Visiting Calgary - Good Family Activities

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Sliver

If they're really young, they may not like it. My kids are used to hands-on-type museums like the Science Centre. Unless the Tyrell has changed at all in the past few years since I've been, your kids may be disappointed and bored at how, well, boring it is.

I suppose they could see dinosaurs at the zoo, or is that part of it even still around?

I haven't been to the zoo in years....

[Sliver]

Oh yeah, they improved the dino exhibit at the zoo with growling and moving dinosaurs two years ago. It's pretty killer for kids.

[Maccalus]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Oh yeah, they improved the dino exhibit at the zoo with growling and moving dinosaurs two years ago. It's pretty killer for kids.

Those Moving Dinos were temporary. They are gone and its back to its normal stationary only Dino exibit again as far as I know.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by Maccalus

Those Moving Dinos were temporary. They are gone and its back to its normal stationary only Dino exibit again as far as I know.

Always thought it was at best an idiotic thing to have at the Zoo. Absolute waste of space that could be used to house more animals or give current animals better enclosures. Knock the stupid thing down already.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

Always thought it was at best an idiotic thing to have at the Zoo. Absolute waste of space that could be used to house more animals or give current animals better enclosures. Knock the stupid thing down already.

It's for kids; not 20/30 something dudes.

[You Need a Thneed]

I've been to the Zoo many times in the last couple years, and not once have I stepped into the Dinosaur park. If you had told me that it closed down 5 years ago, I would probably have believed you.

[firebug]

Toddlers or preschoolers?

Heritage Park was easily the biggest hit with my kids between the ages of 3 and 6.

If they are on the older part of the spectrum (5 or 6) the Museum of the Regiments is probably Calgary's best 'unknown' activity. Probably not suitable for 3 and 4 year olds (two 7 year-olds i took absolutely loved it, while my 4-year-old was scared in a lot of places).

Not sure what they have where you are from, but many out of town guests who visit us from smaller centres always like hitting the wave pools at Southland or Village Square.

[iamajai]

Mine are both preschoolers. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions so far...looks like a great list. Calaway Park looks like a good choice as I'd thought it was geared more to the teenage crowd, but seems to have a lot of suitable rides.

How's the Science Centre, modern or is it a bunch of displays from the 80's?

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by iamajai

Mine are both preschoolers. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions so far...looks like a great list. Calaway Park looks like a good choice as I'd thought it was geared more to the teenage crowd, but seems to have a lot of suitable rides.

How's the Science Centre, modern or is it a bunch of displays from the 80's?

The science centre only opened in October. For preschoolers, however, I personally thought it cost too much money.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

The science centre only opened in October. For preschoolers, however, I personally thought it cost too much money.

I'd second this. If you're local and get a pass and make use of it, it's a decent value just to have a nice indoor play area with some vaguely educational toys and activities (my toddler son and I went once every week or two through the winter). But if you want to get a day's worth of activity there, you really need your kids to be school-age, or at least have a long attention span, so you can sit down and spend some time in the animation studios or other more complex activities.

Has anyone been to the fish hatchery lately? I've heard that there are some aquariums and interactive displays and such, but I have no idea what age it's appropriate for, how long you'd expect to spend there, how expensive it is, etc.

[Deegee]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

I suppose they could see dinosaurs at the zoo, or is that part of it even still around?

I haven't been to the zoo in years....

My kid loved it when he was 2-3. Mind you his favorite movies are the Jurassic Park movies and have been since he was 2-3.

My wife and I hope to go alone so we can read things as our son was so excited we blazed through the museum.

It is fun to watch all the kids freak out on the transparent plexiglass floor where you can see a trilobite display below.

The only down side to the whole experience is that Drumheller is a bloody dive.

[TheGrimm]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

Go for a drive and hit Tyrell Museum. All kids love dinosaurs.

I still love dinosaurs!