Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Draper, UT

  • Published 2021/12/31

Draper is one of Utah’s largest communities, with more than 50,000 people thriving in this city located 20-miles south of Salt Lake City.

The city is nestled between several major cities in Utah, including Salt Lake City.

Up north is South Jordan and Sandy, while Herriman, Bluffdale, and Riverton are to the east.

Draper’s south leads you to Lehi and Highland, while the east takes you to Alpine.

Draper is one of Utah’s most preferred suburban areas because of its proximity to these cities.

Despite its quaint and laid-back appeal, Draper is a haven for adventurers because of its natural attractions seen through its parks and nature reserves which call for exciting outdoor activities.

Draper is not just famous for its outdoor attractions but most especially for its paragliding and gliding activities because of its favorable winds year-round.

Draper is also popular for being the home of one of the most extensive zoos in Utah, the Living Planet Aquarium that houses more than a thousand animals.

You’ll also marvel at the towering Draper Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Above all, Draper’s proximity to Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City, makes it a perfect starting point for an awesome travel adventure.

So, what’s in store for you in Draper?

Here is a list of the 15 best things to do in Draper, Utah, and nearby places:

Go Paragliding at the Point of the Mountain

Paragliding at the Point of the Mountain

John Todd / Shutterstock.com

This paragliding team is named after Draper’s Point of the Mountain.

Point of the Mountain is an elevated area in Draper, a popular destination for airborne activities like gliding and paragliding.

On the other hand, the Point of the Mountain Paragliding company has provided locals and visitors a one-of-a-kind experience in Draper.

They have been in the paragliding business for 17 years already.

Paragliding at the Point of the Mountain

John Todd / Shutterstock.com

They’re also highly rated by the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience.

If you want to explore Utah above the skies, you can sign up with Point of the Mountain Paragliding for their packages.

Or perhaps, visit their office at P.O. Box 822 Draper, UT.

Paragliding at the Point of the Mountain

John Todd / Shutterstock.com

Treat Yourself with Delicious Food at the Pirate O’s

The Pirate O’s in Draper City sits on a historical landmark.

The place was originally the hundred-year-old Fort Douglas Theater but was eventually converted into what this restaurant is today.

The Pirate O’s is known for its delicious gourmet food that treats locals and visitors alike in Draper.

They are well-known for their homemade comfort food from burgers, sandwiches, pasta, pizzas, and meat.

In addition, Pirate O’s is a popular gift shop wherein you can buy exciting souvenirs after your trip to Draper.

This popular restaurant in Draper is located at 11901 S 700 E, Draper, UT.

Play Exciting Games at the Boondocks Fun Center

The Boondocks Fun Center at 75 Southfork Dr. is a popular family-oriented indoor theme park.

Kids will surely have fun at this place because of its virtually limitless games and activities they can do.

You can choose from their mini-golf course, bumper boats, go-karts, indoor obstacle playground, bungee wall, four-story soft playground area, and spiral web climb.

Furthermore, they also have laser tags, arcade games, and batting cages for teens and adults.

It is guaranteed kids will surely have their hands full with the games and activities featured at the Boondocks Fun Center.

Get up Close with Thousands of Animals at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Front View of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock.com

One of the top attractions in Draper is the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

This world-class aquarium boasts more than 2,400 animals and a 300,000-gallon artificial habitat for sharks.

Get up close with these apex predators at the facility’s 40-foot glass tunnel where you can pass through.

You’ll get a closer look at different species of sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and other exotic fishes from the deep.

View of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock.com

Also, the facility boasts five different artificial habitats that mimic the Asian rainforests, South American Rainforests, Antarctica, and the ocean.

These artificial habits house more than a thousand animals from big cats, rodents, birds, sloths, penguins, etc.

The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium also provides visitors entertaining presentations with their in-house animals and other interactive activities like animal feedings.

This awesome attraction in Draper is located at 12033 Lone Peak Pkwy, Draper.

View of Loveland Living Planet Aquarium

Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock.com

Hike at the Ghost Falls Trail Head

The Ghost Falls Trail Head is not as scary as it sounds.

