With the grand Wasatch Range serving as its backdrop, Salt Lake City is Utah’s urban center and a growing vacation destination for families, especially after the 2002 Winter Olympics brought the city to the world’s stage.

While many people come to ski at the nearby mountain resorts, the city offers many great perennial family-friendly activities. Here are five fun places to visit in Salt Lake City.

Temple Square

No visit to Salt Lake City is complete without a trip to Temple Square. Though it was built by the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints, families with different religious backgrounds will find the square to be beautiful and serene. Visitors are not allowed in the temple, but free guided tours of the square are offered. Don’t miss the museums either! During the spring, vibrant tulips are in full bloom, making for a lovely scene. Still, families agree that the incredible lights display during the Christmas season is the most magical.

Red Butte Gardens

Located on the University of Utah campus, Red Butte Gardens really does a great job at being kid friendly. The garden’s website offers a printable walking tour specially designed with kids in mind. Keep an eye out for the special children’s garden, which features a snake tunnel, stepping stones, “garden beds,” sand boxes, giant lizards and a discovery area.

Antelope Island at the Great Salt Lake

The most iconic natural landmark in Salt Lake City is the Great Salt Lake, but the best place to really experience its beauty is on Antelope Island State Park. Located about an hour north of the city, the park is accessed by a seven-mile causeway and is home to many great hiking trails, views and wildlife spotting opportunities. A large bison herd, antelope, mule deer and coyote live in the park and are often seen by visitors. Kids will enjoy floating in the shallow salty lake, but don’t let water get in your kids mouths, eyes or open wounds.

Liberty Park

With its shade-covered playgrounds and water spray play areas, Liberty Park provides a cool oasis for families during the hotter seasons. Paddleboats and canoes are available for rent at the pond, and volleyball, tennis and bocce courts are amongst the many recreational activities available. One of more unique aspects of this urban park is the Tracy Aviary, home to 400 birds representing over 130 different species. The aviary was donated to the children of Salt Lake City by banker Russell Lord Tracy in 1938 and has been delighting children ever since.

Clark Planetarium

Located inside the Gateway Shopping Center, the Clark Planetarium offers free and educational with exhibits about the solar system, a space station and even scales that tell visitors how much they would weigh on other planets. An IMAX theater shows a wide variety of movies for an extra fee, and the Hansen Dome shows space-themed productions in its special 360-degree immersive theater.

While visiting Salt Lake City with your family, remember that the Homeward Suites in Downtown Salt Lake City is centrally located and offers family-friendly suites.