KinderJet.com - Family Travel Blogs

Dinosaurs are dramatic and mysterious and so fun to photograph. We took a lot of pictures in just a few hours. You get to see them all in 30 seconds!

When in Calgary, Summer or Winter, an afternoon at Canada Olympic Park is always a good choice. Contained in this one location on the Western edge of the city are mini-golf, zip line, Eurobungy, climbing wall, mountain bike trail, gymnastics, skating, public bobsleigh and luge rides, cross country and downhill skiiing, and snowboarding. Whew! That is a lot, you may need two afternoons!

Also located in the park is the new Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. We really weren't sure what to expect when we took the boys there, but we were pleasantly surprised. It is not inexpensive to get into the museum, which for me means my expectations for family enjoyment are high. Canada's Sports Hall of Fame met my expectations and I would say it was worth the money. If you plan to go, just make sure you have the time to spend because there is lots to do, and see.

We began Staycation 2012 this afternoon with a trip to the Gasoline Alley Museum at Heritage Park. One of the things I love about Calgary is that many of the family friendly places have special events during school breaks. For the next week, Gasoline Alley has Spring Rally in the Alley, along with an exhibit Vintage to Volt: A Century of Chevrolet (Mar 1-May 31, 2012). 

Now, a museum full of cars seemed like a no brainer for our family, especially since the Little One is car crazy. When we drive down the road, he spends his time identifying the make of each and every vehicle that goes by. But as it turned out, he was not in a great mood this afternoon, he was tired, and whiny, and generally grumpy. So, he didn't enjoy the cars to their full potential.

Spring Break is just beginning for our kids, and just like every other year, we are staying home. We travel in February, when prices are more reasonable and destinations are less crowded. Which leaves us with one little problem. What are we going to do for 10 days of no school??? 

It got me thinking about how if we just let the kids play video games in their pajamas for the whole week, we all get a little edgy after a few days. But when we are on vacation that doesn't happen. Becuase we have new things to experience and discover every day. And that is when the word "staycation" entered my mind. Why not experience and discover new things right here close to home?

I love the mountains. Summer or Winter. And I grew up under a ski hills, so I have always loved hanging out on ski hills in Winter. The snow covered trees. The bussling crowds of skiers. The warm hot chocolate in the lodge. Just one, tiny, little problem. I don't ski. Whatever. I still love me a weekend in the mountains.

I have two videos to share with you this week. The first is a promotional video of the city of Calgary done in 1962 that I came across on social media over the weekend. So fun to see how they sold the growing city to family travelers back then. Not quite the way we would do it now.

It's the time of the year when thoughts turn to skiiing, at least for some poeple. Although our family has not spent much time on the slopes so far, we are partial to a trip to the mountains, and as long as the roads are clear and the temperatures mild, we will make that trip in Winter just as happily as Summer. The great thing about Banff is that your family can have a great time, skiing or not.

Here is the KinderJet video of the week.

There is something so interesting about how certain attractions come to be. It seems all types of businesses realize the value of adding tourism to their revenue stream. Wineries build swimming pools. Chocolate factories give guided tours. And corn farmer's create elaborate mazes in which we can all get lost. Brilliant!

It was a lofty goal, but one I was up to accomplishing. Visit 3 Alberta lakes in 3 days. You see, our lake days in Alberta are limited, and there is no time to waste deciding which one to visit. So, we picked up the kids from their second day of school on Friday, and took off to check out three of our favourites.