10 Things to Do in Calgary With Kids: Best Family Activities

Is Calgary as kid-friendly as people say? The answer is YES! Calgary is packed with places where kids can play, learn, and have a blast. From getting up close with animals at the Calgary Zoo to hands-on fun at TELUS Spark, you'll never hear "I'm bored" here. And if your family loves being outside, Calgary's amazing parks are waiting for you. Let's dive into what makes this city perfect for adventures.

Quick Tips for a Day of Fun in Calgary

Save this for your next Calgary trip with the kids:

• Stand on the glass floor at Calgary Tower and watch your kids' eyes light up
• See over 4,000 animals at Calgary Zoo—don't miss Canadian Wilds and the penguins!
• Let kids touch everything at TELUS Spark Science Centre and climb in the outdoor Brainasium
• Spot over 250 bird species at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary on easy walking trails

See Calgary from Above: Calgary Tower

Want to see the whole city at once? Take the kids up the Calgary Tower, one of Calgary's most famous buildings, for views that will make their jaws drop!

Standing 191 metres tall, the tower gives you a complete 360-degree view of Calgary and the mountains beyond. Kids go crazy for the glass floor section where they can stand and look straight down at the tiny cars and people below.

Audio tours that tell you what you're looking at make the experience more fun. When hunger strikes, the Sky360 restaurant slowly spins while you eat, giving you changing views with every bite. One of the top attractions in Downtown Calgary, the tower is the perfect place for kids to spot landmarks and learn about the city from high in the sky.

Where to See Animals in Calgary

Kids love animals, and Calgary delivers big time. The Calgary Zoo is a must-visit, with thousands of creatures from around the world. For a quieter animal experience, head to Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, where you can spot everything from tiny songbirds to majestic eagles. 

And don't forget Bow Habitat Station, where kids can learn about fish and even try catching some!

Calgary Zoo

The Calgary Zoo isn't just another zoo—it's a place where your kids will talk about their favourite animals for weeks after. Home to over 4,000 animals across 100 species, you'll spend hours moving from one habitat to another.

The unique zoo is located in the Bridgeland neighbourhood (and partially in St. Patrick’s Island Park), making it highly walkable from anywhere in City Centre Calgary. The Canadian Wilds area shows off local animals like grizzly bears and wolves. Destination Africa brings the savannah to Calgary with giraffes and gorillas. 

The zoo focuses on teaching kids about saving animals and their habitats. They make learning fun with up-close animal talks and feeding times. If you visit during winter, don't miss ZooLights—one of Calgary’s best Christmas events—when the whole place lights up after dark!

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary

Head to Inglewood Bird Sanctuary for a peaceful walk, where you might spot more birds than you can count. The best part? It's completely FREE.

This hidden gem sits right along the Bow River and has 2.5 kilometres of easy walking trails, including some of the best hiking trails in Calgary. Bring your kids for a nature walk, and they might see over 270 different kinds of birds. The signs along the trails help explain what you're seeing, so everyone learns something new.

Pack a lunch to enjoy at the picnic areas, and don't worry—there are washrooms too. While there aren't playground structures, kids love exploring the natural paths and spotting wildlife. It's like a treasure hunt in the central Inglewood neighbourhood, where birds are the prize!

Bow Habitat Station

The Bow Habitat Station, located on Calgary’s RiverWalk just over 1 kilometre from the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, is a great place to learn about the fish and wetlands of Alberta. They'll get to see up close where fish come from and discover the fascinating underwater world.

The interactive aquariums are a hit with kids who can see native fish swimming around. The Trout Pond is perfect for beginners who want to try fly fishing. The wetland area teaches about why these soggy places matter so much for our environment.

Depending on when you visit, you might rent snowshoes in winter or fishing rods in summer. They run fun programs for kids throughout the year, and the good news for parents—there's free parking right on site!

Best Parks for Kids in Calgary

When the weather's nice, Calgary's parks are where you want to be with your kids. Fish Creek Provincial Park, which sprawls across South Calgary, offers miles of trails where you might spot deer or rabbits. 

Prince's Island Park is perfect for downtown picnics, with plenty of space to run around. And if your kids need to burn energy, Prairie Winds Park has awesome playgrounds and splash areas for hot days.

Explore Fish Creek Provincial Park

Fish Creek Provincial Park isn't just a park—it's like a world of outdoor fun in the city! This massive green space has over 80 kilometres of trails where your group can walk, bike, or even ride horses.

