Thanks to our fabulous friend Rachael over at TodaysMama.com and the good people at Kraft Lunchables, the Sassies were able to take their families on a family field trip to Boondocks Fun Center in Draper. Unfortunately, life happens (often) and by the time the scheduled date rolled around, only Kim, Lindsey, Kristina and I were able to do the field tripping. But we still had a blast and so did our kids from age 2 to 14.

So what did the Sassies think of Boondocks Fun Center in Draper, Utah? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: I actually had my first impression a couple years ago when Nathan and I went to Boondocks for a date. We had so much fun racing each other on the go karts and trying out out par each other in mini golf. This time I did learn it can be a little tricky with groups if you don’t call ahead and fill out the appropriate paperwork so things are ready when you arrive, but Boondocks did their best to accommodate us and were fabulous even with my lack of planning.
Kim: Bright lights, music, beeps, the kind of place one could get lost in a world of fun.
Kristina: The environment is really fun and energetic. There are many different activities, a place to eat, and it was all rather easy to navigate.
Lindsey: Honestly, my first impression was how very loud it was. Then I looked around at all these families laughing and carrying on and I knew why. My family fit right it.
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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Emily: The group-rate packages. They were seriously a great deal, and most require only a minimum of 10 people. Our family is more than half that number! Our faves were also the amount of fun activities outside the arcade: laser tag, mini golf, go karts, a slick track, bumper boats, and this cool mini theater that made it feel like you were riding a real roller coaster!
Kim: LOVED the 4D theater. I liked that they had a few different lines and each line was a different coaster experience. My kids wanted to keep going and going on it, and I obliged. However, I think in my old age I am getting motion sick. We also loved winning tickets; I thought it was especially nice when one of the workers stopped to give us tips and tricks on how to win MORE. My kids loved picking out a little prize at the end, and we even had enough for the baby to get a prize too. Dad and I? We got stuck with the 1 ticket erasers. :) Also, the pizza was pretty darn delicious, something that surprised me.
Kristina: I really loved all the different available activities. There was laser tag, miniature golf, batting cages, bumper boats, arcade games, etc. And the pricing was very reasonable. The food was also excellent. I was rather surprised by the quality of the food.
Lindsey: I love that they have the classic Mrs. PacMan arcade game. I love a throw back game. But for the whole family, I am going to have to say laser tag. My husband and I took our toddlers in to play and had a blast with them. Turns out using a 3-year-old as a human shield to block your front censor really boosts your score! My boys had a blast in what they thought was a real-life Star Wars extravaganza.
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: The super long wait for the go karts and even longer wait for the slick track. But then again, once you’re in the car you like how long the ride goes! Oh, and the ever painful cashing in of tickets for treasures. Why does that always take my kids so long? I did think the mini golf at night was way too dark. It was really hard to see the balls and the course. They definitely need a lot more light.
Kim: Hmmm, I can’t really think of anything I didn’t like. I might have wished I left the baby with a sitter so that I could have had more fun with my older kids. She is 2, and while she enjoyed some of the things, many were just too old for her.
Kristina: My husband and I played a game of miniature golf, where, of course, I dominated and kicked his butt. However, about 5-6 holes were unlit and all the lights were out. Some were so dark; we literally could not see the ball on the course. This also prevented me from cheating.
Lindsey: The food was better than I thought it would be, but it still wasn’t really great. I also had a hard time breathing (it was stifling!) in the room where you prep for laser tag. (That presentation of the rules, etc. is kind of long for antsy kiddos.)
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QUESTION

Would you refer Boondocks Fun Center to a friend?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Definitely! I think it would be a great place for a birthday party, family night or group date night!
Kim: I certainly would. We have been to similar places in California, so it was refreshing to have such a fun place close to home where we could literally spend hours and have unlimited amounts of fun.
Kristina: Definitely. We come here often and have brought family members with young children. There is something for every age to do.
Lindsey: Yes! We had a great time even though we had littler kids than most. Aside from Mrs. PacMan and laser tag, the mini golf course is fantastic (a fire-breathing dragon at the end!), the go karts are always a highlight and their indoor playground is the best I have seen. In fact, my kids wanted to spend most of their time on the playground pretending to be Indiana Jones.
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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: @BoondockFunCntr is THE best place for family night or date night! Go karts, mini golf & laser tag, oh my!
Kim: @BoondockFunCnter for a whole family night worth of food, fun, and prizes. My kind of place.
Kristina: {not a tweeter}
Lindsey: For a fun, no-planning family night, head to @BoondockFunCnter where it’s ok to use your children as human shields in laser tag.
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Boondocks Fun Center in Draper.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Disclaimer: Today’s Mama provided the Sassies with VISA gift cards thanks to Kraft Lunchables to use toward a local family field trip. We chose Boondocks—and what a great choice it was! Even though all that fabulous family fun was comped, the opinions are all ours and 100% honest.

