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Written by: Dana Wheatley
Calgary has a lot of free fun to offer in the summer months. Use this list to help you get started with some budget-friendly summer fun in Calgary’s parks, playgrounds, and attractions. Whether you are looking for a little adventure or something more involved, you are sure to find some inspiration.
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\n- Walk up to the top of the big hill at Prairie Winds Park and watch the planes fly right over your head.
\n- Go bird watching at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.
\n- Wade in the Elbow River at Sandy Beach. Sandy Beach is rocky and not at all sandy, but it is an excellent place for kids to play in the Elbow River. Check river conditions before you go.
\n- Take your buckets and shovels to play in the pea gravel at a nearby playground.
\n- Visit a farmers’ market. Calgary’s farmers’ markets are usually free to enter and some even offer activities for the kids.
\n- Watch the ducks at Confederation Park. Confederation Park is also a great spot for new bike riders.
\n- Walk through the wetlands interpretive trail at Pearce Estate Park.
\n- Put on your rain gear and go to a spray park in the rain – they only close in the summer if there is lightning (mid-June to Labour day).
\n- Take a free City of Calgary drop-in program at Ralph Klein Park.
\n- Enjoy an indoor urban park at the Devonian Gardens downtown. Located in the Core Shopping Centre along the CTrain line, the Devonian Gardens is a great stop on a downtown adventure, particularly in poor weather. In addition to the gardens, there is a playground (best for kids five and up) and koi fish.
\n- Go on a scavenger hunt. Make your own or search for one on the internet.
\n- Go to a free program at the library. They have programs for babies, all the way to adults!
\n- Have a picnic at the park. North Glenmore, Edworthy Park, and Shouldice Park all have great picnic spots with grills and a great playground.
\n- Go boat watching by the Glenmore Reservoir at South Glenmore Park.
\n- Play on the playground equipment with your kids, climb up the climber, slide down the slide, and swing on the swings.
\n- Grab your phone and go geocaching. Geocaching (using GPS to find hidden boxes) is a great summer activity and you don’t have to buy a GPS to do it – you can use your smartphone!
\n- Use the playground equipment to create an obstacle course or play the game Grounders.
\n- Throw rocks in the river. Stanley Park and Edworthy Park on the north side by the bridge are popular spots.
\n- Admire the flowers at Senator Patrick Burns Rock Garden (at Riley Park) or Reader Rock Garden.
\n- Book a picnic site with the City of Calgary and host a multi-family BBQ. Bowness Park has picnic sites even for large groups.
\n- Go for a bike ride along the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway, the longest urban pathway, and park in the world.
\n- See how many different kinds of flowers you can name at the Silver Springs Botanical Gardens.
\n- Find the rabbit statues at Edgepark Ravine.
\n- Look for wildlife on Nose Hill. Sometimes you can even spot deer or coyotes.
\n- Take your bike to one of Calgary’s Bike Pump Tracks – South Glenmore Park, Fairview, Inglewood, West Confederation.
\n- Go airplane watching. There is a small park with picnic tables and a parking lot at the Edward H. Laborde Airplane Watching Area where you can watch planes take off and land on one of the Calgary runways.
\n- Head over to a skatepark with your skateboard or scooter. Don’t forget your helmet!
\n- Mark your calendar for one of Calgary’s free summer festivals, such as JAZZ YYC Festival in June, Fiestaval Latino Festival in July, and the Calgary Dragon Boat Festival in August.
\n- Cool off in one of Calgary’s three wading pools, found at Riley Park, Prairie Winds, and Bowness Park.
\n- Bring a bag and some gloves and pick up trash to help beautify your neighborhood.
\n- Tennis anyone? Calgary has 66 free outdoor tennis courts and 52 courts that have been adapted to pickleball. All you need is your racket and a ball.
\n- Go on a photo walk and teach your kid how to use a camera.
\n- Pick out some books at the Calgary Public Library. Library cards are free for everyone and each library even has a play space.
\n- Play at all the playgrounds within walking distance of your house.
\n- Walk the scenic Bebo Grove Loop trail in Fish Creek Park, the second largest urban park in Canada.
\n- Look for waterbugs and minnows at one of Calgary’s wetlands (like Pearce Estate Park, Ralph Klein Park, or Laycock Park.)
\n- Learn about the history of the Chinese community in Calgary in the Chinese Artifacts Museum at the Chinese Cultural Centre.
\n- Try out a new playground.
\n- Visit the Calgary Youthlink Interpretive Centre. Run by the Calgary Police, this museum is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays with no admission charge. Some exhibits do have strong content – if that is a concern for your family, you are asked to check with the front desk.
\n- Check out nearby spray parks or playgrounds in other towns. There are great ones just a short drive away in Okotoks, Airdrie, Strathmore, and Irricana.
\n- Explore the grounds at Spruce Meadows. You can usually see the horses in the stables, and some of their show jumping events are even free to attend.
\n- Grab a ball and go play a game of kickball, baseball, or softball at one of Calgary’s numerous ball diamonds.
\n- Leave the city behind, without leaving the city limits, with a walk through Carburn Park.
\n- Go Explore Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. This newer provincial park is only 30 minutes away. At Glenbow Ranch, you can go for a picnic, go on a self-guided tour, go geocaching, bird watching, and more!
\n- Dress up in costumes and go for a walk through your favorite park. Don’t forget to take pictures!
\n- Take a walk along the Bow River and visit Poppy Plaza along Memorial Drive.
\n- Enjoy beautiful views of downtown, outdoor art, and the Chevron Learning Pathway in Prince’s Island Park.
\n- Explore 12 Mile Coulee in Tuscany. Have a natural adventure hopping over logs, stones, and makeshift wooden bridges in this creek ravine.
\n- Go art-spotting in Calgary’s downtown. There is tons of public art. Take photos of your favorites!
\n- Try disc golf. Disc golf courses are available at no charge in several Calgary parks. You can use a frisbee or a ball if you don’t have your down disc golf discs.
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Dana spends her free time seeking out the best indoor and outdoor places to play in Calgary with her son and blogging about them. For more information, visit calgaryplaygroundreview.com.
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