When the temperature drops, the snow mounts, and the slides ice over, parents begin looking for creative methods to keep kids entertained that don’t involve five layers and lengthy bathroom trips. Sure, we love to ski with our kiddos, but we need plans for the other 10 hours of the day. And for those, we’ve compiled a few local tips for keeping your sofa from becoming a trampoline and your hallway from becoming a thoroughfare.
Woodward
Woodward is probably best known for their tagline, “A World-Class Year-Round, Action-Sports Destination,” which can seem intimidating if you’re not grooming the next Tony Hawk. But did you also know it’s a great place for kids to play indoors? Their Action-Sports Hub is open daily from 10 am-8 pm and includes trampolines, ramps, foam pits, and a 10,000-square-foot skate-park.
Still, raising toddlers? No problem. On Saturdays and Sundays, Kids 1-5 can enjoy full access to the Indoor Hub and Skatepark from 9 am-10 am, and full daily access to the Micro-Gym Monday - Sunday where you’ll find a mini-trampoline, mini-foam pit, rock wall, and more.
Want to be outdoors, but not into skiing? No problem. Woodward is home to Utah’s longest tubing lanes and is open daily from 9 am-7 pm. Tickets are purchased in two-hour increments for ages 6+. Choose from 7 lanes and 12,000 feet of track with two conveyor lifts to get you back to the top without breaking a sweat.
Kimball Art Center
Got a kid who loves the arts? There’s a class for that. Every Tuesday from 4-5 pm Kimball Art Center hosts Mini Artists, their tots-focused art class for ages 3-5. Bring your kiddo and enjoy an hour of glue, shaving cream, paint, and more. Classes are always mixed-medium and tailored to small hands still perfecting those fine motor skills.
Do older kids want to play too? Check out Artful Afternoon, their Mixed-Media class every Friday from 1-3:30 pm for ages 6-12, and Creative Expressions, their session-length classes that run every five weeks on Wednesday evenings from 4-6 pm.
In town just for a weekend? Visit the Kimball Art Center website to find Saturday workshops for all ages. Enjoy clay hand-building, watercolor, Tie Dye, and seasonal crafts.
Park City Library + Story Time
You don’t need a library card to enjoy all the Park City Library offers young families. From a robust kids catalog with ample room to sit and read, to their passive play area filled with toys and puzzles, to their early literacy computers, and the perfect hill for sledding, the Library is a great place to spend an afternoon absorbed in stories and fresh air.
Every Monday and Wednesday parent can bring babies from birth to 18 months for Baby & Me Storytime. Engage your little one in a sensory experience and meet other new parents in the community. Wednesdays and Thursdays are geared toward toddlers and preschoolers. Enjoy readings, music, and playtime in the company of other caregivers and growing kiddos.
Park City Library also offers Bilingual and Spanish Storytime on Thursdays and Fridays. Whether Spanish is your first language, or you simply want to expose your child to a new way of speaking, enjoy an hour of singing and reading in Spanish!
Ice Skating
Park City is home to two public ice-skating arenas giving kids and families the chance to enjoy off-mountain fun while still soaking up the beauty of winter sports. Park City Ice Arena is a year-round indoor facility offering daily Public Skate hours for families of all ages to rent skates and take to the ice. Times vary, check the Park City Ice Arena website for a daily schedule.
Resort Center Ice Rink is located at the base of Park City Mountain Resort nestled in between shopping and coffee (what could be better?) This arena will give you all the winter feels and is close enough to the mountain to feel like you’ve just conquered a few diamonds, but without the lift ticket or moguls. Tickets can be reserved online, and public skating is available from 12 pm-8 pm Monday – Friday and 11 am – 8 pm Saturday and Sunday.
Resort Childcare
Park City Mountain Resort, Little Adventures Children’s Center
For kids ages 6 weeks to 6 years old, PCMR offers childcare at Canyons Village base. Take a few turns while your little one experiences art, crafts, and the chance to ride the gondola up to a snow-play hill on the mountain. Reservations are required and can be made for full or half-day. Pricing is available via their website. For kids eating solid foods, lunches and snacks will be provided.
Deer Valley Children’s Center
For kids ages 2-12 years of age, Deer Valley Children’s Center offers activities for those younger ones who would prefer to remain off-mountain while their parents enjoy the thrill of a long run. The center is divided by age, keeping kids of similar ages together in separate rooms, and provides reading, entertainment, and indoor/outdoor playgrounds. Reservations can be made in advance for full or half-day. Pricing is available via their website and full-day programs include lunch.