By the raise of hands how many of you have been to Disneyland?  I’m guessing that a lot of you have your hands up in the air waving frantically.  Now, I want those of you who haven’t been there but really, really, REALLY want to go to raise your hands.  So by now all of you have your hands up in the air, right?

Disneyland has long been a favorite vacation destination for families in Utah.  And who can blame them?  It is a short 1.5 hour flight or if you are the road tripping type, just 10.5 hours away.  In March my family and I were lucky enough to make that road trip and visit the “Happiest Place on Earth”.  And I am here to tell you it really is the happiest place on earth, even in the rain.  Thankfully we are like the Boy Scouts of Disneyland, always prepared.  A few Mickey-adorned ponchos later and nothing was going to bring us down.

Thankfully before the rain began we did get to take one of our favorite photos.  Yes, boys like Sleeping Beauty’s Castle too.  Who doesn’t?  It is the gateway to Fantasyland and a perfect place for your Disneyland journey to begin.

The best part of the rain?  No lines for the turkey legs, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, or It’s a Small World.

The second day of our adventure at the Disneyland Resort provided us with more blue skies and far more photo opportunities…because going to Disneyland is all about making memories with your family.  The easiest way to remember them?  Tons of pictures.  And we spent the entire day making new memories while exploring Disney’s California Adventure Park.

Now I am sure you are all ready to book your tickets right now and start your own Disneyland memories.  And I haven’t even shared the most amazing part of our adventure.  World of Color, the new light and water show at Paradise Bay.  It was our first time seeing the show and all I can say is WOW!  It is the most elaborate water show I have ever seen.  That mixed in with fire, color, scenes from your favorite Disney films, and the music.  It’s all about the music.  I don’t think there was one person who wasn’t singing along to each and every song.   I think I would drive back to Anaheim  just for an evening to watch World of Color.  Because it is that extraordinary.

Now what are you waiting for?  Let the memories begin.  I know I plan on going back to make even more.

Disneyland provided my family with passes to the parks.  All amazing memories are my own.

I do everything I can to talk my husband and girls out of “family fun” places because I HATE family fun. Just kidding! But I do have a hard time at those places (I’ll try not to name any) … The filth, broken machines, bad customer service, and let’s be honest, most of the time the OVERWHELMING stench. In general, Incredible Pizza is not a place I would try on my own, but boy am I glad I did.

I am pleasantly, completely, overwhelmingly SURPRISED! It was spacious, clean, new, fun, well managed, clean with friendly employees and a HUGE amount of things to do, plus it’s clean and FUN. Wait, did I say clean?

All of the Sassies thought the same thing. We walked in with a bunch of tired kids (silly us went during nap time) and everyone perked up! “Woah!” “Really?” “Awesome!” were the murmurs from everyone’s mouths. And the kids soon realized they were in ultimate dream land and forgot they were cranky from no naps.

Every dream the kids had were about to be cashed in at Incredible Pizza.

Glow-in-the-dark miniature golfing.

CHECK.

Four different themed dining rooms to eat in. One that plays BLUE’S CLUES!

Laser Tag, Go Karts, Bumper…(Not Cars Not Boats Just Cool Circle Things) and a TODDLER Zone plus other fun activities. Perfect for date night, birthday parties, family FUN or you know, let me be honest…just a night out on my own!

Double Check and Done.

Arcade games that are fun and fresh and new and CLEAN and tons of options for everyone.

Done!

Now all YOU need to do is plan your trip to Incredible Pizza in Draper, Utah. Worth the drive from anywhere in Salt Lake or Utah Counties! Great place to take friends or family who come into town as well!

