Calgary Zoo

When Pacey was 3 we decided to go to the Calgary Zoo, as Pacey was a huge dinosaur fanatic we thought the dinosaur area at the zoo would be very intriguing for him.

Well, the day we planned for the zoo it was scorching hot and walking all day in the heat with a 3 year old who wants to be carried the entire time and the heat was over bearing for him, plus pulling a wagon with snacks, water, etc. it became more of a dreadful day for me that a great memorable one.  

I think we made the mistake of touring through the dinosaur area first and Pacey was all super excited and thought it was fantastic and then the rest of the zoo just seemed like a bore to him which made him uninterested and cranky basically the remainder of the day.

The zoo is fantastic, but I strongly feel that once you’ve seen it once you are pretty much good.  And big recommendation - don’t take your kids until they are old enough to be able to walk all day without needing to be carried or pushed or pulled.

Don’t let my one bad experience detour you from taking in this amazing experience, I did go as a kid and it was fantastic - I loved it.  You get to discover Africa, the Canadian Wilds, Australia, the Dinosaur Prehistoric Park, South America, Eurasia and the Botanical Gardens.

I’ve heard that the zoo is an amazing place to go see close to Christmas with all the zoo lights, I may still make one more attempt with Pacey and I hope you will take at least one opportunity to go discover life on earth at the zoo!

Calaway Park

As a kid I can remember going out to visit family in Calgary almost every summer and when we were there that meant going to Calaway Park!  When Pacey was 3 we were on route to Calgary and I thought what better than to let his Calaway Park experiences begin.

With everything from kiddy rides to thrill-seeker rides, live entertainment and anything in between, Calaway is Western Canada’s largest outdoor family amusement park.   There’s the ferris wheel, the infamous log ride, which Pacey completely freaked out on the first time on it and now its his favorite ride, the carousal, the big boat one of my favorites, driving the antique cars, a kid roller coaster, the adult roller coaster, bumper cars for all ages and so much more.  

Calaway is all about fun for the whole family!

Tips:

• plan for a full day to take in all the fun
• bring your own picnick lunch
• get a 2 for 1 pass or family pas savings (they usually come in the mail every year or you can get them at most gas stations in Alberta)
• wear clothes that if they get wet are still comfortable/non-see through
• Have Fun!

Drumheller, AB

On our nearly once a year road trips to Calgary we usually take the scenic detour through Drumheller a.k.a. Dinosaur Valley.  My son, Pacey, and me of course love the drive through all the magnificent hills.

Depending on what time of year it is that we are going through there is always lots of things to check out and do.

In the warmer months we go:

• trek up the Hoodoo’s - huge sandstone pillars which take millions of years to form

• doing a little racing (where I always kick butt) at the Badlands Go-Kart Park

• putt a round of mini golf 
• bump around in the bumper boats
• cool off at the spray park that has several water fountains and water cannons
• take a walk across the historic Rosedale Suspension Bridge
• let’s not forget about climbing up the 86’ World’s Largest Dinosaur that weighs over 145,000lbs and is 151’ long and standing in it’s mouth we look out over the beautiful Badlands
• And as we tour around the town we stop a some of the different dino’s on the all the corner’s of the streets and do some riding of dinosaurs

In the colder months we visit:

• The Royal Tyrrell Museum where we walk through and marvel over the amazing life size dinosaurs, exhibits and there are always tons of fun things to do and learn

• all the exotic reptiles at Reptile World and the test is on to see who has the least amount of fear and will put a snake around there neck (let’s just say it’s never been me), even Pacey when he was 2 was all over having one of the snake’s ‘cuddle’ him - eww, I thinking I was doing all the freaking out for him

• tour through and check out all the kewl fossils at Fossil World

On your next trip from Sask to Alberta or vice versa, I highly recommend a short detour through Drumheller - even if you don’t have time to stop the scenic drive is well worth the 30 minute detour!!