Chances are if you are going to the Canadian Rockies or visiting the Banff area you will have the opportunity to explore Calgary! This Albertan city has loads of attractions for kids, so if you are planning on being in the area this upcoming summer here are a few things that should be on your must do list.
What You'll Find in This Post
Calaway Park
A great small-scale amusement park that isn’t too overwhelming and can be tackled within a few hours and not feel like you need a nap afterwards! Calaway Park is just on the outskirts of the city (west side on the way to Banff), so if you plan it right this could be a stop on the way out of the city.
There are rides for any age of kids and kids at heart. Our kids were 3 & 5 when we went and there was plenty of options and excitement for them. There is a good variety of rides for older kids too and even adults if you like! I know we had some fun on a couple of rides to get the blood pumping!
If you are camping, there is a campsite located right beside it so check it out if it would apply to you.
Don’t forget to try out a few games!
Quick Saving Tip: Buy your tickets online prior to going, it will be a fraction of the price online verses at the gate.
For more information on hours, admission costs and height requirements for rides check out their website for the latest information www.calawaypark.com.
Calgary Zoo
Kids love to go see animals and visit the zoo! It was a full day event for our family and we loved roaming through all the different sections of the zoo. If you are limited for time, check out the zoo map and plan out the time to see what is on your wish list.
These are the different areas of the zoo:
- Canadian Wildlife
- Prehistoric Park
- Eurasia
- Destination Africa
- Conservatory & Gardens
Be sure to check out the Penguin Plunge and in recent news the baby gorilla!
Life Easier Tip: Bring a stroller if you have smaller kids since it is a large area to walk. Even a small umbrella type stroller would work perfect to move through the crowds.
More Info: www.calgaryzoo.com
Local Parks & Water Parks
Calgary has so many great family parks for kids and families to discover. I was completely amazed when we took our kids to South Glenmore Park. An oasis for our kids to go play with other kids, burn off some energy, make some noise and run through the water. Green space to relax at and have a picnic with snacks. Depending on where you are staying in the city try to find something close. For a full list of wading pools, spray parks and outdoor pools check out the City of Calgary website here.
For more information on things to do in Calgary, check out Visit Calgary. Be sure to see what is going on the upcoming event calendar.
Restaurants We Recommend
Cleaver – If you are able to get a babysitter for an adults dinner, we recommend trying out Cleaver. It is a unique small restaurant that makes you feel like you are visiting a friend’s house… who is an excellent chef! I’m sure kids would find something to eat here, but I would recommend making reservations for earlier in the evening for a family vibe.
Chili Club Thai House – Every time we visit Calgary over the past 10 years we have always made an effort to get food from this stellar Thai food restaurant. If you can’t make it to the restaurant, be sure to order for pick-up and enjoy the fragrances of the food from your hotel room.
We fortunately always been able to stay with our friends in Calgary, so if you have any recommended accommodations that would be awesome for kids please share in the comments below! We usually look for a hotel with a pool or water slide.
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