Its summer in the city and the time to make memories with your family is now. You’ve got 48 hours and everyone in the family is ready for some fun. Feel the summer vibes in Calgary and explore all of the great things to see in do on your next weekend getaway in the city. Here’s how to make memories in Calgary your family will be talking about for years.
48 Hours in Calgary: Family Summer Edition
Weekend Getaway
48 Hours in Calgary: Family Summer Edition
Drumming at Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site.
ARRIVAL NIGHT
Road trip stop at Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site
Maybe you’re ready for a family road trip? Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site is a great way to add the great outdoors to your weekend. Play games in a mini fort, drum with a Métis presenter, make traditional indigenous crafts, taste bannock cooked over an open fire, and spot the herd of Plains Bison. Daily admission is $8.50for adults, free for youth 17 and under, or entry is included with your Discovery Pass. Spend the first night of your weekend getaway camping along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in a tipi, trapper tent, or a walk-in tenting or RV site. Downtown Calgary is a 2.5 hour drive from the National Historic Site, so you can start exploring the city first thing Saturday morning.
Spend the afternoon at Calaway Park and take a ride on the Sky Wynder.
DAY ONE
Scoot over to Calaway Park for amusement park fun
You’ve just arrived in Calgary and ready to get exploring. Okay, put your hands in the air! Calaway Park is Western Canada’s largest outdoor family amusement park with over 30 family-friendly rides, over 20 games, and live entertainment all day. It’s a one-pay gate, so everyone in the family gets unlimited rides. Check out the Sky Wynder or the Bumble Blast for some summertime thrills as you twirl around on a figure-eight track. Or, take a break from the sunshine in their air conditioned 3D theatre. Hungry? Calaway Park is home to 20 food vendors with all the salty and sweet snacks you can handle.
Experience authentic indigenous culture at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Katie Goldie).
Virtual Experiences at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park
Take a step into history and add an authentic indigenous experience to your weekend getaway. Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park is a Canadian National Heritage Site and the historic site of the signing of Treaty No. 7, an important agreement in indigenous and Canadian history. Step into a virtual reality experience where you begin your journey in a tipi, explore day to day living at the campsite, play river side games, and search for Buffalo along the plains. Be sure to visit the restaurant and enjoy traditional fry bread with handmade Saskatoon berry preserves. Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park is 1 hour and 15 minutes from downtown Calgary, making it a beautiful Saturday afternoon family road trip.
Rock out at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre.
Afternoon Tunes at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
Not ready to call it a day? Turn the volume up on your weekend adventure with Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. This amped up museum honours all things music in Canada with interactive instruments, four Canadian music halls of fame, memorabilia from your favourite Canadian superstars, and awe-striking architecture, all in one place. You can also enjoy a rotating mix of hands-on activities and pop-up concerts every weekend. Take a guided tour, hear the Kimball Theatre Organ in action, and don’t miss the famed Rolling Stones Mobile Studio.
Dinner and a show at OMO Teppan and Kitchen.
Family Dinner at OMO Teppan and Kitchen
Get a front row seat to dinner and a show at OMO Teppan and Kitchen. The talented chefs slice, dice, flip, and twirl as they cook a delicious meal of wagyu beef, seafood, and vegetables, right in front of your tableside seat. Watch as the flames get higher and experience true Japanese hospitality. Each meal includes soup, salad, grilled vegetables, rice, jumbo shrimp, and ice cream that will keep the smiles going. This is one meal your family will never forget.
DAY TWO
Sunday Brunch at Alforno Bakery & Cafe
After all that action on Saturday, it might be nice for the whole family to hit snooze and sleep in on Sunday. That’s why brunch is the best meal of the weekend! Alforno Bakery & Cafe is a family-friendly eatery close to the Bow River Pathway with a menu that will keep everyone in the family happy on a Sunday morning. Try their sweet potato waffles, bacon breakfast sandwich, or yogurt parfait with house-made granola.
Ride the vintage midway at Heritage Park this summer.
Enjoy History at Heritage Park
Do you have a history buff in the family? Heritage Park is the largest living history museum in Canada. Tour historic homes, hop on the vintage midway, take a ride around the park on the steam train, and keep your eyes peeled for daily demonstrations and live performances. No two days are the same. Hungry? Classic snacks are around every corner at Heritage Park with old fashioned candy floss, cinnamon buns, tarts, or ice cold root beer. Make a stop at the Club Café for a traditional Cantonese pot sticker or fish and chips at the Wainwright Hotel. Spend your afternoon immersed inCanadian history from the 1860s all the way to the 1950s.
Dine family style at Double Zero Pizza.
Sunday Dinner at Double Zero Pizza
Everyone in the family can get behind pizza! Double Zero Pizza is just plain fun but they also use the coveted “00” flour and premium toppings to make their Neapolitan thin-crust pizza. Get a classic pepperoni pizza or be adventurous with the zucchini pizza, topped with pine nut pesto, goat cheese, mint, and lemon. Share a slice and make a toast to all the great memories you created on a successful family weekend getaway in Calgary.
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