and it was a blast!

10. Provo Farmer’s Market

A few years ago, when I was pregnant with Jack, Forrest and I started going to the Farmer’s Market that happened every Saturday from June to October. It became a summer tradition for us, and I’ve loved going every year! It’s free to walk around, there are lots of samples of yummy foods and produce, and it’s right next to the splash park and playground. It’s a perfect Saturday morning activity for the whole family.

BONUS

This was part of a fun series called 14 Utah Bloggers, 14 Utah Day Adventures. Be sure to check out the post the Suitcase Foodist shared on my blog about some of the best activities in Salt Lake City, and enter below to win your own Utah Day Adventure! A $100 GC to Marriott Hotel, 4 tickets to the SCERA, four passes to Tracy Aviary, a $20 gift card to Lowe’s Xtreme Air Sports, and two copies of The Best of Utah Valley on the Cheep.

Read more 14 Utah bloggers, 14 Utah Adventures! Click this link to go to the next great Utah adventure over at A Gal Needs!

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