twentieth-century art and acclaimed Utah landmark. Dia leases the lake bed where Spiral Jetty is located from the State of Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. Our morning started off a bit chilly and overcast, but I was very excited to be exploring this awesome new place. We pulled into the small parking lot just before 8 am and there were already a couple cars; I guess we weren’t the only ones looking for an amazing place to start off the new year! We spent a couple of hours exploring the Jetty and the natural wonders of the Great Salt Lake. As a photographer, the reflections the lake provides are always illuminating to me. The overcast morning soon shifted, allowing the sun and blue sky to appear, creating a surreal backdrop. The cold hindered the usual water and sand play for the kids, which curtailed our exploration time, but the joy of the day was spending time together and making sure we all had a memorable first day. We headed on to the next stop, Crystal Hot Springs, which for kids who absolutely love to swim was by far the focal point of their day. The drive was about an hour away which gave the kids time to take a little snooze before hitting the pool. The water temperature at Crystal Hot Springs ranges between 120 – 134°F and contains the highest mineral content (46,000mg/L) found in any hot springs in the world, which was the perfect reprieve after the morning’s chilly adventure. I enjoyed just soaking and relaxing in the mineral-dense waters while the kids made laps on the two hydro-tube water slides. There are three mineral hot tubs, a large soaker pool, an Olympic-size pool, and a kid’s pool with a waterfall that the kids can explore behind. On the drive home I asked the crew what their favorite part of the day was, and it was no surprise that they all absolutely LOVED swimming, but what was surprising and heart-warming was that they also LOVED exploring the Spiral Jetty as well, and unanimously requested that we all go back together another time when it’s just a bit warmer. It is not always easy finding symmetry with your kids, and, at times, it feels so much easier to just stay home than to pack up everything needed for an adventure in the hope that everyone will equally enjoy the experience. But with some good planning to combine a unique, beautiful place with consideration for activities the whole family will enjoy, you can’t go wrong. BoxElder.org Crystalhotsprings.net
12 DISCOVER UTAH KIDS