BYU is a travel destination in itself, with multiple visitable museums--obvious ones include the art museum, small enough to visit easily, with many excellent features; the observatory; the Bean museum--again small enough for children not to get too tired (lots of animals, but beware if your youngsters are sensitive--most are arranged in predators-attacking-prey and are very graphic); but don't forget to visit the dinosaurs in the museum across from the football stadium and the small but fascinating anthropology museum down on University Avenue. And I'm still probably missing a few of the museums. You can get really good ice cream and creditable fast food at the two creameries up off 9th, and the cafeterias on campus serve good food. (The bakery is known for the mint brownies and cherry chews.)
Love the BYU spirit! BYU Bookstore is always nice to visit. The staff at Wells Fargo are very friendly.
sports, sports, sports... BYU is outstanding, great for families, and great competitive teams. Enjoy the bookstore as well!
BYU boasts, in addition to numerous excellent athletic teams, several top class museums; the Bean Life Science Museum (recently renovated), the Museum of Peoples and Cultures, the Museum of Paleontology, the Museum of Art, and the Planetarium are all well worth the visit. Most are geared to children with hands-on exhibits. There is also a large family history center as part of the Harold B. Lee Library, staffed and ready to help with personal genealogy.
BYU is a magical place to us. We take our children every year to feel the "spirit of The Y". We always go to the creamery and get ice-cream, we try to catch a b-ball game each year, and we usually make at least one trip to the BYU Bookstore! My kids notice things that you should come and experience for yourself! They notice it is an exceptionally clean campus. They appreciate the kindness of everyone we meet (cashier's, ticket-takers, and students just walking down the sidewalk!) They have commented on the fact that everyone dances around and acts happy at football games but nobody is drunk or feels the need to cuss out the referees (not our experience at other school's sporting events.) They enjoy the Bean Museum, and my kids that have gone to camps there LOVE the dorms and food! I know a lot of people that have false misconceptions about BYU- Spend a day there with someone who knows the campus and your opinion will change!
There was nothing to dislike. There was an incredible amount of traffic and the hotel was full that visit, yet the hotel and staff were up to treating each request from each guest as though they were the only guest there. Met several people we knew from different States as well.
Not only a great sashool for academics but the "Why" behind education. The faculty and administration is concerned about your success as a Human Being and personal contribution to society as they are your academic success.
One of the few large campuses in the country you can visit and feel reasonably safe and like everyone is your friend. We went to a football game and the BYU Marching Band even played the visiting school's fight song before the game to welcome them to campus; just before the BYU football team annihilated theirs. The campus is very clean and very well maintained. Lots of nice and fun places to visit from museums to the BYU Creamery, to movies and fine arts performances as well. This is a special place.
We go to BYU every summer for Education Week, and every time I get into trouble in the food court. I find myself lying to my wife about going to such and such a class, "meet up with you later for ballroom dancing," etc. when in reality I make a bee line to the food court. The choices are many and the food is all delicious. Last year she caught me red handed. She took a short cut through the Wilk between classes and spotted me at a corner table, half hidden behind a mound of donuts, chocolate mint brownies, and a gallon of milk. She just glared and kept walking. Guilt is a terrible thing, but mint brownies can stave off the pangs for quite a while. Later, on the way back to our room at Heritage Halls we walked in pained silence. Then she said, "so what if the children had found you instead of me?" My reply, I have long regretted, was, "I would have shared it with them."She no longer lets me go to classes without her. I am grateful, but I do miss a good binge in the food court.
A visit to this lovely campus of the LDS university was very enjoyable. We enjoyed the bookstore, eating with choices of many cuisines and the clean and friendly campus in general.