Amusement Parks, Art Centres, Bowling, Day Trips, Farmer's Markets & U Pick it Farms

AMUSEMENT PARKS

Calaway Park - Western Canada’s largest outdoor family  amusement park features rides, games, food locations, live stage entertainment and shopping, calawaypark.com.

Wild Rapids Water Slide - The ultimate water slide  experience. Wild Rapids is the first inner tube water slide. Hold on tight, things will get slippery! Location: Sylvan Lake.

ART CENTRES

Phone: 3-1-1

North Mount Pleasant
523, 27 Avenue NW

Wildflower
3363 Spruce Drive SW: 249-3773

BOWLING

Bowling Depot
Location: Deerfoot Mall
Phone: 403-275-1260

Chinook Bowladrome
Basement, Chinook Centre
Phone: 403-252-5747

Fairview Bowling & Billiards Centre
Location: 1010-999-36 Street NE
Phone: 403-289-2571

Let's Bowl
Location: 26 Street & 5 Avenue NE
Phone: 403-569-2695

Mountainview Bowl
Location: 37 Street & Richmond Road SW
Phone: 403-249-0858

Paradise Lanes
Location: 3411-17 Avenue SE
Phone: 272-4570

Spare Time Bowl
location: 402 Railway Street Cochrane
Phone: 403 -932-5280

Toppler Bowl
Location: 7640 Fairmont Dr SE
Phone: 403-255-0101

DAY TRIPS

Need to get out of town for a few hours or a day? Try one of the following day trips that will educate, entertain or both.

Beaver Dam Flats - Beaver Dam Flats borders the Bow River and is surrounded by various natural habitats that attract beavers, which build dams in the area, hence the park name.
 

Bow Habitat Station at Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery - Get up close and personal with millions of trout or test the water to understand why wetlands are called “nature’s kidneys.” Location: on the bank of the Bow River in the heart of Calgary. Currently closed for construction. For information on when it is re-opening, visit srd.alberta.ca/fishwildlife/fisheriesmanagement/bowhabitatstation/default.aspx.
 

Butterfield Acres Children’s Farm - Listen to the sheep munching on their hay, or wiggle your fingers into the curly wool of a newborn lamb, or inspect the hair in a calf’s ear. Find out what makes a real farm tick. Location: 254077 Rocky Ridge Road.

Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park - Travel the world without ever leaving the city.Go on a Safari, visit Australia or check out the creatures of the night, calgaryzoo.com.

Canada Olympic Park - Whether sampling the snow, braving the luge track or taking your bike for a spin on the 25kms of open and single-track cross-country trails, COP has variety for families of every age, coda.ca.  

Cochrane Ecological Institute and Cochrane Wildlife Reserve - This reserve has the only breeding colony of the Swift Fox (endangered in Canada).The reserve also provides care and rehabilitates injured wildlife.Location: Cochrane. 

Elbow Valley Wetland - An incredible variety of sights and sounds greet you at this constructed wetland in the Calgary area.
Location: Highway 8 (Glenmore Trail SW), just west of Sarcee Trail.

Fish Creek Park - Only a hop, skip and a jump from Calgary’s southern suburbs, Canada’s largest urban park covers more than 10 kms of protected river valley. Visit the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre or Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, tprc.alberta.ca/parks/fishcreek.

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary - Over 250 bird species and  a variety of mammals call these 32 hectares of natural area home. See what birds you can identify during your visit. Location: On the Bow River at 2425, 9 Avenue SE.

Medicine River Wildlife Centre - The Centre provides care for injured or orphaned wildlife with the aim of returning them to the wild. Location: 4km south and 1.5km east of Raven. For more information, visit medicineriverwildlifecentre.ca.

Nose Hill Park - A unique natural environment park located in Northwest Calgary just 15 minutes from downtown is 1127 hectares in size, making it the largest municipal park in Canada.

Reader Rock Garden - Calgary’s first Legacy Park underwent 18 months of construction in 2006 that rejuvenated this garden. The three acre site has five main gardens and a variety of trails waiting to be explored.

Rothney Astrophysical Observatory - Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, U of C - One of Canada’s largest telescopes and the only telescope in Canada patrolling for killer asteroids. Open house evenings held once a month or visit the 2200 square foot interpretive centre, ucalgary.ca/rao.

Sikome Lake - Life’s a beach at Calgary’s famous swimming hole. Enjoy cooling down on a hot day at this well-known South Calgary treasure.

Shakers Fun Centre - Calgary’s largest year-round entertainment centre offering two Go Kart tracks, Laser Tag arena, Climbing tower, 18 hole mini-golf course, an arcade with over 70 games, an indoor playground and much more. 9900 Venture Avenue SE. Shakerscalgary.com.

Spruce Meadows - This picturesque complex has captivated the worldwide audience of the sport of show jumping. There is no other place like it. Spruce Meadows blends the discipline of sport with the communication of international commerce and the goodwill of visitors...bringing Canada together with the world.

FARMERS’ MARKETS & U PICK IT FARMS

Make fresh food fun and entertaining at one of the following farmers’ markets. There is always something new to try when you visit.

Bearspaw Lion’s Farmers’ Market - Located on  Highway 1A, 1km west of the city limits. For more information contact 403-239-0201, Extension 2.Visit on Sundays weekly from June to October, 11am to 3pm.

Blackfoot Market - 5600, 11 Street SE. It’s the oldest,  largest and longest running market in Calgary. Purchase locally grown, farm-fresh produce. Arts and Crafts Village, large petting zoo and playground. Open May to October. Hours: Fridays/Saturdays 8am to 5pm and Sundays 10 am to 4pm.

Calgary Farmers’ Market - Currie Barracks Hanger #6,  4421 Quesnay Wood Drive SW. For more information call 403-244-4548. Open year round every Friday and Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 9am to 4pm.

Cochrane Farmers’ Market - Cochrane Ranche Historic  Site, Hwy. 1A & Hwy. 22. 20 minutes west of Calgary on the 1A (Crowchild Trail). The best of local produce: dried flowers, honey, bakery items, sausages, free range eggs, sauces, jams & jellies, arts & crafts. Every Saturday from June to end of September, 9am to 1pm.

Crossroads Flea Market - 1235 26 Avenue SE. Less than  5 minutes from downtown with ample free parking. Located at Blackfoot Trail and Ogden Road in an eclectic 100,000 square foot historical building.Home to a flea market, antique market, indoor farmer’s market, international food fair, and a seasonal outdoor farmer’s market.

Indoor farmer’s market: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm; outdoor farmer’s market: summer months: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm.

Calgary Grassroots Northland Market - Northland Village Mall, 5111 Northland Drive NW (parking lot). This market features venders that bring to you a variety of fruit, veggies, flowers, crafts, bakers and more. Dates/Times: June to September (weekly); every Tuesday from 3:30 to 7:30pm (rain or shine).

The information used to create this list was compiled from the following sources: Calgary’s Child Magazine; The  Calgary Downtown Association, downtowncalgary.com; Travel Alberta, travelalberta.com;Tourism Calgary, tourismcalgary.com.