Do you have a child that is still a little less than enthused about playing in the snow and getting outside in winter? Maybe it’s you the parent that would honestly prefer to hibernate until late April at least. There’s a lot to dislike about the colder temperatures from the tripled time it takes to dress the kids to wind chill, slippery pathways and shoveling sidewalks for six+ months. Fortunately, winter can also be a lot of fun and by trying some of these activities, you can learn to love the season as much as we do.
1. Learn to skate this winter. The City has many beautiful outdoor ponds to enjoy through the winter and children as young as one to two years old can learn to skate with a pair of double blade skates. Haven’t skated since you were a child? It’s never too late to go down to a second-hand sport store, buy a pair of skates and get back at it with the kids. Skating is one of the most affordable sports you can enjoy as a family, and is one of the most classic Canadian winter pastimes. For more information on outdoor skating rinks in Calgary, visit The City of Calgary’s website at www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/Outdoor-skating-rinks.aspx. And remember, on ice, everyone should be wearing a ski or hockey helmet.
Day-trip option. Kananaskis Village has a lovely little skating pond that we like to visit as a family each winter. It’s conveniently located near the playground and sledding hill for additional winter fun opportunities. Park at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis and plan to warm up beside their big fireplace in the lobby afterward with a coffee from the deli. For more information on winter activities in Kananaskis, visit the Alberta Parks website at www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/activities-events/winter-activities.aspx.
2. Try cross-country skiing on a City golf course. Both Confederation Park and Shaganappi Point Golf Courses are open to the public in winter for cross-country skiing. Shaganappi Point is usually groomed and track set when conditions are right, while Confederation Park is generally skier-tracked allowing for more open exploration. For children just learning to ski, you will likely not need to go any farther than one of these golf courses this winter. Both have good training hills for the novice skier and are easy to access for a quick afternoon ski.
For toddlers just learning to ski, you can purchase a pair of strap-on skis that fit over their boot and save on having to buy separate ski boots. The Calgary Ski Club’s website provides information on grooming at Shaganappi Point along with a trail map, www.calgaryskiclub.org/resources/useful-links/.
Day-trip option. The Canmore Nordic Centre is a wonderful place to spend the day as a family. They offer rentals and lessons, more than 50 kilometres of groomed and track set trails for skiers of all abilities, affordable day passes and a warm clubhouse complete with fireplace and cafeteria. There is also a skating rink and sledding hill on-site. For more information, visit the Canmore Nordic Centre’s website at www.albertaparks.ca/canmore-nordic-centre/activities-events/cross-country-skiing.aspx.
3. Wake up your inner child and take the family sledding. I had forgotten how much fun sledding can be until I started taking my son out last year. We went down to Canadian Tire, bought a big red sled that would fit both of us and started exploring hills around Calgary. No matter how cold it is outside, kids can usually be convinced to get outside for some quick sledding fun. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate to warm up with, snacks, a blanket to warm up the cold snow and you now have a winter picnic! Still not convinced? Bring some friends and turn it into a social event. For more information on sledding hills in Calgary, visit The City of Calgary’s website at www.calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/Tobogganing-and-sledding.aspx and the same as skating, all sliders should wear a ski or hockey helmet.
Day-trip option. As mentioned above, both the Kananaskis Village and the Canmore Nordic Centre have sledding hills. If you want to venture farther, head to Bow Falls in the town of Banff where you’ll find a skating rink and sledding hill behind the Banff Springs Hotel popular with locals and tourists alike. I myself am too scared to try this hill with its jumps and bumps, but it’s very popular with school-aged children and tweens looking for a thrilling ride. For more information on winter fun in the town of Banff, visit the Town’s website at www.banff.ca/index.aspx?NID=107.
Tanya loves hiking, camping, skiing and all things mountain-related. She is the author of the blog, Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies, www.rockiesfamilyadventures.com, and the founder of Calgary Outdoor Playgroups on Facebook. More information about her playgroups can be found on her blog.
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