Not sure what you’re going to do with your kids when they’re out of school during Spring Break? Here are 35 ideas for places to go and things to do.
1. Hide N Seek
Hide N Seek has been a big hit with many Calgary families. Some families find it a little too big but on the other hand it is able to entertain older kids (10-12) for a long time.
2. B-line Indoor Bike Park
B-line indoor bike park is a family fun centre for riding bikes and progressing your biking skills. They have things starting with beginner and pump tracks and progressing to jumplines and more.
Read a great review of B-line Indoor Bike Park by Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies
3. Telus Spark – Calgary Science Centre
Your kids will love spending a day at Calgary’s science centre. Younger kids will enjoy learning through play at the Creative Kids Museum and older kids will enjoy making creations in Open Studio upstairs.
Both will enjoy the hands on exhibits of Earth and Sky and Energy and Innovation. Your admission also lets you access the Brainasium outdoor park.
Read more about Telus Spark.
4. Big Fun Play Centre – (Near CrossIron Mills)
Canada’s largest indoor inflatable park offers over 25 inflatable attractions. It is much more than just bouncy castles! Big Fun Play Centre caters to a wide variety of ages (they promise even adults will have fun).
Lockers must be used for all belonging and special grippy frog socks (like those used at trampoline parks) must be used and can be purchased on site.
5. Go Swimming
From neighborhood pools to Leisure Centres, Calgary has tons of options for family friendly public swimming.
Read more about your options for public swimming here.
6. Rec Centres and Leisure Centres
In addition to swimming, many of the Rec and Leisure Centres also have other activities included with your admission like climbing walls and gymnasiums where you can play things like badminton and basketball
7. The Hangar Flight Museum – (Formally Aero Space Museum of Calgary)
With many full-sized aircraft on display, Calgary’s Aerospace Museum is a great place for airplane fans.
8. Treehouse Indoor Playground
Treehouse now has a South location in Midnapore in addition to their North East location. It has lots of options for school aged kids including a huge climber, arcade room, wiggle car race track, bouncy castle, backyard blaster, x-box zone, climbing wall and interactive mats.
9. Geocaching
Grab your smart phone, download geocaching.com’s app and go on a treasure hunt. Explore the city in a different way using GPS to find caches that other people have hidden throughout the city.
Great places to try out geocaching in Calgary include: Nose Hill, Edworthy Park, North Glenmore Park, Fish Creek Park, Confederation Park, and Bowness Park, Tuscany Ravine and 12 Mile Coulee.
10. Studio Bell – National Music Centre
Experience and learn about music in a whole new way in Calgary’s new National Music Centre – Studio Bell.
The 4th floor is the most kid friendly so start at the top and work your way down to the bottom. Learn about Canadian music history, try out instruments and explore different ways of making music in the Soundbox.
11. The Calgary Zoo
The Calgary Zoo is a great place to go whether March is warm or feels a lot more like Winter. If the snow is melting, it has amazing puddles so prepare with splash pants and rain boots.
When it’s cool out, it’s way less crowded and there’s still a lot to see. It also has quite of lot of indoor exhibits so you don’t have to stay out in the cold the whole time. This is a great place for kids of all ages and adults alike.
12. Fort Calgary
Fort Calgary is a beautiful small museum about Calgary’s early history. They have really made an effort to make the museum appeal to kids as well as adults. Read more: Fort Calgary Review
13. Check Out Some of Calgary’s Best Playgrounds
14. Glenbow Museum
The Glenbow might not be the first place you think of taking the kids, but they have really put in an effort to make their exhibits engaging to kids as well as adults.
My top pick is the Mavericks exhibit which is full of dynamic exhibits and hands on experiences. You’ll also want to check out the Discovery Room which has activities designed just for kids.
15. Calgary Airport
The Calgary Airport has a lot to offer for kids, and all of it is free (except for the pricey parking!). The most obvious attraction is the airplanes themselves which you can see out the windows at various points.
They also have play areas. The Spaceport near the food court, provides a lot of interesting material for kids (and adults) interested in NASA space programs.
16. The Rec Room
With virtual reality games, arcade games, ping pong, shuffleboard and pool, the Rec Room has a lot to offer for kids, particularly if you go earlier in the day when it’s a bit quieter.
