Calgary's Best Family Fun Venues & Events
Two Kid-Friendly Places for Family Amusement, Activity & Learning
Mar 23, 2009
Open all year, at the centrally located St. George's Island directly off Calgary's NE C-Train Line, the Calgary Zoo is one of the best and largest urban zoos, conservation and education facilities in the world:
- Mammals, reptiles, birds and insects from all over the world are grouped according to continents in indoor/outdoor settings which reflect their natural habitats and are more comfortable and stress-free than in the wild.
- Botanical and butterfly gardens provide respite during Alberta winters, including a South American rainforest with orchids and bromeliads, and a desert with many cacti and other succulents. During Calgary's short growing season, gardeners coax changing floral landscapes from the grounds.
- Spectacular architecture features the Peter Burgener-designed African complex, where jungles, savannahs and deserts are re-created for animals ranging from silver-backed gorillas to white rhinos, under huge glass domes based on the shapes and textures of West African homes.
- The zoo's dinosaur park, a walk-through timeline of prehistoric life on earth, features static displays of tinted concrete dinosaur sculptures in settings from different geological epochs and plants. In one famous case, tucked away near the tiger park, science has outstripped the sculpture, rendering it more anachronistic. Once the zoo's mascot, "Bronty" is regarded fondly as akin to a 4-tonne garden elf, or something out of Edith Nesbit's The Enchanted Castle. Spot this one tucked away near the very real, very living Siberian Tigers.
- Wear comfy shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and bring strollers for toddlers.
- Check the map and schedule upon arrival since events happen at different times and places.
- Fast food is the norm. The botanical gardens cafeteria has a healthier, more varied selection, but it gets really busy at noon with long line-ups. Yes, boxed lunches are allowed.
- General full-day admission runs approximately $20 per adult and $10-$15 per child. Large group and off-season discounts are available.
Telus World of Science and Creative Kids Museum Calgary
These two facilities are presently joined together on the same site, like two hemispheres of the brain, but due to space limitations and changes in the traffic corridors, a new facility is slated to open in Brownsfield Park, north of the zoo in 2011. Meantime, the old centre at the end of 7th Avenue, SW in downtown Calgary continues to offer changing interactive displays, multimedia shows, exhibits and workshops in a safe, fun, and stimulating environment where kids can play and explore at leisure.
Telus World of Science was adapted and expanded from a Planetarium to a vibrant activity and learning centre which focuses on children's imaginations, creativity and sense of discovery.
Astronomy is still a huge part of the program, featuring star shows in the Discovery Dome, interactive displays, and instruction on how to use telescopes. The Royal Society of Canadian Astronomers also meets there every Friday night from April to May for free stargazing. 2009 includes an interpretive theatre show, Galileo Live!, based on the scientist's life, discoveries and enormous impact upon the world.
The Discovery Dome Theatre isn't just for star-shows, however. It's repertoire includes movies about the natural world.
The Creative Kids Museum, the first fully art-centered children's museum in Canada. There, artists, musicians, fine craft artisans, actors, puppeteers, dancers, filmmakers, poets and writers conduct workshops and lead children through the creative process, including how they can use their newfound skills at home with common materials.
Kids can build sculptures from found objects, record their own "kitchen sink" symphonies, explore glassblowing and weaving, video and sound technology. This is where children learn the importance of being able to make stuff and adapt their ideas in designs, or find satisfaction in animating puppets and masks, or learn how to express subtle ideas through the movement of their bodies or the projection of their voices.
In addition to these programs and services for older children, the present facility also contains WOWtown, a park restricted to children 3-7. At WOWtown, they can:
- Build their own bugs, boats and dams
- Crawl around mazes and lookout stations
- Play with child-scaled cranes, factories and waterways
- Use microscopes, video microscopes and magnifying glasses
- Create their own plays with puppets and costumes
Don't forget to check up on Calgary's Best Historical Events, Parks and Venues for links to Heritage Park, the Glenbow Museum and Fort Calgary, or Calgary's Best Children's Entertainment as a guide to the city's most interesting and original kid's theatre and musicals.
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