8+ fascinating Utah indoor venues where you can spend a wintry day

The doldrums of winter can take a mental toll on anyone — especially when the colder weather keeps you shut inside for what feels like forever. This year, you can kick that cabin fever to the curb because the Wasatch Front offers plenty of fascinating indoor venues to help you while away the wintry days with pleasure.

Take a stroll through a butterfly exhibit, dig up some dinosaur bones, walk through a famous collection of cars and airplanes or see if you can spot the treasures hidden in the state's largest stained glass windows.

From Provo to Ogden, here are some great indoor options to keep the whole family entertained (and warm) during the winter.

The BYU Museum of Art

It's good to find a wholesome family activity that everyone will enjoy, but it's even better when it's completely free. That's why you should make sure to include the BYU Museum of Art on your bucket list of things to do this winter. Right now, you can catch the museum's exhibitions on French posters, religious scenes, abstract art and more.

Check out the events calendar for information about upcoming expert lectures, arts and crafts for kids, live music performances that are coming up. (Pro tip: To get the most out of your visit, download their app on your Apple or Android device before you go.)

The Butterfly Biosphere

The Butterfly Biosphere at Thanksgiving Point's Water Tower Plaza is truly a one-of-a-kind experience you won't regret. Come see over a thousand butterflies from around the globe in this 40,000 square foot venue that's also home to dozens of other creepy, crawly critters.

From beetles as big as your fist to 20 different species of tarantulas, this is the ideal activity for bug lovers in the family. You can pay a little extra to release a butterfly into the biosphere or visit the gift shop to pick up a butterfly souvenir. (Double-check your clothes to make sure no flying friends are trying to hitchhike home with you!)

Museum of Natural Curiosity

While you're in the area at Thanksgiving Point, you'll also want to pay a visit to the Museum of Natural Curiosity. As the name implies, the museum appeals to all curious minds that want to know how things work or discover something new. It features more than 400 interactive experiences, so you'll find it hard to get bored even after visiting several times!

Explore the ancient ruins in the Rainforest area. Learn more about nature with the six simple machines at the Archimedes Playground. Test some experiments at Water Works. Your kids will never be bored!

Roots of Knowledge exhibit

If you find yourself near Utah Valley University, stopping to see the "Roots of Knowledge" stained glass window exhibit is a must. Located at UVU's Fulton Library, this stunning display includes 80 individual panes that total 10 feet in height and 200 feet in length.

Described as "a fusion of art, education, and public space," this series of stained glass windows show the history of intellectual advancement since the beginning of time to the present day.

You'll notice some familiar scenes from your history books — the Mayan calendar, the printing press, Joan of Arc and the American Civil Rights Movement, to name a few. But there are some things you'll have to look a little closer to see.

Hidden within the glass are several Easter eggs, including a toilet, the TARDIS from "Dr. Who," Superman, the starship Enterprise, real fossils and a coin from 1776. Over 40 professional artists, 26 UVU scholars and hundreds of UVU students worked for 12 years to bring this masterpiece to life, so don't miss it!

Natural History Museum of Utah

Listed as one of the top attractions in Salt Lake by Tripadvisor, the Natural History Museum of Utah is always worth a visit. Virtually everything you could ever want to learn about the state's fascinating history and landscape is on display in these immersive, interactive exhibits. Dinosaurs, gems and minerals, stories from Indigenous tribes, earthquake exhibits, an observatory deck, native species — the museum has it all. Grab a bite to eat at the Museum Cafe if you're hungry or pick up a unique gift at the Museum Store when you're done.

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (and 9 p.m. on Wednesdays) and they recommend that you make a reservation before you go. And if you're not ready to visit in person, don't worry — you can take a virtual tour online.

Land Cruiser Heritage Museum

Got a car enthusiast in the family? They'll love this one! As one of the biggest Toyota Land Cruiser fans out there, Greg Miller decided to create his own museum to commemorate his favorite vehicle. (You probably didn't know that the Land Cruiser is the first and only four-wheeled vehicle to have traversed all seven continents, did you?)

Miller's impressive collection celebrates the legacy of the Land Cruiser and includes a goal to acquire and display every model ever produced. Come see vintage owner's manuals, scale models, memorabilia, tool kits, marketing materials, artwork and (of course) vehicles from every decade at the Land Cruiser Heritage Museum in Salt Lake.

Hill Aerospace Museum

Here's another freebie activity that won't disappoint. Located on the northwest corner of Hill Air Force Base just five miles south of Ogden, Hill Aerospace Museum has welcomed more than five million visitors since it opened in 1986.

Featuring more than 70 aircraft on display in its two inside galleries and outside airpark, the museum will fill you with wonder and awe as well as a deep respect for the U.S. Air Force and its veterans. Hill Aerospace Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

5 of Utah's most breathtaking family-friendly winter hikes

Many mellow and family-friendly trails can still be explored in this season with the right precautions taken. Your rewards for braving these trails include mind-blowing seasonal scenery and improved fitness.

Utah State Railroad Museum

As a kid, you probably loved playing with toy trains. Or maybe you've got a son or daughter who loves them. Either way, you're sure to have fun checking out the life-size version at the Utah State Railroad Museum.

Enjoy interactive displays and artifacts that depict the history of the locomotive in the U.S., including the original Golden Spike safe. Kids can simulate driving a locomotive, practice Morse code with two telegraph keys and learn about railroad crossing safety at the Operation Lifesaver Exhibit. As a bonus, your admission ticket also gets you into the firearms and classic cars museums at Union Station.

Bonus suggestions

Of course, this is far from a comprehensive list of what is available to see. Other indoor attractions include the Clark Planetarium, The Beehive House (the family home of Brigham Young's and other early Church presidents), the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum at BYU, the Museum of Ancient Life and The Leonardo museum. And if none of those strike your fancy, there are still other places to explore where you will be inside, away from the winter elements.

Now that you've got your list of fun indoor activities, what are you waiting for? Pack those snacks, hop in the car and start exploring!

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