20 January 2021
Your Guide to a Family-Friendly Winter Staycation
Think Utah in the winter is only for hardcore skiers staying at pricey mountain resorts? Think again! Nestled right between the Wasatch Mountains and the Great Salt Lake, Davis County is Utah’s best-kept winter secret. Our 500 miles of trails aren’t just for summer, and the valley serves up the perfect mix of crisp outdoor adventure, festive frozen fun, and massive indoor entertainment hubs to escape the chill.
Whether you want to watch wild bison trek through the snow or glide along an outdoor ice ribbon, we’ve put together the ultimate 3-day winter itinerary to help you plan the perfect snowy getaway.
📅 How to Plan Your Winter Trip to Davis County
Best Time to Visit
To catch Davis County in its full winter glory, plan your trip between December and February. This ensures the outdoor ice rinks are frozen, the mountains are beautifully capped with snow, and the indoor entertainment centers offer the perfect cozy retreat.
Getting Around Town
- By Car: Having a vehicle, preferably with AWD or 4WD and good snow tires, is highly recommended. Utah winters can drop sudden snowstorms, and you’ll want total control when heading toward the trailheads or mountain canyons.
- By Transit: The UTA FrontRunner train is a fantastic option to travel between cities like Bountiful, Farmington, and Layton without worrying about winter driving conditions on the highway. Plus, it connects you directly to seasonal resort transit!
Stay in Davis
- Basecamp Central: Look for hotels in Layton or Farmington (near Station Park). Staying here places you exactly halfway between the outdoor island adventures, the indoor funplexes, and the highway exits that lead straight up to the ski slopes.
💡 Looking for more ways to beat the frost? If you want to expand your itinerary with even more seasonal ideas, don’t miss our comprehensive guide to All the Best Winter Activities in Davis County.
Day 1: Arrival & Twinkling Lights on the Ice
Welcome to a winter wonderland! Once you’ve checked into your room and unpacked your heavy coat, it’s time to embrace the crisp evening air with a classic winter tradition.
Afternoon: Arrive and get settled. Grab a warm hot chocolate to acclimate to the brisk mountain air. We recommend Caffe Torino. Then head over to Bountiful for a quick stroll before dark.
Evening: Head down to the Bountiful Ice Ribbon located at the Bountiful Town Square. This incredible outdoor ice-skating track offers a festive winter atmosphere complete with ambient lighting, outdoor heaters, and cozy fire pits to warm your hands between laps.
Dinner: After a few loops on Bountiful’s Ice Ribbon, you’ll definitely want to stop by the wonderful shops on Main Street for unique local treasures you won’t find anywhere else. Then warm up at a nearby restaurant.
Too Chilly? If the winter weather gets a bit too intense, flip the script and head indoors to the world-class indoor ice rink at the South Davis Recreation Center right down the road for some climate-controlled skating.
Day 2: Snowy Peaks & Great Salt Lake Views
Today is all about experiencing Utah’s stunning winter landscapes. Layer up, because we are hitting the trails and checking out the local geography.
Morning: Winter visitors to Antelope Island State Park. are in for a treat. It’s the perfect time of year for a quiet day trip to enjoy hiking, biking, wildlife watching, nature photography and more. Free-roaming wildlife is a major winter season draw to this beautiful island, the largest in the Great Salt Lake. Keep an eye out for bald eagle sightings especially in the early part of the year, and be on the lookout for bison, pronghorn antelope, coyote and other island wildlife.
There are trails for all levels of hikers, such as the half-mile hike to Buffalo Point to catch a perfect island sunset, or a full-day hiking adventure to Frary Peak. If you want a unique spin on a winter ride, rent a fat-tire mountain bike from a local shop and try biking the snowy trails! Antelope Island State Park is also a designated International Dark Sky Park, boasting dazzling night skies and views of the Milky Way you won’t see anywhere else if you camp out or stay past dark.
Afternoon: Time for some winter hiking! If you prefer mountain terrain, head to the foothills of the Wasatch Range to explore the lower portions of Adams Canyon to see spectacular frozen ice formations.
Snowmobiling: Another option for exploring the beautiful Wasatch Mountains is snowmobiling. Bring your own snowmobile and head for the hills where you’ll discover untracked snow and non-groomed snowmobile routes above the Wasatch Valley.
Where to Eat Nearby: After dealing with the island breeze, you will want something hearty. Stop at Hug-Hes American Kitchen in Syracuse for Utah-classic comfort foods like their famous beer-battered fish, thick burgers, and warm pastas. For something truly unique, check out Bowls & Cheers in Syracuse for incredible, rich Filipino-Asian fusion comfort food (like their sizzling pork sisig) that will warm you right up.
🎿 The “Ski-Adjacent” Advantage: You don’t have to pay premium prices to stay slopeside to enjoy Utah’s world-famous powder. Davis County serves as the ultimate budget-friendly winter basecamp, putting you just a short, breathtaking 30-to-40-minute drive away from major ski hubs. You can shred legendary Utah snow all day, and skip the expensive resort lodging by staying down in the valley at night.
For those who love to rip and shred down the mountain, we are a stone’s throw away from not one, but nine different mountains! Choose one for yourself.
Day 3: Massive Indoor Fun & History
After a full day in the snow, spend your final day warming up inside some of Davis County’s most unique indoor attractions.
Morning: Start your morning at the Hill Aerospace Museum. This massive, free-admission museum houses over 90 historic military aircraft, missiles, and aerospace vehicles indoors where it’s nice and warm. It’s an incredible walk through aviation history that the whole family will love.
Afternoon: Keep the indoor safari going by heading to the Layton Aquarium & Wildlife in the Layton Hills Mall. You can escape the freeze by stepping into a tropical environment to feed stingrays, meet caimans, and interact with exotic reptiles. Because the aquarium is located right inside the mall, it is the perfect excuse to do some shopping! Take a stroll through Layton Hills Mall’s wide variety of popular national retailers, local boutiques, and specialty shops. It’s a great chance to escape the cold, stretch your legs, grab a souvenir, or pick up a cozy new winter sweater.
Late Afternoon: Finish the trip strong at The Rush Funplex in Syracuse. As Utah’s largest indoor fun center, you can spend hours under one roof tearing up the indoor go-kart track, glow-in-the-dark mini-golf, bowling lanes, and laser tag arenas.
Where to Eat Nearby: After all the excitement, you’re sure to work up an appetite. You won’t go hungry with all the county has to offer! Burgers, pizza, pasta and everything in between.
Station Park offers Davis staples like Twigs Bisto, Vessel Kitchen, Ramen Haus and more.
Looking for hot and cheesy? Check out our guide for 4-star rated Pizza in Davis.
For a full directory of restaurants in the area, click here.
🎒 Quick Packing List for a Davis County Winter
Don’t let the frost ruin your fun! Make sure to pack:
- Heavy Layers: Thermal base layers, a fleece mid-layer, and a waterproof jacket.
- Winter Hiking Boots & Snowshoes: Waterproof boots with good traction are a must.
- The Trio: Heavy gloves, insulated beanies, and thick wool socks.
- Sunglasses: The Utah sun reflecting off pure white snow can be blinding!