Incredible Pizza is located at:

12101 South State Street (formerly known as Factory Outlet Dr.)
Draper, Utah 84020

You can also find them online:

http://www.incrediblepizza.com/

Twitter: @Incredible Pizza

Facebook

It’s GIVEAWAY time!

One lucky SassyScoops.com reader is going to win a family 4-pack of buffets/admission at Incredible Pizza!

It is easy to enter. Just leave a comment telling us your favorite arcade game. Are you a classic Pac-Man lover or do you prefer the bust a move Dance Dance Revolution style?

But that’s not all…

You can earn EXTRA entries:

1 entry ~ “Like” Incredible Pizza on Facebook

1 entry ~ Follow Incredible Pizza on Twitter

2 entries ~ Tweet about this giveaway and include a link to your tweet in the comments.

2 entries ~ Facebook about this giveaway and include a link to your update in comments.

5 entries ~ Blog about this giveaway and include a link to your post in comments.

Good luck! This giveaway will end on Friday, September 10th at midnight!

P.S. All SassyScoops giveaway winners are notified via direct email.

So what did the Sassies and our guest Sassy Jen think of Incredible Pizza in Draper? Read on to find out!
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QUESTION

What was your first impression?
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THE SCOOP

Emily: This is SO not the Chuck E. Cheese-style pizza place I had pictured in my mind. This place is freakin’ AWESOME!
Jen: A lot of fun things to do and places to sit and eat. It was like a super size Chuck E. Cheese.
Michelle: There was so much going on I didn’t know where to start. I’m glad one of our girls got the tour to explain what all the different areas were.
Quinn: This place is HUGE!  I was blown away by how much there was to do, the massive variety of food at the buffet, as well as how clean and fun the whole place was.
Vanessa: WOW! It was so spacious, clean, creative and like a huge amount of fun as soon as I walked through the door. Not what I expected at all—looked like we could have fun in there for two days straight without getting bored.
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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: That really is a tough question because there was so much to love. Seriously. Unlimited Diet Coke on tap was a fave of mine. Livi loved the endless soft-serve ice cream and glow-in-the-dark mini golf. George was big on the pizza, slushies and spinning bumper cars. And Madison and Lauren enjoyed the laser tag and roller coaster simulator game.
Jen: The service. When asking if dairy was on any of the food (we have a dairy allergy in the family) they immediately offered to make whatever we wanted without butter, since it was on everything. I also liked the toddler area they had, complete with a little person Dance Dance Revolution. My baby Jane loved the carousel. {Wait—how did I miss the carousel?!?!}
Michelle: We were big fans of the baby corns and soft serve station at the buffet. I also really liked that points from the games are automatically stored on your game card so you don’t have to keep track of tickets.
Quinn: I loved how there were different banquet rooms you could choose to eat in, rather than a big, impersonal common area.  My kids LOVED all of the fun games, the toddler area, miniature golf and riding in the go karts.  They could have spent much longer there.  I also love how the token cards don’t expire so you can take them back with you next time.
Vanessa: The idea of the cards: instead of tokens you have a certain amount of money on a card and you swipe it before you play the game. The glow-in-the-dark miniature golf looked awesome and I loved how there was something there for every single age in a family. And it was clean!
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QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Probably the fact my kids wanted to stay there for hours and hours. I finally dragged them out, nearly kicking and screaming, almost four hours later (after we’d eaten at the buffet twice!). I think the only other thing was the ice cream/slushy area. The staff did the best they could to keep the area clean but it was often messy and sticky. And I think they realized the hard way that red slush stains wood veneer table tops, but it may have simply made that high school gym dining room more lifelike!
Jen: It was loud and seemed like there was so much going on everywhere, kind of intense. And although the food was edible, I would more than likely eat dinner beforehand.
Michelle: Lots of unattended kids at the buffet. I am kind of a freak about this at any buffet. There were also a lot of dishes around because people just leave them wherever they want.
Quinn: It would have been great to have a few more fresh fruit and veggie options at the buffet (there were limitless entree options with hot dogs included, lol).  Regardless, though, there really was a lot to love.
Vanessa: The food in the buffet, but honestly, it’s a buffet at a family place. It’s okay to eat cheap pizza and a fountain drink while having a blast with the family.
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QUESTION

