Woman walking in the gardens at Thanksgiving Point.

NicholasGeraldinePhotos/Shutterstock

Thanksgiving Point

Salt Lake City


Fifty-five acres of gardens, a petting farm, golf course, giant movie theater, dining and shopping: what doesn’t the Thanksgiving Point infotainment complex have? The on-site Museum of Ancient Life is the highest-tech and kid-friendliest dinosaur museum in the state, and the Butterfly Biosphere is worth visiting, too. If you plan on hitting at least two attractions, buy the all-access 'explorer pass.' Take exit 287 off I-15; Lehi is 28 miles south of downtown SLC.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Salt Lake City attractions

1. Butterfly Biosphere

0.07 MILES

A 10,000 sq ft glasshouse is the steamy home to dozens of tropical plant species and more than 1000 butterflies, including the iridescent blue morpho and…

2. Museum of Ancient Life

0.1 MILES

A family-friendly museum at Thanksgiving Point that houses one of the world's largest displays of mounted dinosaurs. The exhibits, many of which are hands…

4. Wheeler Historic Farm

14.54 MILES

Kids can help farmhands milk cows and there are also tractor-drawn wagon rides into the wooded back acres at this historic 1898 farm. Tours of the farm…

5. Museum of Art

17.46 MILES

The what’s-this-doing-here Museum of Art at Brigham Young University is one of the biggest in the Southwest, with a concentration on American art.

6. Brigham Young University

17.65 MILES

The BYU campus is enormous and known for its squeaky-clean student dress codes. Get your bearings at the Hinckley Alumni & Visitor Center on North 450…

7. Covey Center for the Arts

17.66 MILES

A modern performance center with an auditorium, experimental theater space, art galleries and dance studios. Check the website for events.

8. Albion Basin

17.83 MILES

From July to August, Albion Basin is abloom with wildflowers. July, when an annual wildflower festival is held, is usually peak season.