Heber Valley offers you the easiest and most convenient access in the world to outdoor recreation and adventure. Recognized as an outdoor mecca, this alpine town provides activities, events, recreation, and leisure down time to visitors and residents all year long. And if you’re traveling with younger kids, we can help you plan a very special trip that will stay in your memory long after your stay is over.
Peruse the following recommendations and put together that perfect travel itinerary. Use the pre-built itineraries on our site to easily gather some ideas and recommendations for activities, restaurants, and sites you may want to include.
Hitch a ride on the historic railroad that glides through the most scenic parts of the valley with impressive views of Mount Timpanogos. Try a fun themed train with Princesses and Pirates, Wild West Days, a Wizarding World, an Easter Train, or the North Pole Express Train. Depending on your time of year, the Heber Valley Railroad almost always has family-friendly themed trains running. Or ride one of the daily scenic trains for a laid-back experience that gives you picture-perfect views of the mountains and lake along the route. You will want to book this in advance. Many of the trains sell out!
Proudly serving our local community for over 75 years, this local family-owned eatery is a favorite for many. Known as “Home of the Train” for good reason, Dairy Keen guests are greeted with a train-themed interior including a train that runs along the top of the walls throughout the seating area. Try the Train Burger and fries - it’s a local favorite. And save room for an over-the-top shake. With over 35 shake flavors plus additional toppings, sundaes, slushies, and sherbets, your sweet tooth will be more than satiated. This restaurant is super kid-friendly and the food is fresh made daily.
At the nearby Wasatch Mountain State Park Visitor Center, guests can spend an afternoon feeding the ducks, swans, and geese at the small fishing pond. If you have some extra time, let your youngsters put a fishing pole line in the water to see if they get a nibble. The pond is stocked each spring season and the experience is a blast for little kids. You can also enjoy a sack lunch or picnic and let the kids run off some energy on the playground that is also onsite or explore some of the nearby trails.
Bucket list activity alert! Where else in the world can you swim inside of a calcite dome in mineral rich 95-degree water than Midway, Utah? The Utah Crater is a 10,000-year-old geothermal hot spring that allows visitors to swim, soak, snorkel, or even scuba dive. In fact, this is the only warm-water scuba certification destination in the lower 48 states. And kids love it!
As one of only a handful of remaining working dairy farms in the area, the Kohler Creamery is still family-owned and operated. The owners offer daily dairy tours Monday through Saturday at 11 am. Guests are invited for a “behind the scenes” view of the dairy farm operations, including meeting the cows up close and seeing the robotic milking system. Check out the Events Calendar to see if there is an upcoming cheese making class or special event like Baby Animal Days in the spring or the Hay Maze & Pumpkin Patch in the fall.
This is a great option if you are looking to stay active on an inclement weather day or if you just need to work off some extra energy. The Wasatch County Rec Center offers volleyball, basketball, soccer fields, pickleball, racquetball, batting cages, indoor track, and a golf simulator. Equipment rentals are available and the per person cost is more than reasonable. Overall, this is an excellent option for visitors to get active and play with their younger kids.
Spend the evening together with a few rounds of bowling. The local Holiday Lanes Bowling Alley is a great day or nighttime activity. The onsite food outlet serves up some of the best burgers in town, so plan dinner together while bowling, or at least save some room to share a basket of fries.
We can’t help but use the cliché phrase "...and so much more..." because it is so true here. A visit to Heber Valley means making some tough decisions. There is so much to do that doing it all in one trip is nearly impossible. But don’t feel overwhelmed. Use the Trip Planner tool and put together a plan to do some of your favorite activities along with trying something new, different, or one-of-a-kind while you are here.
Okay, just a few more suggestions:
Heber Valley has been the place for families to go for several generations because of the laid-back atmosphere, amazing scenery, and close proximity to Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Front. We hope you enjoy your stay, share your visit with others, and please come again. And if you need any planning help, give us a call! 435-654-3666
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Shake It Up at Dairy Keen
Swim in a Crater
Play at the Rec Center