The new natural history museum by the U of U is great. The Thanksgiving Point dinosaur museum just south of SLC is excellent. The Cleveland-Loyd dinosaur quarry on the way to Moab from SLC is a real dino dig site that is pretty trippy.
Moab is fantastic. It's only 3.5 hours from SLC and will blow your mind. Drive to nearby Dead Horse Point State Park for a Grand Canyon-esque view. Corona Arch and Negro Bill Canyon are great short hikes right near town. Fiery Furnace is a wicked not too strenuous hike within Arches National Park just outside of Moab. Delicate Arch is a popular hike in Arches NP(hey, it's on our license plates). You can go on a side x side tour or rent your own(mega highly recommended). Make sure you go to the rock shop in Moab! The drive to Chicken Rock is very cool and easy as long as you're not afraid of heights. If you have a truck the Potash road to Shafer trail in Canyonlands National Park is awesome and super scary for those afraid of heights, but easy. The drive up Castle Valley is cool and paved and easy. Any of the dirt roads down there could become impassable in rain so be prepared and do your research. Doing Hell's Revenge and/or Fins and Things on a side x side or in a jeep is incredible, and can be done as a tour. If you mountain bike there are way too many options to list, including the all-time classic Slickrock Trail.