downtown logan utahMelanie Christensen, editorial intern

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, you may be itching to get your family out of the house. When you do, consider taking a trip downtown. Downtown Logan is constantly growing, and you’re bound to find plenty of wholesome activities that will appeal to both your grandma and your toddler.

“Our vision is to appeal to families every day,” said Gary Saxton, manager of the Logan Downtown Alliance, an organization dedicated to improving downtown. Here are five reasons you should add Downtown Logan to your list of places to visit this year.

There are family-friendly events.

If you walk around Downtown Logan, especially during the summer, there’s bound to be something going on. Visit the weekly Gardener’s Market from May through October and watch for several other street vendor sales during the year. Downtown Logan welcomes events like the Cache Valley Storytelling Festival, MS150 Bike Ride, Downtown Easter Walk and many more. You can also watch for the Homecoming Parade in the fall or the Cache Valley Cruise-In and Parade in July. For a full list of events, visit logandowntown.org.

There is plenty of parking.

“There’s a perception that there’s not very much parking, but 50 percent of downtown is surface parking, much more than we need,” Saxton said. Plus, most of the parking is free. Next time you visit, look behind businesses for parking accessed off 100 West.

Watch for the new library.

In future years, the city plans to demolish the Emporium to make room for a new Logan Library. The current library hosts a variety of family-friendly events, but Saxton said the new library will offer even more. “We envision not only a library, but a space that can support receptions, conferences and concerts, and rooftop space for outdoor concerts,” he said. “The space inside would have bakeries, sandwich shops and spaces that could support traveling exhibits.”

New restaurants are opening all the time.

You’ll find everything from waffles to hamburgers in Downtown Logan. Get a shake at the old-fashioned soda counter at The Bluebird, head to Great Harvest for sandwiches or a slice of fresh bread or get a taste of buttermilk pancakes at the new Stacked Pancakes. Coming soon to Downtown: The Crepery, Lucky Slice Pizza and two new “fast-casual” dining options, Saxton said.

Downtown appeals to all.

Whether you’re looking for a hot meal and a musical or a hot dog and a day of shopping, you’ll find it Downtown. According to Logan’s Downtown Specific Plan, their goal is to make the area a “thriving center of living where many people work, shop, eat, play and reside.” If you’re looking for a fun day, Downtown Logan is the place to go.