Would you refer Incredible Pizza to a friend?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: I’ve already told quite a few people about it and I know we’ll be back. We still have cash on our game cards and the kids beg me nearly daily to go to “that cool pizza place by that one water slide place.”
Jen: Yes, this would be a fun place to have children’s parties or even date night with the husband and some friends. It’s so much cleaner and has more things to do than similar pizza and games places; I especially love that they don’t use any paper tickets and the cards with your ‘credit’ never expire for that location.
Michelle: Yes, especially with the 99-cent buffet with game card purchase. It is a good price for dinner and entertainment.
Quinn: Absolutely, yes!  I was thoroughly impressed, especially by how clean everything was and how much there was to do.
Vanessa: YES YES! I ran home and called my mom and husband and was just raving about it. This really is an awesome place, so much fun and once again CLEAN! (Am I the only one that has had bad experiences with family places being gross?)
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QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP

Emily: Anywhere near Salt Lake County? Stop by @incrediblepizza for some serious food and fun. Good times for the entire family!
Jen: laser tag, bumper cars, arcade, bowling, mini golf, go carts… incredible pizza in draper gives me a fun buzz.
Michelle: Looking for dinner/entertainment for the entire family? Check out @IncrediblePizza for a buffet plus games/attractions for every age. #pizza
Quinn: For an absolutely fabulous family fun experience in #slc, check out @IncrediblePizza: huge buffet and tons of games and activities for all ages.
Vanessa: @incrediblepizza is in fact Incredible. Don’t let the name fool you, they have games and activities up the wazoo to do!

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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for Incredible Pizza.
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on Incredible Pizza in Draper! You’ll catch some video of those bumper cars in action! We should have a super tasty GIVEAWAY for our readers too!

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Here’s the scoop on our guest Sassy. We’d consider it a real treat if you’d visit her super sweet blog!
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Jen
hello, hello. baking. my love. seasonal. crafting. peek-a-boo. autumn. singing. toesies. quilts. local. sundays. a good book. sweet baby jane. storms. cuddles. walks. textiles. homemade. eskimo kisses. forever families. Learn more about Jen here: http://delighfuldelicacieshello.blogspot.com/. Even better, read her tempting blog posts here: http://delighfuldelicacies.blogspot.com/.
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Disclaimer: The Sassies were invited to visit Incredible Pizza and received admission for their families in exchange for this feature.

After so many years wondering about and trying different season passes to local Salt Lake City venues, the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass has been our answer!  We’ve been able to keep things fun and exciting by going to different venues.  Then, we’ve been really able to see which locations our kids prefer in order to make a more informed decision should we go to purchase any season passes for any of the places included on the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass.  There are so many great places to explore here in Salt Lake City!

Our family loves all of the venues offered on the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass.  Here’s a quick list of some of our favorite things at the venues on the Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass:

• Clark Planetarium – My kids LOVE the movies on the big dome screen (movie pass included on the pass, as well as a ticket to the IMAX theater).  They also love walking through the exhibits, learning about stars, planets and space exploration.
• Discovery Gateway – What’s not to love there?!  My kids have such a great time with everything at Discovery Gateway.  I love how everything is an educational experience.  We’ve also really enjoyed the art classes.
• The Lion House Pantry Restaurant – The food, the food, the food!!!  Gourmet home-cooking in a family-friendly atmosphere, nice for adults, while also comfortable to bring kids.  My favorite is their tapioca pudding.. or maybe the banana cream pie… hmmm… too many good things to choose from (Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass includes one Pioneer Meal – $9.99 value).  In the warm weather, we love to eat on the patio and then check out the flowers at Temple Square.
• The Living Planet Aquarium – Dim lighting (my fave, since it makes it so relaxing!), bright fish displays and interactive experiences have made this an absolute favorite location of ours to visit.  My kids especially love petting the sting rays and watching the sharks, penguins and octopus.
• Red Butte Garden – I’ve been so excited to take my kids here to see the gardens, especially because of how educational the experience will be!
• Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort – The tram ride (included on the Visit Salt Lake Pass) is going to be a highlight of my kids’ summer outings!  I can hardly wait to take them there!!!  I remember going on the tram as a child and loving it!
• Thanksgiving Point – Hands-down, my kids love the Dinosaur Museum the very most, though I’m hoping to win them over on the gardens in the very near future. ;)
• This is the Place Heritage Park – Our family especially loves visiting this venue during the month of July.  It’s such a fun, interactive way to teach our kids about our State’s historic legacy.
• Tracy Aviary – We are bird lovers, so going to Tracy Aviary is always a real treat!  So many varieties of birds in one place.
• Utah Museum of Fine Arts – As someone who considers themself an artist, I’m constantly looking for ways to educate and expose my children to the arts.  The Utah Museum of Fine Arts is the perfect complement to this effort.
• Utah Museum of Natural History – My son LOVED the summer day camp we did and so I’m certain he and my girls are going to love going to the museum soon, too!  Once he finds out there are dinosaur bones there, he’ll never want to leave! ;)
• Utah Olympic Park – Since my kids weren’t born when the Olympics graced Salt Lake City, I’ve been excited to take them here to teach them about the sports and the camaraderie, while helping them catch a vision of the spirit of the Olympics!
• Utah’s Hogle Zoo – Lions, tigers and bears – oh, yes!  We love to see them all!  My kids especially love the giraffe house (one of the giraffes bent down and licked my brother’s camouflage jacket on one of our most recent visits, lol!).