17. Lougheed House
The Lougheed House is a historical site and museum. Effort has been made to restore the building back to it’s original turn of the 20th century state when the Lougheed family lived there. They also host museum exhibits.
18. Bow Habitat Station
The Bow Habitat Station and Fish hatchery is a surprisingly engaging place to visit. In includes aquariums that feature fish that live in the various habitats in Alberta and a beautiful interpretive centre. You can also get a tour of the fish hatchery for an additional cost.
19. Grain Academy Museum
Located at the BMO Centre on the Plus 15 level in Stampede Park. The Grain Academy Museum says they are “An interactive celebration of the grain industry in Western Canada”. They are open Monday-Friday and admission is free.
Find out more about the Grain Academy Museum at their website.
20. Devonian Gardens
Hop on the C-train and take a downtown adventure. Pack a lunch or grab something at the nearby food court and to eat at the Devonian Gardens.
School-aged kids will love the challenge of the playground and climbing wall. If you have some extra time, you can find a map and explore the plus-15 system (best access during the week).
21. YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre
The Police Interpretive Centre opened at Westwinds Drive in the NE in the fall of 2015 and is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays with no admission charge.
Some exhibits do have strong content – if that is a concern for your family you are asked to check with the front desk. This is my pick for Calgary’s most underrated museum – it’s absolutely worth a visit.
22. Indoor Skating
Indoor skating in Calgary is pretty inexpensive. Most rinks have a family rate. Skating at city of Calgary rinks is $13.70 for a family.
Vivo (formally Cardel place) has a special skating-only price of $13. Westside Rec‘s leisure skating rink is included with family admission of $33 which gives you access to the whole facility. (rates are not including skate rental although it is available at some rinks)
23. Chuck E. Cheese
You will need to spend money to buy tokens but it’s free to enter. Your kids will love playing the redemption games – they have both skill and arcade games. Check out their website for some token deals before you go.
24. Chinese Cultural Centre Museum
On the lower level of the Chinese Cultural Centre you can find the Chinese Artifacts Museum. You can learn about the history of the Chinese community in Calgary as well as historical Chinese artifacts and replicas. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
25. Try Disc Golf
Disc Golf courses are available (for no charge) in several Calgary parks. You can use a frisbee or a ball. Read more about Disc Golf in Calgary.
26. LOL Entertainment (Formally Fun ‘n’ More)
General admission offers a giant indoor climber. For an extra charge they also offer mini bowling, 5D Cinema and black light indoor mini-golf.
27. Military Museums
The Military Museums is dedicated to educating the public about Canada’s navy, army, and air force.
27. Go to Flying Squirrel
Calgary has two Flying Squirrel trampoline park locations. These will be a sure hit with your active kids.
28. Go Climbing
The Calgary Climbing Centre Hanger has a Climb Park with drop-in times. Read a great review of the climb park by Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies.
29. Go Bowling
Calgary has lots of kid friendly places to go bowling!
30. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and Museum at COP
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is beautifully presented and very engaging for kids to interactive stations throughout the museum.
31. March Break Movies
Cineplex is hosting $2.99 family favourites movies Monday-Friday. They will have 4 showings a day starting at 11am.
Landmark Cinemas is hosting $3 March Movie Break. $1 from the tickets go to Kids Help Phone.
32. The Big Box
This indoor play centre features a huge indoor climber with loads of slides and special features, a giant inflatable area, a brick building area, toddler area and more!
I am so thankful for all the hard work you put into your website!! I found your site last summer and enjoyed many different park adventures inspired by you. My kids (girls aged 7 and 9) love looking at the pictures and picking a park to go to. I am looking forward now to some of these ideas for spring break. Thanks!! 🙂
Thank you! It’s always nice to hear that someone actually finds it useful 🙂
Your website is really wonderful. I appreciate it as well!
Hi, just a heads up that Fun’n’more is undergoing renos; ok for older kids to run around and play but not for toddlers 2 and under. Yet they still charge for 2 and under when there is nothing for them to play on
Lots of fun ideas here! I’m looking forward to a Zoo day and maybe going to the Glenbow. They have a pretty fun craft area and surprising amount of kid-friendly stuff.