Activities in Calgary can quickly get expensive, and in the winter, options can seem even more limited. To help keep your family entertainment budget down, here are some of our picks for budget-friendly winter fun.
Outdoor Fun
Tobogganing
Calgary has a number of designated hills for sledding that are maintained and free of obstacles such as trees or roads. Don’t forget your helmet!
St. Andrews Heights Toboggan Hill (2504 13 Avenue NW)
Generally considered to be Calgary’s best toboggan hill, the hill at St. Andrews Heights is long and steep. There’s a long flat stretch at the bottom and a fence at the far end for added safety. Closer to the community centre, there is a ledge for younger or less adventurous kids to enjoy. This is a great place to go if you have kids with different abilities and thrill-seeking levels.
Prairie Winds Park Toboggan Hill (223 Castleridge Boulevard – north side of the hill)
Prairie Winds has one of the biggest, most popular toboggan hills in the city. You may be surprised by the variety it offers. This hill is perfect for older, more adventurous tobogganers but also has some smaller slopes on the western edge. It is well set up for parents to supervise from the bottom of the hill.
Outdoor Skating
Calgary has a huge number of outdoor rinks, most of which are run by volunteers and all of which are free to use. Some of these rinks are strictly for pleasure skating (no pucks or sticks), while others are dedicated hockey rinks.
Bowness Park (8900 48 Avenue NW)
Not only can you skate on the lagoon, you can also skate along the inlet, which is a unique experience that you don’t normally find in the city. Strollers are allowed on the ice, and helmets, stabilizers, and skates are available to rent. Skate sharpening is also available.
Carburn Park (67 Riverview Drive SE)
The pond skating at Carburn Park was reintroduced several years ago. Carburn Park is typically less busy than other pond skating options, but still a ton of fun. You can often find music and fire pits to warm your hands as well.
Silver Springs (5720 Silver Ridge Drive NW)
Silver Springs Community Association offers four ice surfaces that are cleared and flooded: an NHL-sized rink with boards, a large pond hockey rink (low boards, no puck raising), a small pond hockey rink (low boards, no puck raising), and a pleasure rink.
Wildwood Community Association Rink (4411 Spruce Drive SW)
The Wildwood Community Association boasts one of the best outdoor rink set ups in Calgary. They have a hockey rink with boards, a pleasure skating rink, and an ice trail around the soccer field. There is a heated changeroom area with a soft walkway, as well as an outdoor fire pit.
Indoor Fun
Calgary Public Library
Calgary Public Library Library cards are free for everyone and you can get more than just books. They offer many free programs and activities. Not only that, but they also have early learning centres, spaces for kids to explore, learn, and play. Each library has a different theme to explore.
YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre
The Police Interpretive Centre opened at Westwinds Drive in the NE in the fall of 2015 and is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays with no admission charge. Some exhibits contain strong content; if that is a concern for your family, you are asked to check with the front desk. It is an excellent museum – one of Calgary’s hidden gems.
Devonian Gardens
Located in The CORE Shopping Centre along the C-train line, the Devonian Gardens is a little oasis of green even in the winter. In addition to the gardens, there is a playground (best for kids ages five and up), as well as koi fish.
Indoor Skating
Indoor skating is relatively inexpensive. Many rinks have a family rate for under $20. Most are very typical skating rinks, but you can even skate at the Olympic Oval speed skating track located at the University of Calgary.
Indoor Swimming
Swimming is awesome in the winter as it can almost make you forget how cold it is outside. Calgary has a ton of different options for swimming, and a family of four can go to almost any of them for under $30.
If your family likes wave pools and waterslides, check out Village Square Leisure Centre, Southland Leisure Centre, Westside Rec or Trico. If you love water features but wave pools are a bit too exciting for your family, try Vivo, Seton YMCA, or the leisure pool at the Rocky Ridge YMCA.
Dana is the creator of Calgary Playground Review, calgaryplaygroundreview.com. She searches out the best places to play, eat, and learn with kids in Calgary, across Alberta, and beyond. Her three kids also contribute their unfiltered opinions to her reviews.
See our related articles:
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2024 Calgary’s Child
