Splish Splash! Three Fun Places To Get Wet In Cache Valley

Note: The water activities in this post can be added to the factory tours in my earlier post and the animal-related activities in an upcoming post for a day full of fun things to do with young kids in Logan and Cache Valley. Whether you live in Logan or you're visiting on a vacation or day trip, you can make a fun day of activities that please kids and/or adults. A later post will also cover some kid-friendly parks and eating options in the valley.


Note #2: The Logan area also has a splash pad. Read details here: First Splash Pad In Cache Valley - Alma Leonhardt Park, Providence, Utah


Get Wet!

July's hot summer days call for some cool and refreshing water activities, and Cache Valley delivers. From all-out swimming to simple wading, there are some great places to get wet in Logan and the surrounding communities. I picked a few favorites to showcase today: Hyrum State Park, Merlin Olsen Central Park, and the Logan Aquatic Center. I also have a couple of rainy-day options at the end of the post, for those days when the weather just isn't cooperating. Be sure to comment on this post if you have suggestions of other great swimming/wading places in Cache Valley.

Beach area at Hyrum Dam / Hyrum State Park - Hyrum, Utah

Hyrum State Park


Popularly known as Hyrum Dam, Hyrum State Park is located about 10 miles south of Logan and includes a reservoir, beach area, and campground. The lake is appropriate for fishing, water-skiing, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. Rocky outcroppings around the shore allow for cliff-jumping (with proper precautions). A nice, sandy/pebbly beach area is a good place for picnics, relaxation, and suntanning. On a recent day I noticed USU's Outdoor Recreation Programs (ORP) had a rental booth near the beach for kayaks, canoes, and other water equipment. Call the ORP at 435-797-3264 for details on rentals at the lake.

Hyrum State Park
405 West 300 South, Hyrum, Utah 84319
435-245-6866 - main park number
801-322-3770 - camping reservations
800-322-3770 - toll-free camping reservations


Day Use Hours: Summer: 6am-10pm; Winter: 8am-5pm; Holiday Closures: Thanksgiving, Christmas
Day Use Fees: For improved areas, $6 per car for up to 8 people, walk-in fee $3 per person. Unimproved areas of the shoreline can be accessed for free. Visit website for camping fees.
Website:  http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/hyrum
FYI: Concessions and restrooms available

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Merlin Olsen Central Park

Merlin Olsen Central Park, located on the edge of downtown Logan, is one of the area's oldest parks, having existed in some form since shortly after Logan was settled in 1859. Merlin Olsen Park hosts the Cache Valley Gardeners' Market on Saturdays throughout the summer. A shallow canal runs east to west across the park and provides a fun and safe place for kids and adults to wade and splash in the water. The water could be described as refreshing, bracing, or frigid, depending on the time of year and your tolerance for cold water! The temperature didn't stop these kids, observed on a recent visit. The water is shallow enough for children from about 2.5 years on up to wade safely with a parent. The playground is directly south of the canal, making this a fun, free place to play with kids.

Merlin Olsen Central Park

300 East Center Street, Logan, Utah 84321 (The closest parking spots to the canal are on 300 East between Center Street and 100 South, near the basketball and tennis courts.)

Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Cost: Free

Website: http://www.loganutah.org/parks_and_rec/parks_and_trails/parks/merlinolsen.cfm

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Logan Aquatic Center

The Logan Aquatic Center (LAC) is Logan City's outdoor pool complex, which opened in 2001. It is open from approximately Memorial Day until Labor Day, seven days a week. The LAC features three pools. The first is a 50-meter Olympic-sized lap pool with 1 meter and 3 meter diving boards in an additional diving well. The second is a large semi-circular kiddie/relaxation pool that ranges in depth from 6" to 3' and includes a mushroom water feature and a tumble bucket. The third is a small pool at the base of two water slides, the Speed Slide (must be 48" to ride) and the Circular Slide (must be 40" to ride). Something to please everyone!

Photos from the Grand Opening of the Logan Aquatic Center, from here

The LAC boasts a capacity of 2000 people, and I daresay it reaches capacity on some summer days. But even when it's crowded it's still a great place to enjoy the water with kids.

Logan Aquatic Center
451 South 500 West, Logan, Utah 84321
435-716-9280
Open Swim Hours: Monday 12-8pm, Tuesday-Saturday 12-7pm, Sunday 12-6pm. Holiday hours are 12-7pm. Please see LAC Flyer for Lap Swim hours.
Fees: $5 for ages 4-59, $3.35 for 60+, no charge for 3 and under, $2 for spectators. Monday night from 4-8pm is discount night, $15 for all members of an immediate family.
Website: http://www.loganutah.org/parks_and_rec/aquatic_center/index.cfm
FYI: Life jackets are available for day use, free with a photo ID. All children under three years old, and all children not toilet trained, must wear a disposable swim diaper AND waterproof pants. Food available at the concession stand.

