There are so many cool things to do in the city with your kids, but sometimes you just have to get out of town and day trips around Calgary are a great thing to do.
Now sure, we’ve had our struggles with road trips in the past, but USUALLY Clara is ok for a trip to the mountains or a short drive out of the city.
Here are some of our favourite day trips around Calgary with kids to do this winter.
Photo by: Dashing Dad
Banff/Two Jack Lake/Lake Minnewanka
What I love about doing this day trip is that it can be as adventurous or as laid back as you’d like it to be.
Personally, we love to drive up in the morning and adventure around Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka. Once Clara’s legs get tired or she starts getting whiny, we head into Banff, grab some lunch, and wander down Banff Ave. Then we pack Clara back into the car for nap time and head home.
It’s the perfect combination, for us, of outdoor adventure and relaxing family time.
Black Diamond/Turner Valley
Black Diamond and Turner Valley make an awesome day trip. We take Highway 22 through Millarville to get there. It’s maybe not the fastest way, but it’s less travelled and more picturesque.
Once you’re in the area there’s tons of awesome things to check out like:
Black Diamond Bakery and Cafe
I know you can get baked goods pretty much anywhere and this, in and of itself, wouldn’t be enough just for a day trip, BUT the owner, George Nielsen, is one of the few people in the world certified to serve royalty! How friggen cool is that? If it’s good enough for the queen, it’s good enough for us!
Chuckwagon cafe
The Chuckwagon cafe has seen a spike in popularity since being featured on the Food Network’s show ‘You Gotta Eat Here.’
More than half of the beef in the restaurant comes from the owner’s own ranch – it doesn’t get more local than that. This all all-day breakfast serves up some awesome eggs Benedict with smoked meat hashers. The perfect start to your adventures.
Marv’s classic soda shop
Started as an antique store, this 1950s-inspired shop has grown into a diner, candy and soda shop. The shop features an old-fashioned soda fountain and approximately 200 varieties of glass-bottled soda. A great place to stop for a snack or lunch.
Read More: How To Take a Road Trip With a Toddler
Nanton
Located about 45 minutes south of Calgary, Nanton makes a great day-trip. The kids will LOVE the family run Nanton Candy Store and the Bomber Command Museum makes for a fun place to check out a number of cool planes. Grab a bite to eat at Stuthornes on Main the head to Sentimental Journey’s Antiques store and pick up some cool items for your house.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum
My dad grew up in Drumheller, so I have a lot of memories of playing in the hoodoos, down by the river or at the ball diamond behind my aunt and uncles house.
On a summer day, taking a trip to Horseshoe Canyon, or looking for dino bones in the hills in Drumheller is the way to go, but for the winter a trip to the Royal Tyrrell Museum is a better bet.
This day trip is awesome because you get to take a walk through one of the largest dinosaur collections in the entire world. Children six and under are free and an adult pass is just $19 for the day.
Snowshoeing
I feel like a bit of a fraud suggesting snowshoeing because I’ve never done it. Ever. In my life. BUT, I really WANT to do it. If desire counts for anything then I’m ahead of the pack.
Since all you need for snowshoeing is warm winter clothes, snowshoes and snow, there isn’t a lack of places around Calgary to snowshoe with your kids. If, like me, you’ve never tried snowshoeing and don’t want to fork out big doe for snowshoes, you can rent them from several places around the city including the University of Calgary.
Once you’ve got your gear, you can check out some of these easy to access sites around Calgary:
- The Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area
- West Bragg Creek Trails
- Troll Falls
- Johnson Lake/Lake Minnewanka
- Upper Kananaskis Lake
Additionally, you can test out your snowshoeing abilities (or your kids) at most of the city golf courses, or in Fish Creek Park.
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