Top Things to Do in Calgary with Kids
Home to one of arguably the greatest outdoor shows on Earth, the Calgary Stampede, and a mere one-hour drive east of the Rocky Mountains, Calgary has long attracted tourists. Canada’s Cowtown is the country’s oil and gas headquarters. Many families are fortunate to tag along on a business trip or make a pit stop here en route to Banff National Park. But this sweet city in Alberta a worthy stand-alone vacation destination as well. I’m excited to share with you my picks for the top five family attractions to explore in Calgary with kids!
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TELUS Spark Science Centre
Igniting children’s imaginations, TELUS Spark science center offers hands-on activities for kids of all ages, including teens. The tricked-out toddler area sports a physics station, tables for water play, and a massive indoor play structure. Other galleries offer interactive exhibits so older innovators can create a canyon at an erosion table or build a mountain in the Open Studio.
Calgary Zoo
With a wide variety of wildlife from Africa, Australia and the Canadian wilds, the Calgary Zoo ranks among the best zoos in the country. Offering preschool programs and behind the scenes opportunities for every age group, your brood can do so much more here than simply observe the animals. There’s a large cafe onsite, but many families pack a picnic lunch and sit along the river. Be sure to check out Penguin Plunge, a polar paradise that’s home to four different penguin species.
Downtown Calgary
While no longer the tallest building in Canada (or Calgary for that matter), you can’t miss going to the top of the Calgary Tower. Get a bird’s eye view of the city’s landmarks from the Observation Deck, where a glass floor makes it seem oh-so-scary. From there, head over to The CORE, a downtown shopping center with plenty of dining and buying options. The center includes Devonian Gardens, a tropical space that’s home to over 500 trees and shrubs as well as a fantastic indoor playground with lots of room for kids to burn off energy.
Bargain Shopping
We all know if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy — and mama loves to shop! Mama will also love that Alberta is one of only three provinces in Canada with provincial sales tax. Shoppers still have to pay the five percent Canadian goods and services tax (GST), but purchases are much cheaper here than elsewhere in the country. Calgary is home to several fantastic malls. Chinook Centre has over 200 stores and an IMAX movie theater. Meanwhile, Market Mall offers pleasant shopping options and sports a toddler play zone. Near the airport, Cross Iron Mills is the city’s outlet mall where you’ll find Bass Pro Shops, an impressive store-cum-wildlife-exhibit.
Eau Claire Area
Flanking the Bow River, Eau Claire Market is where urbanites go to recharge. Inside the market, find several funky shops, a large indoor playground and a movie theater. Outside, street performers provide entertainment as kids plunge into the splash park or attempt to play with the ducklings and Canadian geese. Journey across the bridge into Prince’s Island Park, an urban park where you’ll find a large playground and River Cafe, one of the city’s best child-friendly restaurants.
I hope this list of family-friendly attractions has piqued your interest in visiting my beloved Calgary with kids!
Interested in exploring more of Canada? Be sure to take a look at my book, 25 Places in Canada Every Family Should Visit.
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Have you ever visited Calgary with kids or without? Do you have more suggestions for must-see places to visit in Calgary, Canada? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below!
Thank you! I’ve traveled to Calgary my whole life. My husband and I are coming up for the stampede and bringing our 9 month old. We usually stay with family but will be staying in a hotel for 10 days. Can’t wait to take our daughter to the zoo.. I’ve never been. Any other suggestions? We are also going to Banff and Edmonton Mall.
Do I ever! I’d check out Fluor Rope Square downtown near Olympic Plaza during Stampede – it’s got all the good stuff but less crowds. My fave Stampede Breakfast is at Cafe Beano 17 Ave & 9 St. It’s on July 6 this year around 10 am – no pancakes but comfort foods like Christmas Morning Wife Saver. Banff is great – lots of easy day hikes and you can rent a bike with chariot and do the Legacy Trail into Canmore. For West Ed: hit the water park and T&T supermarket for fun Asian. I love Whyte Ave in Edmonton and can spend a day browsing, sipping coffee at trendy cafes, etc… If you need anything more specific don’t hesitate to reach out ([email protected]) Oh, Telus Spark has a great kid’s section with lots of appealing activities for babies and Toddlers.
Hiya, currently researching a Canada trip with a 2 and a half year old for August. Would love advice – Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver? We want good weather, splash parks/pools, holiday parks or reasonable hotels and lakes and maybe beaches!
If you respond, I will be so grateful, if not, I’ll still be grateful for your current pointers and advice!
All the love!
August is a great time to visit. In Toronto, you’ll want to hit up Ripley’s Aquarium, maybe Canada’s Wonderland (not sure how much a toddler would get out of it though) and the Toronto Zoo has an good splash park within the zoo, so bring suits and towels. IMO, the Calgary Zoo is just as good as the Toronto Zoo sans water park, but with pandas. There’s lots of toddler play equipment there, too. And right beside the Calgary Zoo is Telus Spark, our science centre that has a fantastic toddler/pre-schooler wing. Make sure you also visit Canmore and Banff outside of Calgary. Travel Mamas has posts on those two spots and Vancouver. Incidentally, I wrote the book: 25 Places in Canada Every Family Should Visit. In it I gave waaaay more deets on the attractions, good/affordable family hotels and restaurants. You can find it on Amazon. Hope you have a fab time. xo Jody
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who
you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
Wow! Thanks so much. That’s one of the nicest comments I’ve ever had. Please come back to this site anytime! I’ll be posting soon on my experiences in Mexico City.
Ellen, interesting question! Calgary’s weather is notoriously difficult to predict. We can get snow in July and have balmy temperatures in February. I don’t know if that’s because of Global Warming or if it’s just always been that way. Still, I love our Chinook’s (warm wind fronts) that break up the winter. Really please you’re enjoying my travel experiences. You’ll find more of them on my own blog: http://www.travelswithbaggage.com (though I save my best ones for Travel Mamas:)
Lisa, I’m so glad you liked that pic of Saddledome. Really hope you make it back to Calgary with kids. If you ever do, let me know!
So many great things to do – I haven’t been to Calgary since before my kids were born and I really need to go back soon! Love that last photo of the Calgary skyline with the Saddledome!
Calgary must be a terrific city. Have you found that global warming has had a positive effect on Calgary? After reading you bio I feel that I want to read more of your travel experiences.