Here’s a fun video from our family’s latest outing to the Living Planet Aquarium:

And now…

IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

Visit Salt Lake is giving one lucky reader two 2-day Visit Salt Lake Connect Passes! All you have to do is comment to win, then you and your family can get out exploring all of these exciting Salt Lake City venues!

p.s. Anxious to get a Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass right away?  Be sure to take advantage of their special right now to Buy a 2-day Pass and get a third day, free!  And you can’t beat their always-low-rate for year passes.  Have fun exploring all the Salt Lake has to offer!

Every year around this time, as the weather starts warming up, we begin to think about the summer and swimsuit season.  Then we pull out our suits from last year and realize the holidays and weekends hibernating in the home got the best of us!  Better put together a plan to get that body back in shape soon!  Or maybe you have been exercising but just aren’t seeing results, or need a change from the regular routine.

Sheryl McGlochin, the owner of Live and Thrive, has discovered the new way to slim down the waistline and strengthen ab muscles through hula-hooping!  Using a weighted hula hoop (which she makes herself), she instructs classes in the Salt Lake community to people of all ages.  The repetitive hip motion used to keep the hula hoop moving, combined with other exercises, provides a workout for different muscle groups including abs, arms, legs, back, and hips.

In January, Sheryl visited Studio 5 to demonstrate her hula hooping skills, as well as instructions on homemade hula hoops.

Sheryl refers to herself as “Crazy Sheryl” for her high energy and productivity with her time, which is mostly spent outdoors, and with people.  She also organizes local groups to go hiking, kayaking, camping, trampoline jumping, just to name a few.

On a snowy, cold evening, Sheryl brought her homemade, weighted hoops to Vanessa’s house and invited the Sassies to spend an hour benefiting from her instruction.  She promised an energetic, fun, and easy workout – so fun, she says, that “you’ll forget you’re even working out!”

Did the Sassies think she lived up to her promise?

Come back on Wednesday and Friday to read about our review of Sheryl’s hula-hooping madness.

So what did some of our Sassies (and their kids) think of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts? Is it a place where they can bring their families and have fun? Read on to find out!

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QUESTION

What was your first impression?
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THE SCOOP

Allison: The museum was way bigger and had a way more amazing collection than I was prepared for.
Angela & Seth: These people really care about the art and the people coming to look at it. The building was beautiful and to be met by a tour guide sealed the deal – well worth any time and money. We felt welcome and comfortable right away.  We were impressed!
Evonne: Fantastic atmosphere for learning, and a new fun place to add to our family outings.
Kalli: I loved the tall ceilings, clean lines and modern feel of the museum, also the large stairway is really cool looking. Plus it smelled good (the cafe is on your right when you come in the front doors).
Michelle & Jared: The collection was larger and more interesting than I thought it may be.
Madison (age 12) & Lauren (age 9): M: It was cool ’cause I love art!; L: kinda cool.
Vanessa & Tyler: Such a beautiful museum, every time I come I wish my kids were a little older so they could love it even more. But I feel like if I want them to appreciate it I need to start them off young!

QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Allison: The feel of the museum, it was on par with some of the bigger and more famous museums I’ve been to.
Angela & Seth: The art project was so well organized and engaging. We were able to look through the museum before beginning the project – well paced and organized. It made us feel comfortable and welcome.
Evonne: How friendly the staff was, and the knowledge they were able to share with us.
Kalli: I loved the artwork the most, but it was also very fun to participate in the museum’s 3rd Saturday family activity. Even though I am no artist, it was fun to make cards and print them out as a souvenir of our visit.
Michelle & Jared: I loved the printing activity! It was really fun for the kids and adults alike to draw their self portrait on the foam sheet and then see it printed on to cards to share. I think my husband liked it best of all!
Madison & Lauren: M: That we got to make postcards; L: taking pics
Vanessa & Tyler: I learned that the Museum of was actually Family Friendly which if I have been honest the past times I have been it has NOT been at all. I learned about the 3rd Saturday Art Projects for kids and also the family friendly exhibits with the fun interactive backpacks you can bring along!

QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP

Allison: My kids got bored easily.
Angela & Seth: For a family outing, we didn’t appreciate having our small sons exposed to some of the nude art that was next to the art our hostess was showing as an example for the art project.
Evonne: Since I am not familiar with the area it was kind of hard to find.
Kalli: Not stroller friendly, that I saw, which makes it hard to schlep little ones around and keep them from destroying all the beautiful things.  Also, for the activity it seemed like the room where they hosted the ink printing was a bit too small and crowded.
Michelle & Jared: Struggling with my 2 year old boy trying to run away. He doesn’t do well in places where he can’t touch anything.
Madison & Lauren: M: That we didn’t get to stay longer; L: waiting for the stamps to dry
Vanessa & Tyler: I think a lot more of the employees (not that ones we worked with that day, they were fabulous) need to become more family friends and appreciate parents trying to bring their children in. We try to keep them quiet, out of harms way, we try!

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QUESTION

Would you visit again?

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THE SCOOP

Allison: In a heartbeat!  Can’t wait.
Angela & Seth: Absolutely!
Evonne: Most definitely!
Kalli: Definitely, I plan on it.  I want more time to look around!
Michelle & Jared: I would take my son back once he is a little older and can appreciate the art activities for himself.
Madison & Lauren: M: Yesss!!!!; L: totally!!!!! {Emily’s girls love their exclamation points!}
Vanessa & Tyler: Yes Yes Yes. I want my girls to love the arts, to learn from them, appreciate them and they already are starting too. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts IS the place to do this.

QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP

Allison: Go give your family some culture at the museum of fine arts, you won’t regret it!
Angela & Seth: 3rd Sat at UMFA permanently on our calendar! SO much 2 SEE & Do!
Evonne: Wanna go with us to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts 4 their 3rd Sat. Art Project?  We went last time, and had a ball!
Kalli: UMFA is awesome!  3rd Saturday show up for a fun and interactive activity for families!
Michelle & Jared: Treat your kids to art more creative than a coloring book and crayons. Visit UMFA for free and let them be in charge of the art projects!
Madison & Lauren: M: AWESOME!!!!!!; L: you’ve got to see the blue man, and that self-statue looks like Bro. Jensen!!!! {Um, let’s not tell Bro. Jensen}
Vanessa & Tyler: The @UMFA IS Family Friendly, take your kids to the 3rd Sat Art Project and a Family Friendly Exhibit where you can make it interactive with a backpack full of fun things provided by the museum!
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. If you have been to the museum we would love to know what you think!
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. With kids in tow you know there will be great photos and a great follow-up!

As you can tell from all our fun pictures, we had such a ball bringing our spouses and children with us to The Utah Museum of Natural History!

Only I (Vanessa) had been to the museum before, so I was really excited for all of the other Sassies to join me. I felt like I was showing off a hidden gem that my girls and I just adore. We really do have such a blast at the museum with my girls. They spend a crazy amount of time studying all of the minerals, fossils, artifacts and dinosaurs! Plus they have some pretty cool creepy, crawly critters:

Did you know every first Monday, the museum is open until 8pm AND it is FREE admission!

Did you know that you can rent out the museum for an event, spend the night in the museum and attend their Scientist in the Spotlight events?

Did you know your kids over 16 can volunteer at the museum?

I could go on and on.  We really do think the world of this place. The admission is very affordable- $3.50 for kids over 3.  Kids under 3 are free. The faculty and volunteers love the museum and they want to teach something new to every single person who walks through the doors!

