|A Few Hours|Festivals|Day Trips|Family Fun|
|Road Trips|Museums|Wildlife|Amusement Parks|
|Farmer's Markets|Rainy Day Fun|

What to do for a few hours in Calgary

1. Rothney Astrophysical Observatory –  Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, U of C
One of Canada's largest telescopes and the only telescope in Canada patrolling for killer asteroids. Open house evenings held once a month ism.ucalgary.ca/ top/rao

2. Spruce Meadows - World-famous show jumping facility. Hosts the National (Canadian Championships), June 7 to 11, 2006; Continental, June 14 to 18, 2006; Canada One, June 28 to July 2, 2006; North American, July 5 to 9, 2006; Masters, Sept. 6 to 10, 2006. sprucemeadows.com

3. Canada Olympic Park - Try the mountain bike park, with 25 km of open and single-track cross-country trails, including a beginner area, a stunt park, a free-ride stunts area and a dirt jumping area. canadaolympicpark.ca

4. Calgary's Wading Pools - Riley Park Wading Pool - 800 12 St. NW; Prairie Winds Wading Pool - 223 Castleridge Blvd. NE; Barclay Mall Wading Pool - 1 Ave. & 3rd St. SW; Canmore Park Wading Pool - 19 St. & Chicoutimi Dr. NW; Rotary Park Wading Pool - 617 1 St. NE; Olympic Plaza Reflecting Pool - 228 8 Ave. SE Variety Park Spray Deck - 90 Ave. & 24 St. SW

5. Calgary's Outdoor Pools - Bowview Outdoor Pool - 1910 6 Ave. NW; Highwood Outdoor Pool - 25 Holmwood Ave. NW; Mount Pleasant Outdoor Pool - 2310 6 St. NW; Silver Springs Outdoor Pool - Silverridge Cl. & Silverridge Dr. NW; South Calgary Outdoor Pool - 3130 16 St. SW; Stanley Park Outdoor Pool - 4011 1A St. SW; Forest Lawn Outdoor Pool - 1706 39 St. SE; Millican-Ogden Outdoor Pool - 69 Ave. & 20A St. SE

6. Shaw Millenium Skate Park -  Visit the world's largest skateboard park. Boarders, bikers and bladers can climb, slide, twist, roll and flip through the park's 63,000 square feet of concrete terrain that features rails, bowls, pipes and ledges.

7. Fish Creek Park - Only a hop, skip and a jump from Calgary's southern suburbs, Canada's largest urban park covers more than ten kms of protected river valley.

8. Nose Hill Park -  A unique natural environment park located in Northwest Calgary just 15 minutes from downtown is 1127 hectares in size, making it the largest municipal park in Canada.

9. Reader Rock Garden -  After 18 months of construction to rejuvenate this 70 year-old garden, the three acre site has trails waiting to be explored.

10. Sikome Lake -  Life's a beach at Calgary's famous swimming hole. Enjoy cooling down on a hot day at this well knows South Calgary treasure. (Closed for renovations in 2007)

11. Elbow Valley Wetland -  An incredible variety of sights and sounds greet you at this constructed wetland in the Calgary area. Location: Highway 8 (Glenmore Trail SW), just 800 metres west of Sarcee Trail.

12. Beaver Dam Flats -  Beaver Dam Flats borders the Bow River and is surrounded by various natural habitats that attract beavers, which build dams in the area, hence the park name

Festivals

Day Trips

Need to get out of town for a few hours or a day? Try one of the following day trips that will educate, entertain or both.

Educational

28. Bar U Ranch National Historic Site - The Bar U Ranch paints a colorful picture of ranching history, with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Location: 15 km (9 miles) south of Longview

29. Brooks Aqueduc - This three km long, centipede-like structure was a vital link in an extensive irrigation network that provided water critical to the dry lands of southern Alberta. Location: 8 km southwest of Brooks, off Trans-Canada Highway 1

30. Frank Slide Interpretive Centre - On April 29, in 1903, 82 million tonnes of rock fell from Turtle Mountain and buried part of the coal mining town of Frank - 70 people died. Find out the story behing the Frank Slide. Location: Hwy 3, Municipality of Crowsnest Pass

31. Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump -  Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, Head-Smashed-In It is one of the world's oldest, largest and best preserved buffalo jump's known to exist and has been used continuously by aboriginal peoples of the plains for more than 5,500 years. Location: 18 km north & west of Fort Macleod.

