Families who travel to Salt Lake City generally do so for one of two reasons: for the skiing or to visit family. For us it's usually to visit family (though the skiing is good and usually less expensive than in Colorado). We make our annual trek in the summertime so we can take advantage of Utah's clear skies, dry air, and cool nights. Nestled at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Salt Lake City offers spectacular views from just about any spot.

Most of the valley was once occupied by family farms that sold off land little by little to suburban developers. But you can still visit Wheeler Historic Farm (6351 South 900 East), now a park, small educational farm, and museum. We're a city family, so seeing live animals and food growing is especially neat for us. We also visited the goats at Drake Family Farm after I discovered Drakes creamy chevre at a farmers' market.

When Utah's hot, dry summer heat gets oppressive, we take refuge at the Clark Planetarium (where the museum is free). From there, if we can stand the walk, we head over to the Gateway Mall's Olympic Legacy Fountains with its music-synchronized water show (above). The children's library at the fabulous Salt Lake City Public Library, designed by Moshe Safdie, is another good escape from the soaring temps, especially during naptime. There you'll find a play area, sweet reading nooks, gift shops, and a cafe. Continue reading Just Back From ... Salt Lake City »