Kids love exploring the different areas, from forests to wetlands, where they can spot deer, rabbits, and plenty of birds. It's like a natural classroom where they learn without realizing it. The park is home to Sikome Lake, one of the best lakes in Calgary, where kids love the sandy beach.

The park runs fantastic programs where rangers teach kids about plants and animals. With playgrounds scattered throughout and activities for every season, Fish Creek keeps visitors coming back again and again. In the summertime, some areas are perfect for wading in the creek—a popular activity when temperatures climb!

Picnic at Prince's Island Park

Prince’s Island Park is located on the Bow River directly north of Downtown Calgary and the Eau Claire neighbourhood, making it perfect for a lunch break.

The green spaces and picnic tables make it easy to spread your blanket and enjoy lunch outdoors. Since it's free to visit, you can save your money for ice cream later! Kids love the open areas where they can run, play tag, or toss a Frisbee.

Bring bikes or walking shoes to enjoy the paths along the Bow River. During your adventure, you’re sure to see ducks, geese, and other wildlife—kids get a kick out of spotting animals in the middle of the city!

Prairie Winds Park

Prairie Winds Park, located near Calgary International Airport on the western edge of the Castleridge area, is home to one of the best playgrounds in Calgary. It features climbing structures, slides, and swings for kids of all ages.

When summer heats up, kids flock here for one of the best spray parks in Calgary. Kids run through spraying water features, cooling off while having a blast. There's plenty of space to spread out a picnic lunch at the tables and benches.

The walking paths and open fields are perfect for games, bike rides, or flying kites on windy days. What makes Prairie Winds Park extra special is how it welcomes everyone—the accessible design means kids of all abilities can join in the fun.

Hands-On Learning Spots in Calgary

Calgary has amazing places where kids can touch, build, and experiment, from TELUS Spark Science Centre to The Hangar Flight Museum and more.

The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland

Where two rivers meet, you'll find a special place that tells the story of Calgary's first people. The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland sits where the Bow and Elbow rivers join together in Calgary’s Downtown East Village.

This kid-friendly spot helps kids learn about Treaty 7 and the Métis people who shaped this land. As you walk through the cultural centre, you'll see exhibits that bring history to life in ways kids can understand.

The hands-on activities give everyone a taste of Indigenous traditions and their connection to nature. The peaceful parkland setting is perfect for outdoor exploration after learning indoors. It's an easy trip from downtown and greatly enhances the East Village lifestyle, making it a great addition to your Calgary adventure.

TELUS Spark Science Centre

If you have curious kids, TELUS Spark Science Centre in Bridgeland-Riverside is sure to blow their minds! With plenty of exhibits where they can touch everything, it's a place where science becomes play.

The daily demos and events keep things exciting—one minute, they're watching something explode; the next, they're building a robot! The "Brainasium" outdoor park is a crowd favourite, with climbing structures that teach about science while kids burn energy.

The Creative Kids Museum is specifically designed for children up to eight years old. From a water area to climbing structures and educational areas, kids can have fun while learning. The museum focuses on learning through doing, exactly how kids learn best.

No matter your age, TELUS Spark is one of the top attractions in Calgary. The exhibits change regularly, so there's always something new to discover. For parents, they even have adults-only nights if you want to come back without the kids! At TELUS Spark, curiosity isn't just allowed—it's encouraged, and the centre's location in one of Calgary’s most walkable neighbourhoods makes it affordable and accessible for your group to spend a creative day.

The Hangar Flight Museum

Got a kid who looks up every time a plane flies overhead? The Hangar Flight Museum in Northeast Calgary will make their day! Housed in an actual WWII drill hall, this museum showcases more than 20 historic aircraft that everyone can see up close.

As you walk around, your kids will learn how planes have changed over time and hear stories about the brave pilots who flew them. The museum doesn't just show you things—it gets you involved with programs that make aviation come alive.

The best part for parents? Free parking makes it easy to visit, and the educational value means you can feel good about the screen-free entertainment. The Hangar Flight Museum turns "Look, a plane!" into a full day of discovery.

Calgary Keeps Kids Happy

From animals at the zoo to sky-high views at the tower, each destination offers something new and exciting for kids to enjoy. Let them get hands-on at TELUS Spark or explore history at The Hangar Flight Museum. Whether you're hiking through Fish Creek or watching birds at Inglewood Sanctuary, Calgary delivers fun that leaves lasting memories.

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