32. Leitch Collieries -  While visiting Frank Slide take the time to stop at one of the largest and most ambitious coal mines in the Crowsnest Pass. Walk among the ruins of the powerhouse, mine manager's house and coke ovens. Location: Hwy 3, Municipality of Crowsnest Pass

33. Remington Carriage Museum - Experience authentic 19th and early 20th century horse-drawn transportation. The Museum's interactive galleries tell numerous stories of turn-of-the-century society and the carriage industry. Location: Cardston.

34. Rutherford House - Check out how the other half lived in the early 1900's. The gentility of the pre-First World War era is yours to experience at Alexander Rutherford, Alberta's first premier's home. Location: 11153 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton

35. Stephansson House - Check out how Icelander, Stephan G. Stephansson, considered one of the greatest poets in the western world, managed to tend this homestead by day and write his famous and respected poetry by night. Location: 30 minutes southwest of Red Deer, off Hwy 592 & 781

36. Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village - Share in the compelling stories of the triumphs and hardships of Ukrainian immigrants who came to the Bloc Settlement in east central Alberta from 1892 to 1930. Location: 25 minutes east of Edmonton on Hwy 16

37. Victoria Settlement  - In 1862, Reverend George McDougall founded a Methodist mission to the Cree and later the Hudson's Bay Company later established Fort Victoria to trade with the natives. Learn about the growth and decline of this once-bustling community Location: off Hwy 855, near Smoky Lake

Family Fun

38. Sylvan Lake - Famous for its spectacular natural lake setting, Sylvan Lake has the second largest marina in the province, with one of the cleanest lakes in Canada. For more information on activities visit town.sylvan-lake.ab.ca

39. Banff National Park - Spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destination spots. For a list of activities visit pc.gc.ca/banff

40. Banff Hoodoos - These spires carved by the forces of wind and water, stand like lonely sentinels overlooking the Bow River. Location: 4 km from Banff on Tunnel Mountain Road.

41. Bow Valley Parkway - This scenic alternative to the Trans Canada Highway 1 provides an opportunity to view the landscape at a more leisurely pace. Explore the history of the Bow River Valley through interpretive signs located at various points along the highway.

42. Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks - The emerald green lake is set before Mount Temple, the highest mountain in the Bow Range and third highest in Banff National Park. Location: 12 km east of Lake Louise.

43. Jasper National Park - The largest and most northerly Canadian rocky mountain national park, part of a spectacular World Heritage Site. For a list of activities visit pc.gc.ca/jasper

44. Columbia Icefield Glacier - From Highway 93 one can see the Athabasca, Stutfield, and Dome glaciers. Ice Explorer and professionally guided hiking tours are available on the Athabasca glacier.

45. Maligne Canyon - One of the most spectacular gorges to be found in the Canadian Rockies. Self-guided trails and footbridges provide spectacular views of the canyon. Location: 11 km east of the Jasper Townsite along Highway 16.

46. Kananaskis Country - Located 90 km southwest of Calgary the spectacular mountain and foothills landscapes make a perfect back-drop for a multitude of year-round recreational opportunities. For more ideas visit cd.gov.ab.ca/enjoying_alberta/parks/ featured/kananaskis/flashindex.asp

47. Waterton Lakes National Park - In Southwestern Alberta, some of the most ancient and colorful mountains in the Rockies abruptly meet the rolling prairie. It is a dynamic landscape shaped by wind, fire, flooding, and abundant plants and wildlife. For more information visit parkscanada.pc.gc.ca/waterton

48. Lacombe Corn Maze - Come challenge your wits at the 15-acre maze, made up of nine foot high corn stalks and filled with trivia questions to make your search through the maze more challenging. Location: off Hwy 12 4.8 km west of Lacombe

49. The Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station - The Station is truly out of this world. Crew members will be on hand to answer any questions about the Station as well as the town of Vulcan and Vulcan County. Location: One hour southeast of Calgary

50. Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum - The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is an interactive, hands-on celebration of Alberta's Sporting history. Location: on the west edge of Red Deer.