Instead, this offers you an exciting chance to hike around the forested area of the city, and it also leads you to the scenic Ghost Falls nestled in the Corner Canyon Regional Park.

Further down the trail leads you to Wasatch mountain foothills.

If you’re planning a short hike, it has a looped trail that stretches three miles.

Aside from hiking, the Ghost Falls Trail is also a popular off-road mountain bike course and horseback riding trail.

Overall, this place is generally safe for everyone to hike.

It’s also easily accessed to paved roads within Draper.

To access this outdoor attraction in Draper, you need to traverse E. Mike Weir Drive to Traverse Ridge Rd, Suncrest Drive, and Highland Blvd.

Munch on Delicious Burgers at the Astro Burgers, Draper

Astros Burgers is one of Salt Lake Valley’s longest-running burger joints.

It’s been operating for almost two decades already, and they boast of delicious classic fast food items like cheeseburgers, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and Greek favorites.

This restaurant is nestled inside the Draper Peaks Shopping Mall.

It offers diners a cozy ambiance with bright space and comfortable seats.

Plus, the restaurant is adorned with elegant chandeliers hanging from its ceiling.

However, people go there not for its beautiful interior, but its burgers.

Astro’s Burgers has long been known to serve arguably the most delicious half-pound burgers topped with generous amounts of cheese and pastrami.

Diners usually pair the burgers with refreshing shakes to complete their mind-blowing meal.

Astro’s Burgers is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

Take Photos at the Draper Temple of the LDS Church

View of  Draper Temple of the LDS Church

Greg Peterson / Shutterstock.com

There’s always something special with LDS Church Temples.

Its unique and beautiful architecture calls for an exciting photo opportunity.

The Draper Temple of the LDS Church stands out among other temples in the Wasatch Front.

Despite its more compact design, this temple has unique artwork and features.

View of  Draper Temple of the LDS Church

Ben P L, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The temple is situated at Corner Canyon along the southeast foothills in Draper and serves as the world’s 129th temple of the LDS.

The entire site spans 12 acres with a total floor area of 53,800 square feet.

If you’re planning to visit this magnificent religious site, it is located at 14065 Canyon Vista Ln, Draper, UT.

Shop and Dine at the Draper Peaks Shopping Center

Draper Peaks Shopping Center is the largest of the three malls in the city.

It has an outdoor setting and hosts more than a dozen mainstream brands, specialty shops, craft shops, essential shops, and restaurants.

Most of its stores are fronting the outdoors, which offers accessibility and convenience for shoppers.

Whatever you’re looking for is virtually found in Draper Peaks Shopping Center.

The Draper Peaks Shopping Center is situated at 201 E 12300 S, Draper, UT.

Make a Splash at the Cowabunga Bay Water Park

If you’re looking to cool your senses down on a sizzling day in Utah, the Cowabunga Bay Water Park is an awesome place to dip in and bring your family with you.

Kids are the ones that will surely enjoy this massive water park which offers a lot of exciting features like its lazy rivers, an 800-foot water slide called “Mondo,” fountains, pools, and a lot more.

If you prefer a less intense experience at the Cowabunga Bay Water Park, they have water playgrounds, swimming pools, and shorter slides.

Cowabunga Bay Water Park in Draper is located at 12047 State St.

Unwind at the Draper City Park

Night at  Draper City Park

Brain T / Shutterstock.com

This green open space in Draper City is where most locals spend the rest of their day exercising or relaxing.

Since it’s adjacent to the Draper Town Center, many people visit this park to unwind and engage in different outdoor activities.

The park has numerous amenities for everyone.

Night at  Draper City Park

Brain T / Shutterstock.com

It includes playgrounds, sports facilities, picnic areas, and where access to the Port Rockwell Trail is located.

Sports activity is one of the most popular things to do in the park.

You can choose from basketball, volleyball, Frisbee, and baseball and play with locals.

This popular park in Draper is located at 12500 South 1300 East, Draper, UT.

