- 3 Family Hikes in NW Calgary: Waterfall Valley, Douglas Fir Trail, Nose Hill Park (a few options)
- The Best Short Hikes Near Calgary: Bow Valley Provincial Park (6 options); Big Hill Springs Provincial Park; Tiger Lily Loop, Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park; Troll Falls & Hay Meadow, Kananaskis;ย Ribbon Creek;ย Grassi Lakes, Canmore.
- 4 Spring Hikes in Banff: Tunnel Mountain, Johnson Lake, Johnston Canyon, Fenland Loop.
- Prairie Mountain
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park |
Middle Lake, Bow Valley Provincial Park |
Prairie Mountain |
2. Have a litter-less picnic (pack only reuseable food and beverage containers!).
- There areย great picnic areas in townย at Bowness Park, Edworthy Park, North Glenmore Park, South Glenmore Park, Prairie Winds Park, Pearce Estate Park, Sandy Beach Park, Shouldice Park, Stanley Park, and Fish Creek Park (Bebo Grove).
- Out of town picnic areasย to try include Middle Lake, Bow Valley Provincial Park; Mount Lorette Ponds, Kananaskis; Wedge Pond, Kananaskis; Alan Bill, Bragg Creek; and Cascade Pond, Banff. If youโre up for an 18 km bike ride, enjoy a picnic at Forget-Me-Not Pond near Bragg Creek! Itโs usually extremely busy, but with the winter gate on Hwy 66 closed (until May 15), itโs quiet and peaceful.
- If you have a picnic blanket, any park will do!
- Erin Kirklandโs article provides tips on having aย spontaneous pop-up picnic.
- For aย DIY Cutlery Rollย Tutorial, please seeย thisย post.
Wedge Pond, Kananaskis |
Forget-Me-Not Pond (9 km from Hwy 66 winter gate near Elbow Falls, no car access until May 15) |
Mount Lorette Ponds, Kananaskis |
3. Read The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss (or watch the movie). This powerful story show what happens when things are made at a factory: displacement of wildlife, deforestation, pollution, etc., but ends on a hopeful note. Appropriate for kids of all ages.
4. Go birding. Migratory birds have returned, so ponds and wetlands are full of song and color! Some of the best places for birdwatching in Calgary are: Carburn Park, Ralph Klein Park, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Pearce Estate Park, andย Weaselhead.
- Not familiar with birds? Thereโs an app for that! Try theย free Merlin Bird ID appย from Cornell University. For a tutorial on how to use it, please see my writeupย here.
Carburn Park |
Pearce Estate Park |
5. Plant a tree!ย Beautify your yard, make shade and a home for birds, and reduce CO2 all at the same time. A succulent or drought-resistant shrub is a good option if you donโt have room for another tree.
6. Go on a Scavenger Hunt. Around Calgary, look for the following: prairie crocus, Canada goose, robin, dandelion, butterfly, pussy willows / catkins, cherry/apple blossoms, nest, and new leaves. Wild Tales Of has a printable Spring Scavenger hunt PDFย here.
Prairie Crocuses |
7. Combine geocaching with park cleanup.ย Geocachers call it cache in, trash out. Trash is often blown into bushes where geocaches are hidden, so see who can collect the most litter! To learn how to geocache with your smart phone, see this post.
A large geocache |
8. Go on a car-free adventure! Choose a destination and then see how you can get there without the car. Will you walk, ride your bike, roller blade, scoot, or take the bus? Whether youโre going to school or visiting a park across town, kids will enjoy being part of the decision-making process.
Confluence Park |
9. Take an evening walk.ย Shut out the lights and go outside! Combine this with #6 (scavenger hunt) for a fun activity.
Enjoy the golden hour! |
10. Gather and Donate Unused Household Items. Your cupboards will be less cluttered and someone somewhere will benefit from new-to-them stuff.
Events This Weekend
Saturday, April 23 & Sunday, April 24, 11 am โ 7 pm: YYC Food Trucks Spring Frenzy
East Village C-Square, 429 8 Ave SE
15+ food trucks, live music, entertainment & giveaways!
Saturday, April 23, 4-6 pm:ย Free Concert at the Cave Featuring Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
Cave & Basin, Banff.
This looks like an amazing concert! Fingers crossed the weather holds!
~Thanks Jill M. for the heads up!ย
Sunday, April 24, 11 am โ 4 pm: Okotoks Kite Day Festival
Riverside Park, Okotoks
Kite flying demos, bouncy house, face painting, trampoline & fundraiser BBQ
April 1- May 31: Spring Alive Festival in Banff / Lake Louiseย
Spring Alive celebrates โthe ARTS, CULTURE + WELLNESS diversity that Banff and Lake Louise have to offer.โ Various activities and venues. See the calendar for event listings.
Crafts
GoAdventureMom has the motherlode of spring home decor crafts in her recent post here.
For more ideas on what to do in Calgary this weekend, please see last weekโs Weekend Planner!