Did you know there are only 940 weekends between the time your child is born and the time they turn 18? And now that school is back in session, it can seem even more important to make the most of your weekends. We know that weekends provide valuable time for families to bond and reconnect without school, work and extracurricular activities getting in the way. But so often, day-to-day chores like cleaning the house, chauffeuring kids to activities and even checking your work email all steal time away from those most important in your life.
So how do you put the magic back into weekends for everyone in your family? Here are our suggestions:
Go au natural. This Fall, visit one of the many attractions open to the public. Places like the Calgary Corn Maze & Fun Farm and Cobb’s Corn Maze & Family Fun Park, Butterfield Acres Farm, the Saskatoon Farm and Kayben Farms are great places to enjoy a brisk weekend morning or sunny afternoon. Fresh Fall air and a chance to pick the perfect pumpkin, go on a hayride and visit the petting zoos are all fantastic activities to burn off energy built up sitting all week. The Calgary Zoo is a great place to visit because as the days get cooler, many of the animals become more active.
Find a fabulous Fall festival. Summer means there is a festival every weekend. But just because the days are shorter doesn’t mean the party’s over. From music to science, there is something to interest anyone in your family. The Calgary Highland Games bring a bit of history to a family outing - plus, who doesn’t love watching someone throw a tree trunk as far as they can?! On Saturday, September 13, Beakerhead will be turning the city into a living laboratory with its wild and wonderful take on science, and Doors Open Calgary will give everyone a sneak peek behind the scenes. Our picks: the Aero Space Museum of Calgary, KIDSIM Simulation Centre and The City of Calgary Sign Shop.
Or what about some spooktacular fun for Halloween? On October 24 and 25, pack up yer little ghosts and goblins and head to TELUS Spark for Monster Mash-Up! Proudly brought to you by Calgary’s Child Magazine. You can create toy mash-ups, trick out your costumes or decorate pumpkins. If that’s not enough, you can even explore the Mad Science Hall or join the Little Monster Party.
Get off the beaten path. We already know that hiking is good exercise and a great way to unplug, but it’s also a good time to talk. While you’re exploring, you can chat about the great outdoors, the things you see and it’s a perfect place to ask your kids about school, friends and their lives in general. For a beautiful Fall hike, check out Larch Valley in Lake Louise or Troll Falls with its easy-to-navigate, even with a stroller, trail.
Get to know the city. Calgary is very quadrant-based. Traveling across the city can seem like an overwhelming experience. If you only leave to go to a friend’s house, an attraction or to work, break out of your shell.
Here are some fun reasons to explore other neighborhoods:
Calgary’s Chinatown. The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre has 561 dragons and 16 phoenixes in the dome of the building. How many can you see?
Silver Springs Botanical Garden is opening their Shakespeare Garden in September.
Find one of the Little Free Libraries in your community or even better, find one in a nearby neighborhood to see what people are reading at that location.
Inglewood is considered one of the most haunted communities in Calgary. Find out why by creating your own haunted tour.
Do you know what the giant numbers on the hills mean as you enter Westhills Shopping Centre? Find out at Battalion Park at Signal Hill.
Finally, don’t let weekends be a budget breaker. There is a lot of value to be found when you spend a weekend at home. Check out what’s new on Netflix, for example, or television, make some popcorn and cuddle up on the couch and watch a good movie together. Or take back your Sunday night. Turn off the tech and break out the board games after a family dinner. It’s a great way to casually check in with everyone about what’s happening in the week ahead.
Nanica is the proud parent to Benjamin and Fable. Truly a child at heart, she is constantly exploring Calgary for new things to keep her kids from destroying her house and happily occupied year-round.
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