There are so many great things at The Utah Museum of Natural History.  We had no idea that they offered birthday parties (and they have such a selection). Check out how much fun the Sassies and their children had during the birthday party thrown by the UMNH just for them:

Here is a quick summary of the parties, but you can check out their pricing and more details here.

Dinosaur Detectives (ages 4-7)
No bones about it, this is a great party for the dinosaur lover in your family! Learn more about these amazing giants while making a fossil cast, creating a dino mask and excavating a mini-quarry. Plus, participants will tour the Paleontology Hall!

Creepy Crawlers
Party goers will slither and crawl their way through fun facts about snails, millipedes, worms and snakes. Insect headbands, slime making and observing insect parts under microscopes are on the docket for this fun-filled party. Plus, interact with live specimens and tour our Bugs Alive! exhibit.

Magical Mixtures Party (ages 7-10)
Is your child thrilled by magic or crazy about Harry Potter? Our Magical Mixtures party has the winning combination of magic and science that kids love! Make troll snot, discover the secret of the stickey balloons, shrink your art, and investigate acids and bases! Plus, tour the birthday child’s favorite exhibit hall.

Super Sleuths (8-12)
Someone has stolen a priceless artifact from the Museum! It’s up to you to track down the clues that will reveal the culprit. Test fingerprints, lip prints and shoe prints while investigating the methods detectives use to solve mysteries. Once you think you’ve figured out ‘whodunit,’ follow the clues to find the missing artifact.

You really should take the time to explore their website to see all of the wonderful programs, events and exhibits. They will blow you away!  Your $3.50 is really really worth it.

Your next Family Outing or Birthday Party really does need to be at The Utah Museum of Natural History.

Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter where they will announce great events and deals!

So what did some of our Sassies (and a few of their kids) think of Utah Museum of Natural History? Is it a place they would bring their kiddos and have birthday parties? Read on to find out!

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QUESTION

What was your first impression?
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THE SCOOP

Allison: FUN!  Seriously, my kids want to plan a birthday party there now.
Angela & Seth: The entrance to the museum was classy- overall layout, building materials, spaciousness, and gift shops position/layout/ organization. It was all inviting without being obtrusive. Then going down to the basement past janitor’s closets (as I felt) seemed kind of second rate for a birthday party in which I was going to pay for the atmosphere as much as education. Once in the room for the party I enjoyed how much there was for the children to look at and learn from. It encouraged questions and interaction.
Evonne: The interaction with the children is worth any amount of money!
Kalli: Parking was a little crazy thanks to all the game-day excitement, but the staff was welcoming and the museum was inviting and warm on a rainy morning.
Michelle & Jared: This is a museum that is fun for all ages. It is family friendly and has exhibits that even the littlest kids can experience.
Nathan, Madison & Lauren (in order): N: That our host “Heather” was very nice. And that they clearly had a serious program put together for introducing children to science and natural history. M: I thought it was kind of weird. Well probably because I’m 12. L: awsome!!!!!!!
Vanessa & Tyler: Glad to be back! The girls and I love coming to UMNH and can spend hours in the museum. We could not wait to try out the birthday parties!

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QUESTION

What did you like the most?

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THE SCOOP

Allison: The staff was adorable, hands on, helpful, and kind.
Angela & Seth: We loved the variety of displays and that they were set at a height and level for children to explore and enjoy.  The displays and activities were set in a way that they could learn and increase their knowledge no matter what age level they were or how many times they had been there!
Evonne: I loved that everything is hands on, it makes it entertaining!
Kalli: The birthday party host and activities were totally fun, educational and engaging. The kids really seemed to love it and the parents did too!
Michelle & Jared: My favorite part was watching my little 2 year old sons eyes light up as he discovered a dinosaur in his excavation block at the birthday party. He is still playing with his dino find. Plus, he looked so dang cute in those goggles!
Nathan, Madison & Lauren (in order): N: There was a professional actor that played a harry-potter like magical instructor. She was wonderful with the little kids, especially the little kids. She also had a British accent that she never stopped using, even when not talking to the kids. All of the activity instructors were great with the kids and knowledgable about their subjects. M: The 30 minute free explore thing. L: the party
Vanessa & Tyler: The faculty and volunteers, you can tell they really care, love the museum and want to educate everyone that walks in the doors in a fun and friendly way.

