I’ve been thinking of doing a top 10 list of things to do with kids in Calgary for a long time. But it’s so hard to pick which things should be on the list. So I’ve decided to do it a little differently.
On this list, I have my family’s favourite picks from each category as well as the places that received the most votes from the survey I conducted.
Whether you are a local or just visiting, you will be sure to find some great things to do with your kids in Calgary.
This year’s list was created in February 2019.
Dana: Calgary Playground Review Creator
Stephen: Calgary Playground Review Dad
Gordie: age 9
Nicky: age 6
Robbie: age 4 (Robbie didn’t pick his favourites this year)
1. Top Calgary Museum
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: Glenbow
Stephen: Military Museums
Gordie: The Hangar
Nicky: Studio Bell
Top Voted:
It’s no surprise that the Glenbow was a popular choice. Calgary’s most traditional museum has lots to see and some great interactive features in many of their exhibits.
Bow Habitat Station, a fish and wildlife centre, is probably a less obvious choice. Located next to a wetland and attached to a fish hatchery, this museum is beautifully set up and surprisingly engaging.
2. Top Calgary Attraction
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: Calgary Zoo
Stephen: Heritage Park
Gordie: Telus Spark
Nicky: Calgary Zoo
Top Voted:
Although the Calgary Zoo was the most popular choice, support for Calaway Park and Telus Spark was also very strong.
3. Top Calgary Playground
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: Confederation Park Playground
Stephen: Confederation Park Playground
Gordie: Currie Barracks Airplane Playground
Nicky: Currie Barracks Airplane Playground
Top Voted:
Bowness Park and Prince’s Island Park are two of Calgary’s most popular parks and both have great playgrounds.
My current favourite playground is at Confederation Park because it’s not only tons of fun but it’s set up as more of a community space rather than just a playground. My kids love a good themed playground and the airport playground at Currie Barracks tops their list.
4. Top Calgary Winter Activity
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
We all picked: Skating on Bowness Park Lagoon
Top Voted:
- Skating on the Bowness Lagoon
- Skiing at Winsport
- Tobogganing at St. Andrew’s Heights
- Tobogganing at St. Patrick’s Island
Skating on the Bowness Park Lagoon is one of the most fun things we have done as a family ever. You can skate up the river too when the conditions are right.
If you are looking for family skiing, you can go right in town at Winsport. If tobogganing is more up your alley, St. Andrew’s Heights is considered one of Calgary’s most exciting hills and St. Patrick’s Island’s toboggan hill has recently become very popular as well.
5. Top Calgary Park
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: Nose hill
Stephen: Confederation Park
Gordie: Nose Hill
Nicky: Confederation Park
Top Voted:
- Bowness Park
- Fish Creek Park
- St. Patrick’s Island
Calgary has so many parks it is really hard to pick just one. If you love to explore, Fish Creek and Nose Hill are huge mostly natural areas.
Looking for more of a recreational park? Confederation Park, Bowness Park and St. Patrick’s Island are great choices.
6. Top Calgary Indoor Play Place
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: Tot Spot
Stephen: Treehouse
Gordie: The Big Box
Nicky: Hide N Seek
Top Voted:
Calgary has many indoor play centres right now. People were pretty split as to which was the best but Hide N Seek came out on top. Find the big places too much for your small kids? Give the Tot Spot at the Flip Factory a try.
7. Top Calgary Festival
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
We all picked: Calgary Stampede
Top Voted:
- Calgary Stampede
- Beakerhead
- Zoo Lights
Calgary’s largest festival, The Calgary Stampede topped the list with Beakerhead and Zoo Lights coming in behind.
8. Top Calgary Water Play
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: St. Patrick’s Island Park River Wading Area
Stephen: Prairie Winds Wading Pool and Spray Park
Gordie: Sikome Lake
Nicky: Mount Pleasant Pool
Top Voted:
Sikome Lake is Calgary’s beachiest public beach. Riley park has a large wading pool with a lovely treed setting. If you are looking for a more natural setting, St. Patrick’s Island has a river wading area set up for kids to play.
9. Top Calgary Activity Centre
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: I haven’t been to any yet!
Stephen: Laser City
Gordie: Laser City
Nicky: Xtreme Trampoline Park
Top Voted:
- Flying Squirrel
- Calgary Climbing Centre
This category has a lot of variation in it, but Flying Squirrel came out on top.
10. Top Calgary Library
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: Central Library
Stephen: Central Library
Gordie: Signal Hill Library
Nicky: Forest Lawn Library
Top Voted:
Calgarians have quickly fallen in love with the New Central Library. It is a beautiful building with a fun play area for this kids and is well worth the trip.
Many of Calgary’s library’s now have Early Learning Centres which are essentially areas for young kids to learn through play. They are completely free to use. My son loves the building theme at the Signal Hill Library and my daughter loves the outdoor play space at the Forest Lawn Library.
11. Top Calgary Fun Farm
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
We all picked: Granary Road
Top Voted:
This category was pretty split but the Calgary Corn Maze came out on top. My family really enjoyed the whimsical playgrounds at Granary Road. If you are looking for a petting zoo, Butterfield Acres is definitely your best choice.
12. Top Calgary Free Place to Play
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: The Library
Stephen: Airport
Gordie: Devonian Gardens
Nicky: McDonalds
Top Voted:
Several years ago, Calgary’s libraries made some changes and have become much more family friendly. They are now really great places to go the kids and they are completely free. You can even drink your coffee while the kids play.
McDonalds is still really popular as well. If you are looking for a downtown adventure, the Devonian Gardens makes a great stop.
13. Top Calgary Swimming Pool
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: Village Square
Stephen: Village Square
Gordie: Vivo
Top Voted:
- Southland
- YMCA Rocky Ridge
- Village Square
Calgary has a lot of fun indoor pools. Two of the City of Calgary’s wave pools Village Square and Southland made the top three and the new Rocky Ridge YMCA has quickly become a favourite.
14. Top Calgary Day Trip
Calgary Playground Review Picks:
Dana: Drumheller
Stephen: Drumheller
Gordie: Red Deer – Blackfalds Abbey Centre, Discovery Canyon
Top Voted:
- Banff
- Canmore
- Drumheller
Calgarians love to go on day trips. The most popular choices were to the mountains (Banff and Canmore) but visiting the dinosaurs in Drumheller was also a favourite.
Congratulations to this years top picks!
