Summertime in O-Town

Friday, Photoguy and I went out to the Macaroni Grill for some fabulous eats with some of our favorite friends. What made the evening even more special was the fact that we hadn't seen them in 3 1/2 years. It was kind of ironic, because as we got talking about it, we realized that the last time we had been together, it was over a pasta dinner at the Olive Garden in Richmond, Virginia, the night before Photoguy's first marathon. This happy reunion took place over another pasta dinner, this time on the eve of Photoguy's tenth marathon (wahoo Photoguy!).

Seven years ago, our friends moved their family of five little children to Richmond, Virginia for dental school. After four years there, and a few more years working in Colorado, they moved to Salt Lake City a few months ago. Now their oldest is graduating from high school this week, and they've added two more darlings to their family. And, the wonderful news is that their lives have come full circle. They are moving back to O-Town next month!

At the end of the night, I assured my friend that O-Town is much more hip now than it was when they left it all those years ago. "Oh, really?" My friend inquired, "What is fun to do in O-Town these days?"

She probably took my hesitation to mean, "I was just trying to make you feel better. There really isn't anything fun to do in O-Town." When really it meant, "Gee, O-Town is so fabulously awesome that I don't even know where to begin. You should really ask me a question like that at the beginning of the night instead of the end unless you want me to keep you and your seven kids up past midnight." Because, you see, after all these years in my little O-Town, I have become a serious geek about loving it here.

Unfortunately for those of you who have older children, the list you are about to read may be a bit lacking. But, for those who are entertaining a younger crowd, prepare to be amazed by the awesome possibilities. Try not to be too jealous. And, please let me know when you will be visiting so I can help you make the most of your itinerary.

First, we have the old reliables. The places my family always springs for the season pass. Things like, the Children's Treehouse Museum, ranked among the top fifty children's museums in the nation. And, that was even before they moved to their brand new and much improved location a year and a half ago (recommended for children ages 10 and under). We also love our Dinosaur Park. There are cool fossils in the large air-conditioned museum, and life-sized robotic dinos upstairs. Outdoors, it's fun to stroll along paths, examine dozens of gigantic dino replicas, feed the fish and dig for fossils in the sandpit. We always wrap up our visit with playing on the large pre-historic playground by the exit.

Our pass to the dinosaur park includes a bonus because it gets us into the museums at Union Station (and the Nature Center). What could be more fun on a day that is too hot or too cold to be outside than watching miniature trains whiz by on their teeny tracks through itty bitty towns? The kids love it. Plus, they can pull the whistle on an old train and see really old cars too. We don't usually visit the gun museum, but FYI it's upstairs. We use to love looking at the rocks and minerals display, but, I was told they moved that to dinosaur park. Lots of fun at Union Station, plus they have a train show at the beginning of March every year, and it is home to one of our favorite restaurants, Union Grill. Union Station and Historic 25th Street, with it's classy restaurants and First Friday Art Stroll, are within walking distance from our new Frontrunner Station (hooray for Frontrunner in Ogden!).

In the summertime, one thing I really get excited about, and try to go to every Saturday, is the Ogden Farmer's and Art Market. It runs from July 12 - September 27, Saturdays from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. I try to arrive as early as possible because the yummy, fresh, locally grown produce goes fast. It has everything you could hope for in a Farmer's Market, plus art, crafts and fun homemade soaps and lotions. The kids love to wander around with me, tasting free samples, playing in the rock fountain, or hitting the playground. The nearby amphitheater shows free movies on Monday nights, free concerts on Tuesdays at noon, and this is also a great place to relax in the shade eating tacos from the street vendors any day of the week (conveniently located on Historic 25th Street). Don't leave without checking out the art walls depicting the four seasons. The kids and I also love to hit Great Harvest Bread across the street for sweet treats at a quaint sidewalk table while we feed crumbs to the birds.

In the fall, the Farmer's Market goes out with a bang as all of 25th Street lights up with bands, foods, and activities for the kids at the annual Harvest Moon Festival. It's a great time, as long as we don't get an early blizzard that day :-)

We have lots of great pools, like Lorin Farr Park with it's cheap prices and thrilling rampage slides. Just a short drive to North Ogden provides a brand new state of the art aquatic center, North Shore, with slides and all kinds of aquatic playground equipment. If it's lake water you crave, Pineview Resevior is a short drive up scenic Ogden Canyon, perfect for swimming, playing in the sand, or waterskiing.

In Ogden Canyon itself, it's fun to stop at The Oaks restaurant for Farr's ice-cream and eat it on the shady patio with the kids. You can even spot hummingbirds at the bird feeders. Other ice-cream shops we love are Johnny's Dairy (feed the cows out back with the kiddies) and Pop's Malt Shop (a blast back to the 50's, and super friendly owners), both in North Ogden. Also out that way, Zeppe's Italian Water Ice is the best Italian ice-cream and shaved ice I've tasted on the American continent. Try black cherry ice with chocolate or mango ice with vanilla.

Also just up Ogden Canyon, in Ogden Valley's Eden, we like to see the sky filled with floating colors at the balloon festival every August (the 15-17 this year). And, at Carver's Cove the kiddies can feed farm animals and ride a pony for $7, Wed-Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Try to pick a cool summer day as the shade is limited. We also enjoy the Weber County Fair in August for farm animals and can always find a way to get free entry.

Blogger is starting to do weird things. I think that is my sign that this post is getting way too long with too many links. I'm nowhere near finished. Just getting started.

The brand new Salomon Center provides bowling, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, indoor rock-climbing, simulated surfing and (don't waste your money on this one) simulated sky diving. There are plenty of restaurants nearby (Sonora Grill for upscale Mexican and a ceviche bar, Iggy's Sports Bar for yummy eats, or the more casual Costa Vida and Pizza Factory right inside the Salomon Center) and a gigantic megaplex across the street. Go early for rock climbing because your wristband is good for the entire day.

We love free stuff, and the Weber County Library has been one of our greatest sources of free entertainment over the years. They have a delightful summer reading program, free family fun activity nights, and lots of cool extras, like, one time, I signed my kids up to read books to trained dogs. We love the children's corner with toys, games, puzzles and computers. And, my kids were all raised on the Tuesday morning Discovery Times with stories, songs, games and lots of bubbles.

Peery's Egyptian Theater puts on so many great events like live performances, Sundance Filmfest flicks, and sometimes they show free kid's movies on Saturdays. Ogden Blue, a great art store on 25th Street offers awesome (but pricey) art classes for kids over five and adults. Sometimes they do free art classes on Saturdays.

Whew! You can see why that wouldn't have been a short answer. This isn't even a comprehensive list, and I'm only talking about summer! Oh, I cannot end without mentioning the fabulous mom and tot hiking club I've been trekking with since Sophie was just a few weeks old. Every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. a group of moms hits one of the nearby trails for good times with our kids in tow. If anyone is interested, contact me for more details. I'd better stop here. Have a fantastic summer!