Are you looking for some fun ideas to entertain your family in Calgary? Since we live here and are parents ourselves, we definitely know the best things to do in Calgary with kids.
Calgary is one of the most family-friendly cities in Canada. Finding the best things to do in Calgary isn’t hard. With a top-notch zoo, historical village, amusement park, and loads of other kid-approved attractions, your issue won’t ever be finding something to do with your kids.
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Things to do in Calgary with kids
When trying to figure out what to do in Calgary with your kids, you’ve got to make tough choices. The challenge most visiting families face is figuring out how to fit it all in. Here’s a look at the most fun and interesting things to do in Calgary with kids; plus, we’ve got the lowdown on how to score discounts at ALL these attractions.
Visit Bow Habitat Station
Did you know there are six different aquatic ecosystems found across Alberta? From northern lakes to prairie marshes, families can explore them all at Bow Habitat Station without stepping outside.
Upstairs in the Discovery Centre, it’s all about what’s happening above the water; while downstairs showcases what’s happening below. It’s a great way to teach kids about our water and ecosystems without seeming to school them if you know what I mean.
For those who love the idea of teaching their kids how to fish but haven’t quite gotten around to it, you’re in luck! Bow Habitat often offers Learn to Fish Clinics that teach tykes six years and up. Those aged 4-6 years can take a one-hour junior fish clinic.
Bow Habitat station is situated on 15 hectares of natural trails within Calgary’s Pearce Estate Park. During your visit, be sure to budget time for a stroll or bike ride along its leafy paths.
Calgary Amusement Park
Calaway Park is western Canada’s largest amusement park, situated a ten-minute drive from northwest Calgary. For wee ones, there are rides that accommodate their height and sense of excitement. The older set can amp up their visit with rollercoaster rides and free-fall drops.
This amusement park has a one-pay gate. Your admission includes parking, unlimited rides, live stage shows, plus access to their 3D theatre. Every season Calaway Park writes, produces, and choreographs two new live stage shows little ones love.
Calaway Park coupons: Four people can receive 20% off tickets.
Camping at Calaway Park
Like Camping? Please the troops by booking a night (or more!) at Calaway Park RV Park and Campground. This campground has over 100 sites, with lots of options for tents, power, and full service.
The best is that they have several overnight packages that include complimentary day passes to the amusement park.
Aggie Days Calgary
Though the Calgary Stampede takes place once a year, there’s a ton of family programming happening at Stampede Park all year long. Aggie Days takes place in Calgary each spring. This free family event is ideal for city slickers who want to expose their children to the food chain and farming ways of life.
Start off your visit meandering through the Ag Zone at Stampede Park, meeting and cuddling all sorts of cute critters. After petting pigs and watching baby chicks hatch, kiddos can milk a cow (animatronic) or try their hand at driving a tractor – which remains parked, but they’ll get a kick out of it nevertheless.
Our family is also a fan of the Fall Fair, which takes place at the end of September—also at Stampede Park. At it, they jazz up the traditional Stampede breakfast with pumpkin spice (take that Starbucks!), plus free entertainment, music, and a market featuring local artisans.
Calgary Zoo Animals
One of the top zoos in Canada, the Calgary Zoo is a Canadian leader in wildlife conservation and is involved in several conservation research programs around the world. Considered one of the best zoos in North America, over 1000 animals from 119 species call this tranquil spot home.
Some of the more popular animals to visit at the Calgary Zoo include tigers, giraffes, gorillas, camels, penguins, lemurs and hippos. Our family’s favourite area is the Canadian Wilds, where you can get up close and personal with bears, bison, wolves, cougar and caribou (reindeer to some, but not accurate:).
For something really special, book in for one of their specialty breakfasts. While you tuck into pancakes and eggs, interpreters wow little ones with neat trivia facts about some of the zoo’s most intriguing animals.
Keep in mind that every day, special activities take place that offer a rare glimpse into the animal kingdom. These activities include cougar, red panda, and gorilla feedings, plus grizzly bear training. They do the training, not you. Thank goodness!