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Rainy Day Options


If you or your kids were counting on a water activity but the weather isn't cooperating, both the Sports Academy & Racquet Club and USU have indoor pools which are available to the public for day use. Sports Academy has a warm indoor therapy pool with a depth of 3', in addition to a lap pool.

Sports Academy & Racquet Club
1655 North 200 East, North Logan, Utah 84341
435-753-7500

Hours: Open swim hours vary, please call for details or visit www.sportsacademy.com for the pool schedule
Day use fees: $10 for adults, $5 for children. Please call to verify.
Website: www.sportsacademy.com

USU Swimming Pool
HPER Building, USU Campus, 700 North 800 East, Logan, Utah
435-797-0538

Hours: Open recreational swim is available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1pm to 6:45pm
Day use fees: $5 per person for the public
Website: www.usu.edu/camprec/htm/aquatics/

LLL

P.S.: What's your favorite place to swim or wade in Cache Valley? Any suggestions I left off the list?

What's The Best Sandwich In Logan?

I got a shout-out this week from SLCFoodie, a great blog covering food in the Greater Salt Lake City area. She tweeted asking for people's favorite sandwiches in SLC. My response and others' were included as part of her write-up on a little sandwich place called Picnic. Check it out! I guess I'm not all that original, because someone else named my exact same fave sandwich and place. You'll have to click through to find out exactly what strange-sounding sandwich it is, though.

I just had to sneak a Logan recommendation in there too, and suggested the Ara's at Logan's Heroes. Don't you love the atmosphere, sandwiches, and especially the proprietor at Logan's Heroes? I think it's such a great example of a true local place.

LLL

P.S. What's your favorite sandwich in Logan or Cache Valley? What's something you seek out to eat in Salt Lake because we don't have it up here? I crave the lemon rice from Greek Souvlaki, or all the Greek dips at Aristo's.

Are you on Twitter? Follow me @LisaBakerHeaton for more Logan stuff I can't fit on the blog.

How It's Made: Food Factory Tours in Logan & Cache Valley

Note: This post started out as Part 1 of a series of kid-friendly activities for a day trip to Logan with young kids. That's why it includes some references and recommendations that apply to children. However, I realized it is applicable to anyone who visits Cache Valley, and also to residents who are looking for things to do.

HOW IT'S MADE

Cache Valley and Logan are rich with food-making heritage, and many of our food production businesses offer tours and learning opportunities for visitors. Little chefs, engineers, and scientists will enjoy watching how some of their favorite foods are made...or at least they'll enjoy the samples! From cheese to honey to ice cream to, well, cheese again, you'll find a tasty way to start your Cache Valley day.

Gossner Foods Factory via

Gossner Foods Factory & Store - The Gossner Foods factory produces dairy products and has a large onsite store featuring homemade ice cream, UHT (shelf-stable) flavored milk, cheese curd (including flavored versions), and great deals on many varieties of cheese. There is no factory tour, but a large window into the production area allows the public to take a look at the cheese-making process. A generous sample table is filled with lots of cheeses and cheese curd in different flavors, plus samples of their UHT milk, in flavors like Vanilla, Root Beer, Mango, and Strawberry. The phrase "shelf-stable milk" might sound a little iffy at first, but it's actually really good -- and kids love it. Don't miss the smoked or garlic-flavored squeaky cheese curds!
Where: 1051 North 1000 West, Logan, Utah 84321, 435-752-9365, www.gossner.com
When: Monday-Saturday 8am-7pm
Cost: Free entry and samples. Items available for purchase.

Aggie Ice Cream & True Blue Aggie Cheese - Enjoying a cone of Aggie Ice Cream on the steps of Utah state University's Nutrition & Food Science Building is a Logan tradition. You can visit the Aggie Ice Cream store any time during the year, but on a few select days you can also tour the dairy production plant and watch how the ice cream is made. One summer tour date already passed on June 23, but additional tours will be held on July 14 and August 11. The tour consists of watching a short DVD, touring the production plant, and eating ice cream. You can also learn about how True Blue Aggie Cheese is made. A free learning experience is offered Monday-Thursday at 1:30pm may 29-August 16, 2012. Tour consists of a 10-minute DVD and a sampling of cheeses. The Aggie Ice Cream store offers True Blue Aggie Cheese, drinks and snacks, and sandwiches made to order.
Where: USU Nutrition & Food Science Building, 750 North 1200 East, Logan, Utah 84322; 435-797-2109 or toll free 1-888-586-2735,  http://aggieicecream.usu.edu/. Free parking for customers is available at the southwest corner of the building.
When: Tour dates are June 23, July 14 and Aug. 11. Tours are about 45 minutes and start at noon, 1, 2, 3 and 4pm. True Blue Aggie Cheese learning experience is offered Monday-Thursday at 1:30pm and take about 15 minutes. Regular summer business hours for the store are Monday-Friday 9am-10pm, Saturday 10am-10pm, closed Sunday
Cost: Ice cream tour is $3 per person, which includes a scoop of ice cream. True Blue Aggie Cheese tour is free, and includes samples.