QUESTION

What didn’t you like?

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THE SCOOP:

Allison: We didn’t have enough time to complete all the activities.
Angela & Seth: During the party the kids could get into some things- museum supplies, tank cleaning instruments etc.. For the younger kids the woman presenting did not seem to interact at their level (4-5 years old)
Evonne: Do I really have to pick something?
Kalli: Not much, the building itself is old and in need of some updating but a new state of the art facility is under construction and I can’t wait!
Michelle & Jared: When my curious little guy decided to taste some of the “sprinkles” from a water exhibit in the dino room.
Nathan, Madison & Lauren (in order): N: We didn’t have enough time to walk through the entire museum in a half hour. Each room had much more than I expected, and we had to rush to see what we could. M: How I couldn’t do most of the stuff at the party because I’m “older”. L: sniffing the spices
Vanessa & Tyler: Sometimes things can appear disorganized, smushed or a bit messy BUT I know this will not be the case when they are in their new place in 2011!

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QUESTION

Would you visit again?

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THE SCOOP:

Allison: We’re planning on it.
Angela & Seth: To the Museum exhibits absolutely! We are planing a trip already, we couldn’t have spent enough time there!
Evonne: I have to go back, because Savannah will beg me until we do!!
Kalli: Definitely. Even my 15 month old loved running around to the different exhibits and thought it was awesome.
Michelle & Jared: Definitely! We all had a great time exploring, especially the dinosaur bones and bugs! Oh, and Al the Allosaurus who eats pennies and talks was a big hit!
Nathan, Madison & Lauren (in order): N: Absolutely. M: Yeah, I want to see the rest of the place. L: totally yes!!!!!!!
Vanessa & Tyler: We are getting a pass, I want my girls to volunteer here when they are old enough, we talk about this place at home almost every day. If you come, you will see us there!

QUESTION

If you could only send out one tweet about the business, what would you say?

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THE SCOOP:

Allison: If you want to have an out-of-the-ordinary birthday party for your kid, look no further than the Museum of Natural History!
Angela & Seth: Went 2 UNHM kids couldn’t get enough of it. Going back next Sat.!
Evonne: A birthday party dream come true at UNHM, something for every age!  Hands on projects, and lots of fun to be had!
Kalli: Utah Museum of Natural History-way better, and more affordable than the dino museum at TG Point.
Michelle & Jared : Winter birthdays a drag? Take a trip back in time at the Utah Museum of Natural History & let your kids experience their very own dino dig!
Nathan, Madison & Lauren (in order): {These three have no idea what tweeting is, though Madison did reply, “It was a blast!” and Lauren said, “that it was awsome and i learned a lot.” Throw in @UNMH and you’re good to go!}
Vanessa & Tyler: Date Night, Family Day Out or Birthday Party, @UNMH is the place to be! This is a museum that you will stay in for hours and feel like you got your moneys worth!
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CHECK OUT THEM SCOOPS!

Here is the official SassyScoops.com rating for the Utah Museum of Natural History. Take a trip to the museum, plan your next kid’s birthday party here and let us know what you think!
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Atmosphere	Family friendly	Location
Prices	Quality	Service

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Return to SassyScoops.com on Friday for our follow-up post on the Utah Museum of Natural History. With kids in tow you know there will be great photos and a great follow-up!

The Utah Museum of Natural History (UMNH) is a family friendly environment that offers a wide variety of learning opportunities.  The UMNH has lots of hands on experiences, and there is something to be found in the museum for all ages.  This was our first adventure in the museum, and one that left us wanting to go back for more.

From birthday parties to multiple exhibits to explore, you could spent countless hours in the UMNH.  Who knew that my 5 year old would love to look at colorful rocks for so long?

The UMNH has extremely reasonable admission fees.  It is definitely a place where it is not only entertaining, but educational.  We had no idea that they even offered such fun and different birthday parties!  This definitely would be a nice change if you feel like you have been stuck in a rut with the same ol’ ideas!

Do you want to find out what the rest of the Sassies and all of our kiddos thought of the Utah Museum of Natural History?  Or just want to really know if I ended up eating that worm? Then tune in for Wednesday’s official review!

Utah Museum of Natural History
1390 E Presidents Circle
Salt Lake City, Utah
84112

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