The 9 Best Zoos & Aquariums in Utah, United States

May 16, 2022 Nobuko Falco

Welcome to “The Greatest Snow on Earth” – Utah’s paradise for all outdoor enthusiasts! As host of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Park City knows how to entertain winter fun seekers. Snowboarders and skiers head for miles of spectacular slopes with deep fluffy powder and breathtaking mountain views. The Olympic Park provides family-friendly ski programs, rides and shows. Alta, Sundance, Snowbird and Brighton are other popular destinations for cross country and Alpine skiers. Those alluring snowy slopes turn to rolling wildflower fields in the summer. Golfing, fishing, horseback riding and water sports replace chilly outdoor sports adventures. Corral the family, pack a picnic and catch one of the ski lifts for an afternoon of hiking or mountain biking along scenic trails. Head to Salt Lake City, where Temple Square hosts millions of visitors a year. Bryce Canyon and Arches National Park are famous for surreal landscapes from horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters to unusual rock formations and hundreds of natural sandstone arches. Closer to home, wander along the quaint main streets of mountain villages to browse, shop and enjoy lunch at an outdoor café. At the end of the day, head home for an outdoor barbecue and an evening of games. Home rentals blend privacy, space and comfort with the cost-saving advantage of eating some meals at home.
Restaurants in Utah

1. Carver's Cove Petting Farm

2329 N 5025 E, Eden, UT 84310-9622 +1 801-745-3018 http://www.carverscove.com/information.html
Excellent
92%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 12 reviews

Carver's Cove Petting Farm

2. RunDown Ranch Kids Farm

22 W Boulderville Rd On the corner of Boulderville Road & New Lane in Oakley Utah, Kamas, UT 84055 +1 435-200-5277 [email protected] http://www.facebook.com
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 5 reviews

RunDown Ranch Kids Farm

There are over 18 of us Animals to see & interact with. We love your gentle pets & are very friendly. There are Mini horses, Mini Brahma Bull, Mini Donkeys, Mini Mules, Bison, Alpacas, Bunnies, Goats, Sheep, Pygmy Pigs, small Longhorn Cow and her Baby. We also have grain available for purchase…we all love grain & become instant beggars when you buy some for us!! We thank everyone who thinks to leave a donation with us here at the Kids Farm or on Venmo, it helps with our food & vet bills & Ranchhands & bedding & even our grooming.

Reviewed By derekj789

A cute little out of the way animal petting place. We didn’t have young children but the teens and 20 year olds loved it. They had fun feeding and brushing the animals. Highly recommend and will visit again when we go that way again. ????????????????

3. Tracy Aviary

589 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105-1111 +1 801-596-8500 [email protected] http://www.tracyaviary.org/
Excellent
64%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 498 reviews

Tracy Aviary

The oldest aviary in the U.S. features extensive collections, educational programs and exhibits of more than 130 different species of birds.

Reviewed By TravelingMerm - Monrovia, United States

Being an avid birder, I just had to check this place out and I was not disappointed!! In fact, I spent about twice as long here as I anticipated! Even my son loved it and he usually rolls his eyes when I start talking about birds lol! The grounds are a lot more expansive than I expected! It’s a huge complex with many different sections and “houses” that allow you to walk around inside! One of my faves was the rainforest habitat - there were so many colorful and loquacious birds flitting around in the trees surrounding us! They even had an owl hooting away behind a bamboo screen and he was eating a poor little mouse! Peacocks actively roam around the grounds openly and let you get pretty close for some great pics. They had tons of waterfowl and the Flamingos were putting on an incredible show - dancing around and almost seeming to fight and chase each other! I was so surprised at all the activity given that it was a chilly winter morning - Fabulous day! It’s very easy to find - located inside lovely Liberty Park. We parked on the outer ring that encircles the park but there seems to be another parking lot closer to the entrance so just keep an eye out for that turn-in. The prices are very reasonable given the quality of the attractions. They have a cute little gift shop inside as well. The grounds have seating areas and nice sidewalks with maps placed very frequently so you can find your way and be sure not to miss anything. There were several closed areas - one small area closed off bc a tree had fallen and pulled up a bunch of the sidewalk due to a recent windstorm. Shame bc it looked like such a nice area - but you could still see the birdies inside. The “theater” where they hold demonstrations and such is also closed - we could see there were some interesting birdy specimens inside but couldn’t get to them so that was a bummer but that just means we’ll have to go back!

4. Scales and Tails Utah

3584 S 1950 W Suite #13, West Valley City, UT 84119-3827 +1 801-577-7182 [email protected] http://www.scalesandtailsutah.com
Excellent
69%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 16 reviews

Scales and Tails Utah

Do you love reptiles? Then you are in the right spot! We offer several different ways to meet and interact with our animals. 1. Come visit us at our facility! We offer both public and private behind the scenes tours. Get up close and personal with snakes, lizard, tortoises, and maybe even an alligator! Check our website for details on availability and admission. 2. Hire us to come to you! We have several different affordable show packages available. We'll bring selection of amazing animals right to your home, school, office, or other location. We set up a small stage area, and present a fun, educational show with stories and jokes to get the kids laughing and screaming with joy! After the presentation, we'll allow the audience to come up to pet and hold some of our animal ambassadors. 3. Looking for something bigger? We offer beautiful displays to house our animals while on the road. These are displays are great for fairs, festivals, corporate events and expos.

