Ogden Utah

Ogden Utah has come a long ways when it comes to being a fun family friendly town. There are so many different things to do and see for children, families and adult activities and events. From the summer time Ogden farmers market, to concerts at the amp theater and the beautiful river walkway, Ogden has created a beautiful and eventful town for everyone. The trails along the Wasatch front allow for miles and miles of hiking and bike rides, waterfalls and beautiful northern Utah nature. Here are a few things to do in your home town or for those of you visiting Ogden for your first time.

Historic 25th St
25th street is really where Ogden gets its notorious rebel reputation. Although Ogden was settled before Utah was even a state, by a European trapper Miles Goodyear in 1846, He purchased the land from Mexico. Ogden later became a small quiet Mormon town until the railroad and Ogden was deemed the junction city. Approximately 50 miles North West of where the union station is now in 1869 the golden spike brought together the first transcontinental railroad. Our Beautiful 25th street now home to local restrants, breweries, museums and other boutiques and local shops. Where you now bring your families to get ice cream or fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers market was once one of the most dangerous streets in the United States. In 1869 Ogden was known for its brothels, gangs, and political scandals. It is said that you couldn’t even walk the 3 blocks in safety, and when Al Capone stopped by his visit was very short, saying that Ogden was to dangerous even for him. After the laws had changed Ogden was forced to hide its dark illegal ways and that is where the underground city was created. Ogden was able to continue to hide the prostitutes and the liquor in a city under the city on 25th Street.
With all the crime in the past 25th street is now a great attraction to foodies, art collectors and active outdoorsmen alike to come take in the beauty and the history of this amazing city. Here are a few things you might want to check out next time you are in Ogden.

Children’s treehouse museum
The children’s treehouse museum is a great family friendly place for your children to explore. The Museum is an interactive museum for children to learn, play and discover. They have rooms with themes of different countries so when you step into the room from china you are surrounded by authentic Chinese clothes, food, art and much more. The children can discover and explore other cultures and ways of life. Upstairs they have a puppet show, life size chess, a café where the children can pretend to cook and serve food to each other or the adults. They cover music and instruments, United States history and the presidents, along with daily arts and crafts time. This is a great place to go let your kids run wild with their imagination, dress up and explore.

Ogden trails
Ogden is home to some of the most beautiful trails in Utah. There are trails for all ages and all difficulties from the paved river walkway trail to the well known and loved waterfall trail you will not run out of new trails and new views here on the Ogden trail system. 29th street is the most popular trail head with so many differ trail options starting in one spot, the top of 29th street. From here you can get to pond trail, shoreline trail, waterfall trail and many more. Brink your running shoes, hiking boots or you mountain bike and come enjoy the amazing weather and beautiful nature on the trails.

Ogden Megaplex
The megaplex is in the heart of downtown Ogden and is a great pace to come year around for entertainment for your whole family. Megaplex is known for its large movie theater and bowling ally. The bowling ally also includes a gaming area with new and updated videogames and interactive games. Inside the bowling ally is also a bumper cars area and a laser tag facility ready to go with vests and guns, fun for all ages of children and adults. The megaplex in Ogden is unlike any other Megaplex in Utah with its attached Golds gym on the upstairs and its adventure ports options. The Ogden megaplex is home to the only Indoor skydiving in Utah. You can get suited up to go skydiving inside the giant wind tunnel and experience what skydiving feels like or even go to practice your diving skills for your next skydiving experience. Skydiving is not the only extreme sport Ogden offers there is a huge rock climbing wall where you can practice you rock climbing at a beginners level or even and advanced level. You are safely strapped in to a harness and safe to try our a harder climb than you may be used to or try it for the first time knowing you are safe. Now last but not least of the Ogden Megaplex extreme sports they have there indoor surfing. With the heated water and padded surface you can go indoor surfing year round and have a more comfortable fall than one might think. Belly board or surf the waves inside while you show off your skills to your friends and family.
The megaplex is also surrounded by numerous restaurants, boutiques, a spa and is only a few blocks from the famous 25th street and historic Ben Lomond Hotel. The megaplex has a huge variety of dinner options from a fancy sushi bar to wings from a pub. Date night, Girls night, Guys night out or family night there is a place for everyone and every occasion down town Ogden
Dinosaur Park
Ogden’s Dinosaur park is a great place to take you kids to walk among the life like and life size dinosaurs that are based on actual fossils and skeletons. The Dinosaur park is along the beautiful Ogden river park walkway. This exhibit features over 100 dinosaurs in its outdoor 5 acre park. The dinosaur park has an awesome indoor area as well where you can see real fossils on display. Kids camp during the summer offers activities and crafts including lab activities, fissile casting, fossil repair and exclusive tours of the park with one of their paleontologists. It is a great summer activity for all ages.

Ogden Union Station
The Ogden union station is now a place to come and check out four different museums which include the history of the Utah state railroad, Browning Firearms, classic cars and Utah’s western cowboy heritage. From the actual trains and pictures of the trains, the art exhibit and the vintage event hall for weddings, events and meetings. Ogden has so much history and there is so much to learn about what really when on back in the beginning days of Ogden. With all the uproar Ogden caused back in the day and all of its wildly large aspirations to become or even overtake the city of Chicago, Ogden is now a quiet town attracting outdoor adventures of all ages. If you get the chance come on and check out the museum and the history behind Ogden.

Ogden Nature Center
The Ogden Nature Center is a great place to come see plants and animals of all kinds. Some animals have been rescued and are being cared for by the Nature Center. Owls, birds and even a turtle are there to gaze upon and watch them in there home. Birds like bald eagles and hawks that you don’t normally get to see in nature are there to see the real beauty they have and learn about the species. There are beautiful trails lined with plants that naturally grow in the northern Utah environment. There is even an arts and craft time for the kids to come and learn about animals and make a craft. The Ogden Nature Center is a gret place to come explore and see beautiful plants and animals while you walk the trails.

Ogden continues to grow with its growing population. The population of Ogden has been growing since 2000 when the population was 77,226 to 2016 population of 86,701 although we are now in 2018 there is not an official update to the Population of Ogden However it has only grown with new parks, housing and business. Downtown Ogden revamped its image when it brought in the Megaplex in 2007. Since then there has been multiple business built around the megaplex making the downtown area a pretty popular place. New restaurants chain and local alike with Wing Nuts, Iggy’s, subway, and Sanora grill to More Local places like Thai Cuisine, Blue Lemon, Slackwater, and my favorite Even Stevens Sandwiches. Ogden has really become a fun family friendly place to come visit with amazing places to come eat and even better so many things to do in the summer and the winter with the indoor activities and great skiing and snow boarding opportunities just up the canyon.