Here are a few of my favourite things to do with kids in Calgary during the winter months. What’s more, everything listed here is free (or almost free). So there’s no need to panic when the snow starts to fall and the mercury plummets – the local park might be off limits, but there are plenty of other options.
- Dress up warmly and head to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for a winter walk. Count how many different birds you can spot on the circular route.
- Listen to a story. Monkeyshines children’s book store in Marda Loop and Pages in Kensington offer regular story time for little ones, free of charge. Head to Pages on Mondays at 10 a.m. and Monkeyshines on Thursdays at 10.30 a.m.
- Tired of making snowmen in your back yard? Try tobogganing at a local hill (visit the City of Calgary website for a list of suitable venues). Be aware of the inherent dangers and remind your children of the basic rules. Helmets are recommended.
- Stay and play at your local community centre. These regular play times are popular during the winter months. It’s a great place to let your little ones burn off some steam and meet local families with children the same age as yours.
- Take a ride on the C-Train. My kids love it. I usually aim for a large bookstore (Dalhousie Station has a big Chapters close by) where we can browse for a while before heading home. Children under the age of six ride free on the C-Train. The adult fare is $2.50 and there’s no need to buy a return ticket if you complete your trip within 90 minutes. If your budget allows, buy a new book as a treat for your children.
- Visit the library and spend a while reading books, playing educational games on the computers, or discovering new DVDs to take home. Annual library card membership is free for children. Ask about free family programming at your local library.
- Head to the mall: Market Mall and Southcentre Mall have kid’s play areas that are perfect for preschoolers (make sure everyone has socks).
- Enjoy an outdoor BBQ at one of Calgary’s numerous parks on a sunny winter’s day. Pack plenty of warm clothes, blankets and a thermos or two of hot chocolate, and grill hamburgers or hot dogs for the family. Bring a soccer ball to keep the kids moving.
- Work up a sweat! After a big dump of snow, volunteers track-set cross-country ski trails at a number of city parks and three municipal golf courses (Confederation, Maple Ridge and Shaganappi). Alternatively, head to your local park and break your own trail – most kids don’t mind falling over in the snow a few times.
- If it’s really, really cold stay home and bake some goodies with the kids. Cupcakes, muffins, gingerbread men and cheese scones are all popular in my house. Invite some friends over for a tea-party!
- Strap on your skates for some fun at Bowness Lagoon. There’s plenty of room for everyone in this picturesque park. Warm up with a hot chocolate around the fire pit. Weather permitting, there’s also skating at Olympic Plaza in the heart of downtown.
- Take full advantage of free events around the city this winter. Visit the City of Calgary website (www.calgary.ca) and head to the “Living” section for an event listing. Also keep an eye on the local papers.
Kara Turner is a Calgary mother of two and the owner of Little Traveller baby equipment rentals (www.littletraveller.ca).
Free winter fun in Calgary