A Family Weekend in Calgary with Kids

Plan my family weekend in Calgary · What's on this weekend

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Two days in Calgary with kids fit a zoo, a science centre, an aviation museum, a children's theatre, an indoor garden with a playground and a hill that turns to winter play. Day 1 runs through the northeast and finishes with a show. Day 2 moves downtown, then south and west. It suits parents who want a plan that works from now through March, with a real meal at each end of the day.

Start with breakfast at Dairy Lane Cafe on 19 Street NW, which runs a breakfast and lunch menu. Then drive east to the zoo.

Wilder Institute's Calgary Zoo is on St. George's Drive NE. It has a Penguin Plunge, Imagine Asia and the ENMAX Conservatory & Butterflies. Black bears, Sichuan takin and Turkmenian markhor live on the grounds too. Tickets for upcoming events are on its page.

Next door on the same road, TELUS Spark Science Centre holds the Infinity Dome theatre, the Creative Kids Museum and an outdoor park, with live science shows on the floor and a digital gallery where art meets math. Tickets for upcoming events are on its page.

The Hangar Flight Museum on McCall Way NE tells the story of aviation in western Canada. It sits in a drill hall built for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in the Second World War, and it is the home of Canada's Aviation Hall of Fame. Tickets for upcoming events are on its page.

Dinner is at Super Smash Café on 16 Avenue NW, a gaming cafe with a kid-friendly space and a kitchen that makes burgers, fish and fries and ice cream.

Finish at StoryBook Theatre on Bermuda Drive NW, a family theatre whose season runs from musicals to a Christmas show, with relaxed and community performances on its program. Tickets for upcoming shows are on its page.

Find a place to stay in Calgary

Breakfast is at Sidewalk Citizen Bakery in the historic Simmons Building on Confluence Way SE. It bakes organic sourdough bread, sourdough croissants and a brioche fried egg breakfast sandwich.

Walk to Calgary Central Library on 3 Street SE, which has a children's space. Tickets for upcoming events are on its page.

Then head west to Devonian Gardens, on the fourth floor of the CORE Shopping Centre on 7 Avenue SW. It has gardens, fountains, fish ponds and a playground, all inside the CORE. Kids can climb the playground while adults sit by the water.

Lunch is at Blowers & Grafton on 4 Street SW, which serves Halifax-style street food and pub fare: pizza, donairs, mini lobster rolls, fish and chips and poutine. Little ones are welcome, and weekend brunch is on the menu.

Head south to Heritage Park on Heritage Drive SW. The Gasoline Alley Museum, The Selkirk restaurant, the Railway Café and the plaza shops run all year, and the museum fills a wet-weather hour. Tickets for upcoming events are on its page.

Then go west to WinSport on Canada Olympic Road SW. In winter it runs skating, skiing and snowboarding, the Servus Tube Park and Snow School lessons. Tickets for upcoming events are on its page.

End the weekend at Two House Brewing Taproom + Pizza on 10 Avenue SW. It has chocolate milk on tap and board games for the kids, and pizza for everyone else, with gluten-free, dairy-free and garlic-free choices.

• The zoo and TELUS Spark are on neighbouring addresses on St. George's Drive NE, so one parking stop covers both.
• StoryBook Theatre runs relaxed performances for children who find a full house hard.
• Heritage Park's historical village is seasonal. The Gasoline Alley Museum, The Selkirk and the Railway Café are the winter reasons to go.

See what's on this weekend

Start from this plan, set your dates and swap any stop you like.

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