Honeycomb Sampler from Cox Honeyland

Cox Honeyland & Gifts - The Cox family has been making honey in Cache Valley since 1929. Well, actually, it's the bees who make the honey, but the Cox family harvests it and transforms it into an array of products, including creamed honeys, flavored honeys, and honeybutter. These products and more are available at the Cox Honeyland gift store in south Logan. You can also take a self-paced tour of the honey farm, where you'll observe bees coming and going from a glass observation hive, watch a video presentation, view a bee nursery, and take a look at the manufacturing facility.
Where: 1780 South Hwy 89/91, Logan, Utah 84321, 435-752-3234, www.coxhoney.com
When: Store hours are Monday-Friday 10am-5:30pm, Saturday 10am-4:30pm
Cost: Entry is free, items available for purchase

Crumb Brothers building via

Crumb Brothers Artisan Bread & Cafe - This artisan bakery is a favorite on the farmers market circuit and supplies bread to some of the most popular and delicious restaurants in Salt Lake City, but they save some of the best for their hometown fans. Crumb Brothers operates out of a dramatic and artfully-designed building on the west side of Logan, all soaring ceilings and exposed beams. Windows provide a glimpse into the production area, which can be toured Monday-Thursday at 9:30am. In addition to Crumb Brothers' own breads, pastries, and sandwiches, the retail store features a nice selection of local Utah food products. Don't miss the Milbury & Hodge Ginger Preserves from Torrey, Utah. A table in the corner is always graced by samples of bread and spreads or dips, but the tiny tastes will just leave you wanting more. If you need to sate your appetite, allow me to personally vouch for the Salami & Cheese sandwich or the Lemon Scones. Mmmmmm!
Where: 291 South 300 West, Logan, Utah 84321, 435-792-6063, www.crumbbrothers.com
When: Tours are offered Monday-Thursday at 9:30am. Store hours are Monday-Friday 7am-2pm, Saturday 8am-2pm, closed Sunday
Cost: Entry and tour are free, items available for purchase

Rockhill Creamery farmstand via

Rockhill Creamery - Six brown Swiss cows furnish all the milk that becomes artisan cheese at this micro-dairy in Richmond. Rockhill Creamery produces 200 pounds of cheese per week in varieties such as Desert Red Feta and Snow Canyon Edam. You might remember I purchased a couple of their cheeses during my recent visit to the Cache Valley Gardeners' Market. You can sample the offerings for the day at the farmstand. The historic farm also hosts Richmond's Saturday farmers' market, the Richmond Harvest Market. Tours of the working farm are offered by appointment only, Monday thru Thursday. Call for an appointment.
Where: 563 South State Street, Richmond, Utah, 84333, 435-258-1278, www.rockhillcheese.com
When: The Rockhill Creamery farmstand is open Saturdays, 10am-2pm, June through October. The Richmond Harvest Market is occurs onsite on Saturdays from 10am-1pm. Tours are offered Monday-Thursday by appointment only.
Cost: Entry and tour are free, items available for purchase

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Many other regionally and nationally-known foods are produced in Cache Valley, including FatBoy ice cream sandwiches and Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies. These factories don't provide tours, but do have onsite outlet stores where products can be purchased, sometimes at a great discount.

Casper's Ice Cream Factory & Malt Shop - Makers of the FatBoy and Casco ice cream treats. The factory includes a retail malt shop and product sales. 11805 North 200 East, Richmond, Utah, 84333, 435-258-5219, www.fatboyicecream.com. Open Monday-Thursday noon-9pm, Friday-Saturday noon-10pm. Open one hour later during summer.

Pepperidge Farm Factory & Thrift Store - The Richmond production facility of this national cookie and cracker brand owned by the Campbell Soup Company is not open to the public, but it includes an outlet store that sells factory seconds. Believe me, a misaligned Mint Milano cookie tastes just as good as a perfectly formed one, and your kids won't be able to find a thing wrong with the Goldfish Crackers. Available products vary day to day. 1027 East 11600 North, Richmond, Utah, 84333, 435-258-3618



Whew! That's quite a list. Parts 2 and 3 of a kid-friendly day trip to follow.


LLL


Which one of these factories would you most like to visit? Which have you already been to? Are there any that I've missed? I'd be very interested in taking the Crumb Brothers tour and I also hope to make it out to Rockhill Creamery sometime soon.