Ahhh... Walking in a Winter Wonderland! Whether you want a simple stroll somewhere close or a bit of a day trip, there are some great areas to investigate. Many parks throughout Calgary, such as Bowness and Fish Creek Park, are open year-round. Activities are available within the parks such as cross-country skiing, skating and just simply walking the trails and observing the wildlife.
If you’re looking for something a little farther afield but still suited to the whole family, try Heart Creek Trail just 45 minutes from Calgary, Grotto Canyon and Johnston Canyon in Canmore. These are great choices for intermediate hikes your family are sure to enjoy.
Take your trip to the next level! A really great activity you can do this winter is geocaching, which turns a regular day on the trails into a unique treasure hunt!
Or try strapping on some snowshoes and heading off the beaten path. You can rent snowshoes from many outdoor stores in Calgary, Banff and Canmore, and then really see what the ‘wild side’ of winter is all about.
Slip sliding away
Get your snow gear on (don’t forget your helmet!), and explore some of the many great tobogganing hills located around the city. Some of the best hills in Calgary are St. Andrews Park near the University of Calgary and Confederation Park. But our favorite part of tobogganing is a warm cup of hot chocolate at the end of the tobogganing day.
If you want a little more speed, you can try the bobsled and luge runs at WinSport - Canada Olympic Park, or tubing at Mt. Norquay, Lake Louise or Nakiska.
To warm up those cold fingers and toes at the end of a long sledding day, try a delicious hot chocolate bisque recipe from Julie Van Rosendaal’s article, Good to Go in the Snow, calgaryschild.com/food-and-travel/food/1022-good-to-go-in-the-snow.
Cheer for the home team
Whether it’s the Calgary Flames, the Calgary Hitmen or the Calgary Roughnecks, you won’t go wrong checking out one of these fast-paced leagues. While Flames games can be pricey and often run too late for the littlest fans, both the Roughnecks and the Hitmen are a perfect fit. There are more afternoon games, it’s easier to get tickets close to the action, cheaper for the whole family and often just as entertaining.
Wild winter fun
On the march - Check out the King Penguins at the Calgary Zoo as they leave their enclosures to stretch their flippers. Weather-dependent, the penguins are off and away every morning at 11am until March 8, 2016.
Winter’s going to the dogs - If you want to escape the city, try dogsledding! Think about it: Mushing your way through the snow, learning to drive your own dog team or just snuggling up in the sled under a cozy buffalo rug. It’s a great way to see Alberta’s stunning mountain scenery.
One horse open sleigh - Is there anything that screams winter more than a horse-drawn sleigh ride? We don’t think so. After a cozy trip through beautiful scenery, round out your ride by sipping on hot chocolate and marshmallows around a toasty fire. For your next adventure, try Horsin Around, Heritage Park Historical Village, Banff and Rafter Six Ranch Resort.
Fishing’s snow much fun - Just because there is snow on the ground and six inches of ice on the lake doesn’t mean it is time to pack up the rod or reel. Calgary and surrounding areas have some cool places for families to bond over, “I caught one!” For a complete list of ice fishing locations close to Calgary, visit todocanada.ca/ice-fishing-around-calgary.
Follow that footprint - Animal tracking is a fun way for the whole family to connect with nature. Take a camera or your phone to Fish Creek or Nose Hill Park and see how many animals you can identify. From birds to bobcats, many wild animals make their home in Calgary.
Feed the birds - Winter is a hard time for birds - grasses are covered in snow so seeds and berries are hard to get to, and bugs have burrowed down for the winter. You can make your own home bird feed with suet or get some good birdseed with sunflower seeds, peanuts, white millet and cracked corn. Bring the bird feed with you on your nature walks. You can leave little piles for chickadees and other birds.
Lace up the skates - You can’t go wrong with a great game of shinny or crack the whip. Skating is a wonderful winter activity! Outdoor skating rinks in Calgary are weather-dependent and are typically open mid-December through February, while places like Olympic Plaza are open mid-November to mid-March.
Our best bets for skating: Spruce Meadows, Olympic Plaza, Bowness Lagoon, Prairie Winds Park and the Olympic Oval.
Skiing uphill, downhill and cross-country
While we may be joking about skiing uphill, there are tons of choices for gliding across the snow. Did you know there are 13 downhill ski hills within a few hours of Calgary?
You can head for the slopes at:
Canyon Ski Area
Nakiska
Sunshine Village
Mt. Norquay
Lake Louise
Kimberly
Panorama
Kicking Horse
Fernie
Castle Mountain
Pass Powderkeg Ski Hill
Rabbit Hill Snow Resort locally at WinSport - Canada Olympic Park
For a complete list, visit skicentral.com/alberta.html.
Or, if level terrain is more your fancy, you can either take to the park or try one of four track set trails. You can find all of Calgary’s trails for cross-country skiing at calgary.ca/CSPS/Parks/Pages/Locations/Cross-country-skiing.aspx.
Whatever activity your family chooses to participate in this winter, remember to dress warm and dress in lots of layers. Winter is a great time to visit and live in Calgary!
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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