Learn Interesting History at the Sorenson Home Museum

Sorenson Home is a mini-museum that takes you back into the 1800s and will show you how people lived back in the day.

It visualizes what life in the 1800s was like for people in Draper and the Salt Lake valley.

This quaint house turned into a museum offers free tours for everyone that takes you through their old collection of glassware, homeware, clothes, photos, and furniture pieces.

The Sorenson’s, one of Draper’s pioneers, built this house.

They were very fond of hosting social affairs, meetings, and parties back in the day.

Today, the Sorenson Home serves as both a museum and events center since it’s also available to be rented out for parties and private gatherings.

The Sorenson Home Museum is located at 12047 S. Factory Outlet Dr, Draper, UT.

Roam around the Galena Hills Park

Galena Hills Park is your go-to place if you’re planning to sweat out and be more active while visiting Draper.

Galena Hills Park in Draper is situated on the city’s west side at 12500 S. Vista Station Blvd along I-15.

This open space in Draper is known for its numerous sports facilities, including basketball courts, softball, baseball, and soccer fields, a popular weekend destination for locals.

You can also jog or hike around its one-mile looped trail around the park.

The park also has a covered pavilion wherein many of the city’s activities happen.

If you’re planning to visit Galena Hills Park, it is open daily from 6 am to 10 pm.

Fish at the Sunset Pond

If you’re seeking the best fishing spot in Draper, head to Sunset Pond at 11825 South Spirea Way.

This fishing spot in the city is one of Utah’s community urban fisheries.

The pond covers one acre, making it a perfect spot to lure exciting catches.

Sunset Pond is teeming with popular catches like green sunfish, bluegill, rainbow trout, pumpkinseed, channel catfish, and black bullhead.

Aside from the fishing pond, Sunset Pond also has benches, picnic tables, a fishing pier, and shaded areas.

Other Things to Do Nearby

Salt Lake Valley covers 500 square miles of land, teeming with natural and man-made attractions.

After you finish visiting all of Draper’s best attractions, it would be great to continue your travel adventure in the entire Salt Lake County, wherein you’ll discover more awesome things.

19-miles north of Draper takes you to Salt Lake City, which offers you almost limitless exciting things and terrific places to visit.

So, here are a couple of places to visit and things to do near Draper.

Wander on the Antelope Island

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ChrisChips / Shutterstock.com

A two-hour drive north of Salt Lake Valley takes you to Antelope Island.

It’s the biggest of the Great Salt Lakes’ islands, where you can spend your day doing different outdoor activities or get a closer look at free-ranging animals.

shutterstock 1573069576

LouieLea / Shutterstock.com

Antelope Island is home to bison, bighorn sheep, mule deer, pronghorn or antelope, and other endemic animals.

It’s one of Salt Lake Valley’s most popular natural attractions, drawing more than 300,000 visitors annually.

Aside from wildlife, it also has salt pans, beaches, and reflective waters that can be a perfect backdrop while hiking or picture taking.

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NickOmanPhoto / Shutterstock.com

Listen to the Angelic Voices of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

View of Temple Square

Joseph Sohm / Shutterstock.com

One of the most popular attractions in Salt Lake City is the Mormon Tabernacle Choir which performs at the Temple Square at 50 N Temple, Salt Lake City, UT.

It’s an attraction visitors should not miss because of their world-class performances year-round.

View of Temple Square

Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock.com

Religious or not, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will surely captivate you with their harmonious voices.

They also have famous singers and musicians as guests from time to time.

They regularly perform on Sundays at 9:30 am for their Sunday service, but they also have special concerts during special occasions and the Holidays.

Final Thoughts

Draper and the entire Salt Lake Valley is teeming with places to visit and exciting things to do.

This city, in general, is a beautiful place to start your travel adventure around Salt Lake Valley and its neighboring cities.

This list of the 15 best things to do in Draper, Utah, is just a few of the hundreds more that await every visitor to discover.

Don’t forget to bookmark this post to give you an instant itinerary in Draper.

It will be awesome to share this with your fellow travelers or loved ones planning to have a vacation.

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