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Written by Karen Ung
Autumn in Calgary is beautiful and fun, with so many activities for families to enjoy. Whether you're looking for an outdoor adventure or indoor activity the kids will love, we have something for everyone. From birdwatching and geocaching to stargazing and ice skating, there are plenty of ways to make the most of this short but lovely season in Calgary with your kids. So, grab your coats and scarves, and get ready for some fall fun!
- Enjoy the fall colors. Calgary’s parks are extra pretty in fall when the leaves change. Walk through towering cottonwoods at Fish Creek Provincial Park or Confederation Park, take the boardwalk through aspens to a river lookout at Bowmont Park’s Waterfall Valley, hike the forested trail to Douglas Fir Trail lookout at Edworthy Park, or take family photos with colorful foliage at Bowness Park.
- Go birdwatching. During fall migration, you can see several species of birds (often in large numbers!) at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Carburn Park, Glenmore Reservoir/Weaselhead, Ralph Klein Park, and along the Bow River. If you’re up for a short drive, visit snow geese and swans at Frank Lake from mid- to late October. Tips: Download the free Merlin bird identification app and bring a bird scope or binoculars so you can see the birds better.
- Try geocaching. Geocaching is a fun treasure hunt you can do with a free app on your phone. Search for hidden caches that contain a logbook and/or trinkets for trading (keep it fun for everyone – if you take something, leave something of equal value!). Besides encouraging kids to walk more – just 200m to the next cache! – kids can develop navigation skills through geocaching.
- Have a fall picnic with a fire. Now that it’s cooled down, you can enjoy roasting marshmallows and smokies over the fire! Some Calgary parks with fire pits and playgrounds include Bowness Park, Edworthy Park, North Glenmore Park, Prairie Winds Park, and South Glenmore Park.
- Feed thousands of fish! At Bow Habitat Station, you can go on a fascinating fish hatchery tour to learn about the trout life cycle, feed thousands of fish, and explore the Discovery Centre. Interactive exhibits share fun facts about the plants and animals of Alberta. They do great birthday parties, too!
- Be a tourist for the day. Visit a Calgary attraction you haven’t been to before! Some family favorites that are open year-round include The Calgary Zoo, Telus Spark Science Centre, Youthlink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre, iFly, Activate Calgary, Flying Squirrel Sports, and The Beach YYC.
- Bike to a bakery (or cafe). Biking for treats is one of our favorite things to do until the pathways are snow-covered. Recommended routes: a) Take the Bow River pathway to St. Patrick’s Island, East Village Playground, and Sidewalk Citizen Cafe; b) Bike from Baker Park to Bowness Park, and get treats at Seasons of Bowness Park (5.6km loop); or ride from Shouldice Park to Edworthy Park for Angel’s Cappuccino and Ice Cream (this 6.5km round-trip ride includes five playgrounds!).
- Swim, skate, and play sports at City of Calgary Rec Centres. The City of Calgary offers affordable, high-quality drop-in activities, from public skating and swimming to sports and preschool programs, so you can keep kids (and yourself) active year-round!
- Wish on shooting stars. For your best chance to see shooting stars, go somewhere dark and look at the night sky during a meteor shower. Bring a blanket, comfy chair, and hot drink to enjoy the show! Fall meteor showers to look forward to include the Draconids around October 7, after dusk until dawn, and the Taurids in early November, around midnight.
- Visit the Fish Creek Ice Falls. Did you know Fish Creek Provincial Park has beautiful ice falls? Find them about 700m southwest of the Bow Valley Ranche parking lot by walking south towards the bridge and turning right before the bridge. Late November until February is the best time to go, unless it has been quite warm. Safety tip: Stay off the ice if it is less than 20cm/8in thick.
Wishing you a safe and happy autumn season!
Karen is a mother and a lover of maps, mountains, and mochas. With her geography degree and experience leading hikes and backpacking trips in the Rockies, she is full of ideas on where to go and what to do. The mission of her blog, playoutsideguide.com, is to provide everything families need to know to get outside and have fun.
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