51. R.C.M.P. Dog Training Centre -  This centre is the only RCMP dog training facility in Canada. On Wednesdays they have demonstrations of Obedience, agility and criminal apprehension. Location: Innisfail

52. EM-TE Town - A privately built ghost town that features the Hogs Breath Saloon, jail house, harness shop, log buildings, livery stable, bank, church, emporium, and restaurant. Location: 10 km west off Highway 22 between Drayton Valley

53. Writing on Stone Provincial Park - See native carvings (petroglyphs) and paintings, which cover sheer sandstone cliffs. The park also protects native prairie grasslands, the meandering Milk River, hoodoos, and unique wildlife. Location: 32 km east and 10 km south of Milk River on Secondary Highway 501

Road Trips

Never hear "are we their yet?" again when you choose one of the following road trips. Go on one the planned itineraries, or combine them with local events and festivals to make your next vacation a family adventure. (Find more information on road trips at travelalberta.com/content/travellingto/tripstotake.cfm)

54. Trail of the Buffalo - Track the path of the historic bison/buffalo throughout east central Alberta. Length: three to six days; Total Distance: 907 km/563 mi

55. The Cowboy Trail - Discover how the Old West lives on in its art, history, food, hospitality and culture. Length: four to five days; Total Distance: 694 km/434 mi

56. The Boomtown Trail - An alternate route between Calgary and Edmonton is the Boomtown Trail - studded with "boomtown" architecture. Length two days; Total Distance: 332km/227 mi

57. The David Thompson Explorer's Trail - Step back in time and retrace the enormous tracks left by David Thompson, one of Canada's greatest explorers. Length: one to three days; Total Distance: 349 km/218 mi

58. The Canadian Badlands Trail - Discover two-billion-year-old rocks plus the largest collection of dinosaur skeletons in the world. Length: four to five days; Total Distance: 771 km/480 mi

59. The Icefields Parkway - Dramatic mountain vistas, huge walls of ice, beautiful lakes, and spectacular waterfalls make this one of the world's classic mountain drives. Length: three days; Total Distance: 237 km/148 mi

Museums

Who says museums are boring? The following places have history and hands on activities that are a sneaky way of learning something new on a hot summer day.

60. Aero Space Museum - The museum has one of Canada's most extensive collections of aircraft, helicopters and aero engines. Along with the Avro Lancaster Mark X, one of the last of some 7,400 built, there are over 25 other airframes. Location: SE corner of the International Airport, Calgary.

61. Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre Museum - The only museum in Canada devoted exclusively to Chinese culture; see life-sized clay warriors who once guarded the tomb of Qin Shihuang, China's first emperor, as well as ceramics, bronzes and paintings. Location: downtown Calgary

62. Calgary Police Service Interpretive Centre - Learn about the role of police in society and the consequences of crime for young people. Find out about forensic science and how police officers conduct investigations, with true-to-life Calgary cases as examples. Location: downtown Calgary

63. Firefighters Museum - Check out how they fought fires in the 1890's. See fire apparatus from 1890s to 1973. Photographs of Calgary's growth and fires. Firefighting equipment/memorabilia displays. Location: 4124 - 11 Street SE

64. Fort Calgary - Join the ranks of the RCMP when you visit the Fort built in 1875. Also on site are the Barracks, Deane House Historic Site/Restaurant and Riverside Park. Location: 750 - 9th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta

65. Glenbow Museum - Glenbow Museum is 'Where the World Meets the West' - where intriguing stories from Western Canada connect with extraordinary art and artifacts from around the world. It combines a museum, art gallery, library and archives all under one roof. Location: 130 - 9 Avenue SE

66. Heritage Park Historical Village - Travel back in time to Canada's largest living historical village. Whether you take a train ride around the park or get on the S.S. Moyie, there are over 150 exhibits are ready for you to explore. Location: 1900 Heritage Drive SW

67. Grain Academy/Museum - Find out where bread comes from. Grain industry education and interpretive centre with model train and elevator displays. Location: Second level, Roundup Centre, Stampede Park.

68. Museum of the Regiments - At one of North America's largest military museums you can follow Alberta's military heritage from 1885 during the NW Rebellion to present-day peacekeeping missions. Location: 4520 Crowchild Trail SW

69. Naval Museum - Over 1,000 km from salt water, Canada's largest naval museum portrays the history of the Royal Canadian Navy and its men and women who have served during peace and war. Location: 1820 - 24 Street SW

70. Royal Alberta Museum - Check out the Wild Alberta gallery takes visitors across, over and under Alberta's diverse landscapes and is like no other museum experience in Canada. With new touring exhibitions featured each year, there's something new to discover with each visit. Location: 12845 102 Avenue, Edmonton

71. Royal Tyrrell Museum - Head for Drumheller's badlands and discover this world-renowned museum. See more than 35 skeletons of dinosaurs like Albertosaurus, T. Rex and Triceratops. Journey through time, as different life forms emerge, evolve and in some cases, face extinction. Location: six km northwest of Drumheller

72. Sundre Pioneer Village Museum - Four acres comprising of Blacksmith shop, school, cabin, ranger station, reception centre with 5,600 sq. foot display area. Location: Sundre Alberta

73. The Alberta Railway Museum - Take a train ride back in time to the Alberta Railway museum. See their extensive collection of railway or tour the railway buildings around the grounds. Location: northeast end of Edmonton.