5. SeaQuest Utah

1201 N Hill Field Rd Layton Hills Mall, Layton, UT 84041-5137 +1 801-544-4938 [email protected] http://utah.visitseaquest.com
Excellent
79%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 225 reviews

SeaQuest Utah

Immerse yourself in a world of discovery as SeaQuest takes you on an adventure through rainforests, deserts and the depths of the seas. With exciting exhibits and activities for families and children of all ages, you’ll be able to get wet with the stingrays, feed the toucans, encounter the caimans, marvel at the sharks, take selfies with the snakes and more. Creating an unforgettable experience for every guest by connecting them with amazing animals from all over the planet.

Reviewed By AngieH539

We did the VIP experience and it was amazing, definitely worth it! This isn't like any other Aquariums, which my kids get bored because they aren't super into looking at animals. This one is very interactive and super fun to use tokens to feed the animals! Stephanie was amazing and super helpful to show us around. Even the maintenance guy gave us tips on the animals and feeding them! There was always someone there to help us! Our favorite token feedings were going into the tortoise enclosure and feeding it, playing with the cats, feeding the birds, and feeding the lizards. I loved snorkeling with the stingrays and feeding them in the tank! This was so amazing, and definitely something you should book to do there. Although my daughter didn't love snorkeling she could sit on a glass bench in the tank and have the stingrays come sit next to her while I snorkeled. There was a lady (forgot her name) that was super awesome in the tank with helping us. For the price it was just fantastic! My daughter (8 yr old) loved the sloth encounter and the kinkajou one. I loved the fish spa and they have a free hand fish bar that is amazing!! I have never seen an aquarium with one and it was fantastic!! I would recommend getting a package deal to do all the extras, they made our trip special to do things you might never get to do again! We spent about 4 hours there which was amazing because usually my daughter doesn't spend much time at aquariums, and this one was very small compared to other expensive ones!

6. Utah's Hogle Zoo

2600 E Sunnyside Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84108-1454 +1 801-584-1700 [email protected] http://www.hoglezoo.org/
Excellent
41%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 810 reviews

Utah's Hogle Zoo

Utah’s Hogle Zoo dates from 1931 and is located at the mouth of Emigration Canyon. Its natural terrain covers 42 acres of tree-lined pathways where visitors can view over 800 animals. In 2014 Hogle Zoo opened African Savanna – a 4+ acre exhibit featuring the giraffe, zebra, nyala and ostrich mixing and mingling on the grasslands, while African lions look on from Lions’ Hill. The popular Zoofari Express train also returned with the opening of Savanna and features a new eco-friendly engine, wider seats, and is handicapped accessible. Hogle Zoo strives to provide a safe, fun, and educational venue for visitors. Don’t miss Asian Highlands, an amazing re-creation of a Himalayan village and houses five endangered species of Asian cat, including the largest big cat, the Amur tiger. Also on your must-see list is the Elephant Encounter exhibit which features African elephants and white rhinos.

Reviewed By LindyT49 - Idaho Falls, United States

We have visited this Zoo many times in the past 20 years and really have enjoyed the upgrades over the years. I like the Asian Highlands as well as the African Savanna habitat, so much better than when the animals were smaller stalls. I also enjoy the small animal building.

7. Zootah At Willow Park

419 W 700 S, Logan, UT 84321-5599 +1 435-750-9894 [email protected] http://www.zootah.org
Excellent
29%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
26%
Poor
6%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 113 reviews

Zootah At Willow Park

to find info about hours and current prices please visit our website at www.zootah.org. Our business hours, petting zoo hours, feeding hours, and prices change frequently throughout the year. You may also call before coming to get the information.

Reviewed By 345racheln

Even though this zoo isn't large, it's still an enjoyable family outing. My 7 & 4 year old always have fun running in the open space and checking on their favorite animals (coyotes, porcupines & capuchin monkeys.) The prices are so reasonable and the parking too. We've also tried out some classes for kids and some events like zoo lights in December. We always enjoy ourselves. Sometimes you want an outing that isn't an all day commitment! Keep your expectations realistic and you'll have a good time!

8. Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

12033 S Lone Peak Pkwy, Draper, UT 84020-9414 +1 801-355-3474 [email protected] http://thelivingplanet.com
Excellent
47%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
3%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 642 reviews

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium highlights animal habitats in Utah waters, Earth's oceans and South American species. Learn about our interdependence with the fragile ecosystems of our planet through entertaining, interactive educational exhibits and programs.

Reviewed By suzinvt - Middlebury, United States

My family and I (all adults) visited this aquarium and thoroughly enjoyed it. The separate exhibit areas branch off from the main lobby area, where there is also an eatery that we didn't try. Very much enjoyed the incredible variety of displays, from muggy moist tropical area with free-flying birds, to penguins, to dozens and dozens of fish and reptile tanks, to otters and even to a bee hive! Also a 3-D movie. Very impressive and very dedicated group of care takers, with plenty of scheduled feedings and lectures. We were there 3 hours and felt like we saw the majority of it well.

9. Moab Giants

112 Ut-313, Moab, UT 84532 +1 435-355-0288 http://moabgiants.com
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1 reviews

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