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Our boys love to get out and have fun. We all get a little stir crazy when we stay inside the house for too long. Because of this love to get out, we’ve tried out a lot of different fun activities and stops out and about in our area.

Here is a pretty comprehensive guide of all of Jay and Charlies favorite spots in Utah County. Jay is 3 and Charlie is 1 1/2, just for a reference point. And all of these activities are very tried and true. Here they are:

Playgrounds:

All-Together Playground-this is a new and awesome playground in Orem! Its designed to be able to accommodate everyone with its accessible design, and soft ground. My boys love it, and could (and do sometimes) spend hours there. (Orem, UT)

University Mall Play Place-this is another awesome play place. It’s in the University Mall, and its new, beautiful, and large. It mimics the outdoors and the woods. There is an awesome indoor area for when its cold, and it opens up an outdoor area for when its nice out. (Orem, UT)

Museums:

The Museum of Natural Curiosity-this is a really fun and impressive museum. There are so many different areas to explore including: Rainforest where you can discover ancient ruins, Water Works where you can experiment with water, wind, etc., Kidopolis with a bunch of different playful activity rooms, and a big Discovery Garden outside. If you have a whole day to spend at a museum, go to this one! (Lehi, UT)

The Museum of Ancient Life-nicknamed “the Dinosaur museum” by my kids, this is our favorite museum to go to when we just have a couple of hours. Its educational with all of the dinosaur info you get, but it also has a few interactive and fun areas for the kids with sand, fossils, water and mini dinos. (Lehi, UT)

The Monte L. Bean Museum-this free to attend museum on BYU’s campus is one of our favorites! It’s full of these really cool taxidermy animals from all over the world. My boys love the African animals, and the sea creatures. There’s also a fun little playground inside that my kids love to stop into before we leave. But, our all-time favorite thing to do here is come to the “Discovery Reading” on Thursdays at 11 am. Its an educational story time, and they usually bring in a couple of live animals for the kids to touch. It’s a great time. (Provo, UT)

Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point-this is a cool little place to get to experience a bit of farm life. There are tons of animals to see, pony rides, and you can even watch them milk a cow every day at 4 pm. (Lehi, UT)

Hikes:

Battle Creek Falls-this is an awesome hike for little legs. Its short, but there is a good incline. It leads you through a canyon up to some beautiful falls. We always put Charlie in a backpack, but Jay has been able to do most of this. (Pleasant Grove, UT)

Hiking the “Y”-hiking up to the Y is a little longer than Battle Creek, but its a fun family tradition that the boys love. Last time we went we brought our hiking backpacks for both of the boys, since they couldn’t make it the whole way up on their own. (Provo, UT)

Treats:

Rockwell Creamery-this creamery is just so fun and old fashioned, and what child doesn’t love ice cream?! The honeycomb flavor is my favorite, but Nick and the boys love the raspberry. (Provo, UT)

Provo Bakery– the boys love the donuts and sugar cookies at this sweet, local bakery. (Provo, UT)

 

If you have kids and live nearby, what are their favorite spots in Utah County??

 

Trader Joe’s has to be one of my favorite grocery stores of all time. I remember I went for the first time back in 2007 in South Carolina, on vacation with my family. I was in high school, and I remember walking in with all sorts of wonder at this magical and fun grocery store. The tiki signs, and the cutesy, colorful packaging all drew me in, at such an alarming rate.

As I got older and got married, I would make special trips, whenever there was one even remotely close to us, just to pick up a few things. I loved the affordable prices, and creative products.

Last summer, when we lived in Baton Rouge, there was one 10 minutes from our apartment. I found myself frequenting it every week, and falling more and more in love. I literally google “best Trader Joe’s products” in my spare time, its bordering on unhealthy, haha.

Anyways, if you’re ever in the neighborhood of a Trader Joe’s, here are my favorite picks!

1. Everything but the bagel seasoning-This is my favorite product of all time that Trader Joe’s sells. Its so inexpensive and I use it on everything. Eggs, avocado toast, lunch bowls, etc. And it’s only $1.99.
2. Thai Chili Lime cashews-if you like spicy things, you’ll love these cashews! The flavors are so amazing and delicious. They are a little pricier, because they’re nuts, but its worth it.
3. Sweet Potato Gnocchi with butter and sage-we just discovered these a few months ago and are so addicted. They are the perfect dinner (I love to pair them with roasted Brussel sprouts) and are super filling.
4. Just Mangos-exactly what the name says, these are just mangos, no sweeteners, nothing fancy. But they are so sweet, with the perfect amount of tart. An amazing snack.
5. Caramelized Onion White Cheddar-Trader Joe’s has so many amazing cheeses! But this one has to be our favorite, the sweet caramelized onion adds the most surprising and delicious flavor to the cheddar. A few of our other favorites are: jalapeño and honey chèvre goat cheese (this one’s a seasonal product for summer) , unexpected cheddar, Za’atar chèvre goat cheese, and the English Cotswold.
6. Cookie Butter-it’s sweet and delicious, and a Trader Joe’s trademark, enough said.
7. Frozen chocolate croissants-you set these out to rise the night before, and pop them in the oven in the morning. They are the closest thing to feeling like I’m in a French bakery in the morning that I can find! I love them.
8. Herbs and Spices Popcorn-I know Trader Joe’s has so many different flavors of yummy popcorn, but this is the one I come back to over and over again. I love the spices in it.
9. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Cupcakes-ok these are becoming an unhealthy addiction. If you are a chocolate, and peanut butter lover you will die over these.
10. Dark Chocolate PB mini cups-another chocolate, peanut butter option…these are the best! They come in a big plastic container, but they typically sell small packages by the check out stands too, for $.99.
11. Scandinavian Swimmers-these are tasty little candies, almost like Swedish fish, except bigger and different flavors and shapes. The boys love these, and I do too.
12. All of the salads-the yummiest premade salads that you can just take and eat for lunch. So easy.
13. Flowers-They always have the cheapest flowers. I usually pay $2.99 for a really pretty little bundle.
14. Greeting Cards-At $.99, these greeting cards are such a great deal! And they have so many pretty, sweet options

**Also, if you have kids its an extra fun place to visit because they usually have mini carts for the kids to push! In addition to that, at the check out stand, you can ask for a sucker and/or sticker…we usually get both.

Have you ever been to a Trader Joe’s? If so, what are your favorite things to buy there??