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It feels like summer! The lilacs are in full bloom and festival season is in full swing. Hit the Rhubarb Festival on Saturday and Lilac Festival on Sunday, or cool off at a spray park or beach! More ideas follow…
- Visit the Dorothy Harvie Gardens and butterflies (in the Conservatory) at the Calgary Zoo. Lots of flowers are in bloom indoors and out! We enjoyed seeing the baby gorilla and Dinosaurs Alive! recently too.
Butterflies, Calgary Zoo (June 1, 2016) - Check out one of Calgary’s Top 15 Most Popular Playgrounds! Prince’s Island Park is at the top of the list for good reason; bike there if you can, then carry on to St Patrick’s Island and East Village! Try some geocaching or birding too!
Prince’s Island Park Playground - Cool off at a spray park or wading pool. Canmore Park, Rotary Park, South Glenmore Park, and Valleyview Park are already open (weekends only)!
- Hit the Beach!! Whether you’re looking for something nearby or long for a road trip, these fun beach itineraries guarantee you’ll beat the heat.
Barrier Lake, Kananaskis - Giddyup at Butterfield Acres! Pet farm animals, learn to milk a goat, go for a pony ride (60 lb maximum weight) or tractor ride (in a trailer pulled behind a tractor), play in the giant sandbox and more! Wear rubber boots as it’s a working farm.
- In the south, explore Kayben Farms. Kids will enjoy the slides, tots bouncy castle, climbing wall, giant slides, pedal kart track, berry bounces, spiderweb and more. Later in the season, try out the corn maze – so fun!
- Attend the Lilac Festival on 4th Street SW. Enjoy a parade, free live entertainment, shopping, and street eats. June 5, 10 am – 6 pm, 4th Street SW between 13 Ave and Elbow Drive. Bike there via the Elbow River pathway, so you don’t have to worry about parking!
- Go star gazing (or planet gazing?). On Friday night (June 3), Saturn will be at its closest point to us in the whole year. Drive out of town a bit and bring a telescope so you can see the ringed planet and it’s moons. More info here. Don’t own a telescope? Look through a huge one at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory’s Asteroid Open House on June 4th. $20/car or $10/person.
- Enjoy the Rhubarb Festival (and some pie!) on Saturday, June 4th at 11 Sackville Drive SW.
- Go For a Picnic! There are several great picnic areas in and around Calgary. We really like exploring Bow Valley Provincial Park and picnicking at Middle Lake. Forget-Me-Not Pond is another favorite. Hike up Prairie Mountain before or after. Looking for a less strenuous hike? Try Fullerton Loop (8 km) or Elbow Falls (<1 km).
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| Middle Lake, Bow Valley Provincial Park |
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| Forget-Me-Not Pond, Elbow Valley |
BONUS: June 2nd, is a FREE FIRST THURSDAY at Glenbow Museum! Free admission after 5 pm. Bike from Crescent Heights and stop at the Bow Tower and Prince’s Island Park en route. So fun!
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| “Wonderland” at the Bow Tower |
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| Calgary Skyline from Crescent Heights |
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| Part of the Kaleidoscopic Animalia Collection by Tom Hardy at the Glenbow Museum |
Mountain edition to follow. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Related Posts
- Beat the Heat: Beach Itineraries
- Picnic Spots In & Around Calgary (see item 2)
- Things to Do in Banff & Kananaskis This Weekend (June 3-5)
- Check out last week’s Weekend Planner for gardens in Calgary and hiking/biking suggestions!
- Top 5 Spring Things to Do in Kananaskis
- 4 Spring Hikes in Banff