Wildlife

Is the only wildlife you see your kid hanging from the rafters? Show them how animals truly go ape at one of the following:

74. Bow Habitat Station at Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery. -  Get up close and personal with millions of trout, or test the water to understand why wetlands are called "nature's kidneys". Location: on the bank of the Bow River in the heart of Calgary

75. Butterfield Acres Children's Farm - Listen to the sheep munching on their hay, or wiggle your fingers into the curly wool of a newborn lamb, or inspect the hair in a calf's ear. Find out what makes a real farm tick. Location: 254077 Rocky Ridge Road

76. Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park - Travel the world without ever leaving the city. Go on Safari, visit Australia or check out the creatures of the night. calgaryzoo.com

77. Discovery Wildlife Park - Get your picture taken with a celebrity - Kodiak the bear - and get an up close look at some of nature's most amazing and endangered animals. Location: Innisfail, Alberta

78. Medicine River Wildlife Centre - The Centre provides care for injured or orphaned wildlife with the aim of returning them to the wild. Location: 4 km (2.4 mi.) south and 1.5 km (0.9 mi) east of Raven.

79. Cochrane Ecological Institute and Cochrane Wildlife Reserve - This reserve has the only breeding colony of the Swift Fox (endangered in Canada) The reserve also provides care and rehabilitates injured wildlife. Location: Cochrane

80. Inglewood Bird Sanctuary - Over 250 bird species and a variety of mammals call these 32 hectares of natural area home. See what birds you can identify during your visit. Location: on the Bow River at 2425 9 Ave. SE

Amusement Parks

Farmer's Markets

Rainy Day Fun

Summer can't always be sunny. When the sun takes a breather - or even if it is just too hot out - take time out to visit one of the following:

89. Devonian Gardens - Did you know the Devonian Gardens pools and falls are alive with over 200 Koi and Rainbow Trout and 45 Red Ear Turtles? Explore for yourself the flora and fauna available at Calgary's own Emerald City. calgary.ca/parks

90. TELUS World of Science Calgary - Family attraction. Educational audio visuals. Hands-on exhibits. Demonstrations. Live science theatre. Multi-media productions. Giant screen films. calgaryscience.ca

91. Cantos Music Foundation - Collection of over four-hundred keyboard and related electronic instruments, Cantos Music Foundation is committed to presenting relevant educational music programs to Calgarians.

92. Calgary Tower - Come and see if you can spot your house from the top of Calgary's most famous and identifiable landmark. Get a bird's eye view of the river, the mountains, down town and beyond.

93. The Calgary Public Libraries - Tired of hearing "I'm bored" when it rains? Get out of the rain and into your brain with CPL free children and teen programs available on an ongoing basis. Visit: calgarypubliclibrary.com

94. Jump ‘N’ Java - 'Come for the coffee, stay for the fun'. Kids six and under can explore in the 1,500 square foot playroom while Mom enjoys her latte nearby. 3519 18 St. SW

95. Coffee n' Scream - Climb and slide, explore the 'safe-space' mats, or ride a car around our 100-foot track. The 2,000-square foot indoor play space let's kids be adventurous even when it is wet outside. 555 Northmount Dr. NW

96. Let's Play - Calgary's greatest indoor playground! We offer fun for the whole family in this four-level playground structure with games room, party rooms, toddler area, snack bar and more. 146 13226 Macleod Trail SE

97. Laser Quest - An interactive, multi-level, intense fun for ages seven to 77, Laser quest combines tag and hide and seek with a high-tech twist - Lasers! 9827 Horton Road SW

98. Southland Leisure Centre - Southland Leisure Centre offers a wide variety of programs for all ages including swim lessons, skating & recreational hockey, dance & gymnastics, fitness & wellness, martial arts, sports & leagues, first aid and rock climbing.

99. Village Square Leisure Centre - Offering a wide variety of city operated programs including swim lessons, sports, pre-school education, youth programs, dance, fitness, family programming, skating and more.

100. Downtown's +15 system - Did you know it was the world's largest with 57 bridges, linking over 100 buildings along 16 km of pathways? Check out the double-decker bridge between Bankers Hall and TD Square for a great view up and down Stephen Avenue.

The information used to create this list was culled from the following sources: Calgary's Child Magazine; The Calgary Downtown Association, downtowncalgary.com; Travel Alberta, travelalberta.com; Tourism Calgary, tourismcalgary.com