Calgary Zoo Coupons: Click here here for admission information.
Granary Road Calgary
What’s great about Granary Road, Calgary’s newest family attraction, is that your kids can play outside all day on active learning play stations like cork-screw slides, a triple-decker obstacle course, mazes, and tons of climbing apparatuses that work those large motor skills.
All the larger-than-life animals and plants kids encounter at Granary Road are totally climbable and encourage imaginative play. And did you know they’ve got an amazing petting zoo with llamas and several new baby goats to meet and greet?
Hungry? Inside the granary-styled main building, 40 market vendors dish up some of the city’s best bites. There’s a local butcher and baker (no candlestick maker), but an ice cream parlour and pizzeria also keep the hunger pangs at bay.
Calgary Hotels with Pool
The #1 family hotel request is having a pool on-site. The only hotel in Calgary with an outdoor pool is Hotel Arts. It’s a spruced-up property just south of downtown that’s within easy walking distance of the Calgary Stampede. In winter, the hotel has a special cover that goes over the pool area, so you can swim all year long.
If you’re interested in visiting Granary Park, it makes sense to stay in South Calgary. Delta Calgary South not only has an indoor pool but also sports the Big Gusher. This 130-foot heated indoor water slide is located inside the Atrium. Filled with lush, tropical greenery, it provides a welcome respite from city stressors.
If you want to stay near the airport (and have quick highway access to the Zoo and Telus Spark), consider the Best Western Port O’ Call. Not many hotels boast an 8,000 sq ft water park with twin water slides churning out 300 feet of pure adrenaline. One slides a 360-degree curve, while the second flume is more gentle and more suited for wee ones.
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Calgary Zoo and Heritage Park
We used to go regularly to the bow habitat for the wacky wednesday programs. The kids loved it. Granary park is lots of fun and we need to get to the zoo to see the pandas!!
Awesome!
Would love to see the Pandas or even do the Luge rides 🙂
I think the luge is especially great for older kids, when they’re not as interested in petting zoos and stuff.
Calaway park. My kids have a blast and can never get enough of the rides 😀
It’s a good way to wear them out for sure!
The calgary zoo, science centre and calaway park! We also love southland leisure centre!
I need to get back to Southland!
We love to go to the zoo! When my kiddos were much smaller we had a family pass and went all the time but we haven’t had oasses in years so it has been a while.
It’s still just as good. I love the zoo in autumn.
Even though it’s a good 30-40 min drive my kids really love Calaway Parkand and I get to tell them stories of when I worked there 🙂
Calaway Park and the Calgary Zoo are my favourite spots to take my children,
Calaway park and the Calgary zoo!
I love the National Music Centre 🙂
We love the zoo, Calaway park and heritage park. We have yet to check out granary road but it looks great.
We love taking my nephews to calaway park!
We love to take the kids to the Calgary Zoo because there is always a different activity or path to take that will keep them excited and entertained.
We love Heritage park and Studio Bell for family trips!
My daughter loves every places, including calgary zoo, bow habitat station, calaway park and granary road . She is very much into animals and petting zoo is one of her favorite. ???? we are hoping we could come back soon 🙂
We go to the Stampede every summer for a family day out. We also make trips to the Zoo and Heritage Park throughout the year. This year we are going to try Butterfield Acres & the Science Centre, we’ve never been so looking forward to that.
Calgary Zoo & South Glenmore Park are two of our favorite spots to bring the kids.
Caraway park, zoo. granary road look interesting
We love the zoo! Also st. Patrick island by the zoo is lots of fun!
Calaway Park is soooo much fun!! Something for all of my kids despite their different ages!!
The Calgary Zoo and Glenbow Museum are great ..
Calgary zoo, calaway Park, Calgary corn maze, and Granary Road!!
Calaway Park and the Calgary Zoo are always top of the list for Summer fun!
Heritage Park, have not been there since we moved to Lethbridge over 30 years. Would love to revisit it.
We love coming to Calgary for all the attractions. We can’t wait to head back to the zoo and finally go to Granary road.
The zoo for sure!