Utah came to exist as we know it in the 19th century. There were two pioneers who arrived with the original Latter Day Saint settlers in Salt Lake Valley in July 1847 and ventured a bit further north in search of good pastureland for their livestock.
Word spread among friends and William Kay became the fifth man to settle in this area, was appointed Bishop, and gave his name to the town.
Despite a popular desire to change the town’s name to Freedom in 1856, the idea was dropped and Kaysville remained, becoming the first town to be incorporated into Davis County in 1868.
Today, Kaysville is considered part of the Ogden-Clearfield metropolitan area which sits just north of Salt Lake City.
It’s home to over 30,000 residents within 10 square miles. It’s a mere 24 minute drive down I-15 to get to the city and international airport.
Otherwise, it’s miles upon miles away from other major cities – about six to eight hours from Las Vegas, Reno, and Denver. It is just as far to Yellowstone and Teton National Parks, though, so you have your road trip choice of a city or country getaway.
Things to do in Kaysville, Utah:
1. Boondocks Food & Fun
Whether you want to organize a party or have a day out with the family, Boondocks Food & Fun lives up to its name.
It’s hard to describe just what Boondocks is because they have everything. The fun includes bowling, laser tag, rollerball, arcade games, a massive soft play area, an XD theatre, minigolf, bumper boats, go-karts, and batting cages.
There is almost nothing you can’t do here with activities that suit every member of the family, young and old. Plus, you can spend the whole day there because they serve food and have affordable packages for food and fun.
2. USU Botanical Center
(photo: USU Botanical Center)
For a breath of fresh air, try checking out the Utah State University Botanical Center. There’s no entrance fee to enjoy the beautiful gardens, trails, and ponds.
The Center include wetland areas, biking trails, seasonal farmers markets, and an urban fishery. While you can’t swim in the ponds, you can canoe and kayak across the water.
Whether you want to stroll along the nature trails with your dog, enroll in a class at the teaching garden, or even have a taste of Utah in the Edible Demonstration Garden, a visit to the Botanical Center will bring you back to nature.
3. Barnes Park
(photo: Kaysville)
If you want an outdoor experience right in the middle of town, visit Barnes Park. It’s the perfect place for everyday activities.
There are courts for pickleball and volleyball, fives baseball/softball diamonds, a basketball court, and playgrounds for everyone to get their exercise and blow off some extra energy.
To relax, you can picnic – even cook up dinner on one of the public grills – with the whole family. In case of inclement weather, or if you just don’t want to be in the direct sun, there are five different pavilions spaced throughout the park.
4. Davis Park Golf Course
Davis Park Gold Course is a great place for seasoned golfers or even amateurs.
The Park has, naturally, an 18-hole golf course, as well as a driving range, putting green, chipping green, and practice bunker.
You can visit the pro shop for all your equipment needs or relax in the café. We mention amateurs, because Davis Park offers lessons for golfers.
They also have a competitive Junior Golf League for golfers aged 10-15 as well as instructional Junior Golf Camps great for practicing over the summer.
It’s a public course, so there’s no need to worry over membership fees.
5. Get Air Trampoline Park
(photo: getairsports)
Catch some air and have high-flying fun at Get Air Trampoline Park. Next to Barnes Park, it’s a great alternative for a rainy day.
There are thousands of square feet of trampolines, a kiddie court for the smaller family members, dodgeball – yes, on trampolines! – and a foam pit for fantastically fun (and safe) crash landings.
There are some specially designated toddler times to make sure they don’t get overwhelmed by the bigger kids. Meanwhile, Club Air is especially great for a teen night out on a Friday or Saturday. Just get your jump socks on and get air!
6. Kaysville East Mountain Wilderness Park Trail
(photo: Kate Friend)
Kaysville lies just on the foothills of the southernmost Rocky Mountains. You don’t have to be a seasoned outdoorsman to enjoy the breath-taking beauty of the area.
Visit the Kaysville East Mountain Wilderness Park where a gentle mile-long path winds about five campsites with wonderful views of the Rockies to the east.
