What to do in Provo, UT with Toddlers

Not mention in this post but the
Freedom Festival
on and around the 4th of July is Awesome

I meant to get this post up before I moved but things got crazy. Now that I have to start all over in a new place I can't help but think how nice it would be to have a resource like this one for my new town, so better late then never.

As a stay at home mom I have discovered so many fun and cheap or free things to do with my little girl that kept us both entertained and more importantly sane this past year and more. I'm leaving this beautiful city that I have completely fallen in love with very soon, and as part of saying good bye I want to pass my hard earned knowledge to anyone who is in need of adventures with small children in or near Provo, UT.

Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum (aka Bean Museum)

Located on BYU campus. Completely Free. Wonderful eye catching exhibits for all ages (baby to grandparent). So what is it? Stuffed animals. Real, at one time living animals. I promise that is not at all creepy. It has bugs and butterfly's, lions and giraffes, and lots, lots more. Its the next best thing to a zoo and did I mention completely free.


Museum of Paleontology
Also on BYU campus and free. Not nearly as visitor friendly or cool as the Bean Museum but still worth a look if your in the area.

Story Time at the Provo Library

Awesome. Amazing. They have a baby story time once a week with great songs and ideas of how to teach/play with such a little one. Then there is also story times every week day for toddlers (its the same thing all week but you can go any day). And I believe a preschool story time as well. Check out there website for the details. This was been a life saver and a great way to introduce my girl to books. At 2 years old she loves books and is learning the alphabet, I give the credit to this wonderful library and possibly the PBS kids show Super Why.


Duck Pond at BYU

this was after a big rain storm
there aren't usually huge puddles for your kids to get so messy in
but it did make for some fun memories

On the south side of Campus there is a beautiful landscape with an enclosed pond that you can go and feed the ducks at. Its a wonderful morning or afternoon outing and even if your child doesn't understand throwing old bread into the pond they can chase the ducks around or just run around on the grass for an hour. Not really a winter thing to do but its great during the summer with lots of trees and shade, fall and spring are beautiful as well.

Provo Rec Center

Not free, but I believe its only $5 or you can get an annual pass. Children under 3 are free. A great indoor and outdoor splash pad for kids. Also if you want to go work out or play racquetball with a spouse or friend there is very inexpensive child care available during certain hours. For details you'll need to go to the website

Pioneer Park splash pad

located at 500 W and Center Street. During the summer there is a great free outdoor splash pad. Its simple and yet a blast. It took going a few times before my little girl warmed up to it, but then she was laughing and splashing and playing little games with me. There is also a playground/juggle gym as well however we found it was more suited to older kids not really a toddler friendly play place. Pioneer park hosts a decent farms market on Saturdays during the fall.

Jakers Pumpkin Patch

Yes this pumpkin patch is really only an October thing but it is so cool that it needs to be on this list. They have a fun little hay maze for the kids, slides, petting zoo, hay rides, and a big pit of corn kernels so like a sand box but without the sand so so so cool. Also its free, expect of course if you actually buy a pumpkin those do cost money.


These last few things on my list are not in Provo, nor are they free, but they are all fun day trips that are worth the money and the drive. I have them linked to there corresponding websites so you can check it out for yourself. Lucky me I had a friend with a little boy the same age as my girl so we carpooled and went on some of these adventures together which was a lot of fun.







Curiosity Museum at Thanksgiving Point

Aquarium in Draper

Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City