In the summer, visitors use the short trail for hiking as well as biking. In the winter, some travel the path on cross country skis.
For anyone who’s happy to go further afield, the path brings you onto the Adams Canyon trail and beyond.
7. Heritage Park
(photo: Kaysville)
The newest addition to Kaysville’s parks is tucked right behind the town’s library. Heritage Park offers a central park area perfect for going for a casual walk or hanging out on open grass where you can picnic, play frisbee, or have a casual football game.
In the summertime, residents can cool down thanks to the Splash Pad, a mini water park feature great to beat the heat in.
Even at the heart of town, people relaxing in the park can enjoy great views of the Rockies rising up to the east.
8. SeaQuest Utah
(photo: SeaQuest Utah)
Some people think going to an aquarium is like visiting a boring museum.
SeaQuest has so much more to offer, with 20,000 square feet of space full of land and sea animals that you can even feed and touch.
You can feed otters, porcupines, birds, and stingrays and pet sloths and kinkajou.
Plan ahead and you can reserve a time slot to go snorkelling with the sting rays or pamper yourself with Fishy Kisses – a unique pedicure experience where toothless feeders nibble dead skin cells off your feet. Believe it or not, it’s a treat for them!
9. Great Room Escape
(photo: greatroomescapelayton)
Train your brain with a visit to the Great Room Escape. Assemble a team of up to eight people you can trust to put their minds to the test as you all work together to solve one of four different puzzles.
Your team has one hour to solve riddles and puzzles in the room you’re trapped in. Get all the clues before time runs out and you win.
It’s a great place for friends or family, teambuilding experiences, or work parties. Every puzzle room is fully immersive for an unforgettable experience.
10. Roosters Brewing Company and Restaurant
(photo: roostersbrewing)
Roosters Brewing Company was established in 1995, well before the recent craft beer revolution.
These seasoned veterans pour their “liquid love” at three different locations.
Two restaurants – one in Layton, one in Ogden – are family friendly food establishments that offer tacos, sandwiches, salads, pizza, pasta, and more, all of which pair very well with Roosters’ own brews (for the adults, or course).
Anyone 21+ can visit the taproom up in Ogden to work their way through the tap list. Don’t worry, they serve food there, too, to line the stomach.
11. Lagoon Amusement Park
(photo: Lagoon Amusement Park)
Believe it or not, Lagoon Amusement Park has even more to do that we haven’t covered yet. The amusement park has everyone’s usual favorites from rollercoasters to bumper cars to tilt-a-whirls.
There’s a rustic Pioneer Village that preserves the Old West, including an old village featuring an ice cream parlour, historic buildings, and photo gallery.
In the summer you can cool off at Lagoon A Beach, in their lazy river or rapids. In the fall through winter you can indulge in Lagoon’s Biergarten serving up loads of food and drink and scare yourself silly at their Halloween Frightmares fair.
12. Station Park
Those who want a calm and relaxing experience can get some retail therapy at Station Park, an open-air shopping mall that has all your favorite brands sandwiched between the University of Utah Health Center and the commuter rail station.
Don’t worry, there’s plenty of parking for all the places at Station Park. There are also 33 different places to get something to eat or drink, from fast food to sit-down restaurants in almost every flavor imaginable.
There are yoga and cooking classes to take, a Cinemark movie theatre, and a Hyatt for out-of-town guests.
Is Kaysville, UT Safe To Visit?
Statistically speaking, Kaysville is a very safe place to visit. In 2020, Kaysville had a violent crime rate of 66.78 per 100,000 people and a property crime rate of 831.69 per 100,000. Its violent crime and property crime rates are well below the national averages. By these metrics, Kaysville is one of the safest cities in Utah.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Kaysville’s violent crime rate:
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to go into the city to find entertainment. While access to Salt Lake City is convenient, staying around Kaysville isn’t insane.
There is loads to do in this small suburb that is sandwiched in between the capital and the Rocky Mountains and we’ve only scratched the surface.
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