KinderJet.com - Family Travel Blogs

Last weekend we took our two eleven year olds and four year old boys to Day Out With Thomas at Heritage Park in Calgary, AB. It was a really nice afternoon, we all enjoyed ourselves very much. Day Out With Thomas includes storytelling, tattoos and face painting, crafts, musical entertainment and model train displays. Not to mention the giant Thomas store, photos with Sir Topham Hat, and of course, the best part, the ride on a train pulled by Thomas himself. Heritage Park is a wonderful setting, and added to the afternoon with food and drinks, wooden mazes, carousel and mini-ferris wheel, candy and ice cream shops, and my personal favourite, the bakery. There was a bit of a treasure hunt, the kids collected stamps at each station, and handed in their completed sheet for a prize. The prize wasn't great, but the game kept the older boys entertained. The Little One loved it all, even though he said he didn't want to go see Thomas in the first place. The highliht for him? The new train he brought home from the Thomas store.

Here are the photos...

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Thanks to all who entered the KinderJet Day Out With Thomas Contest!

Our winner is Amanda C. from Calgary, drawn randomly using RANDOM.ORG. 

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Sign up for our newsletter before April 30, 2012, and you will be entered to win 4 tickets to Day Out With Thomas at Heritage Park in Calgary, AB on May 12, 2012. Draw will be made May 1, 2012 and winner will be notified by email.

I remember when our oldest boys were little, and they watched their first Thomas video. On that particular video were several Thomas stories, plus footage of kids and parents enjoying themselves at something called "Day Out With Thomas." Every time they watched it, they would ask if we could go to "Day Out With Thomas." And then, a few years later, it finally happened. Thomas spent the day in our city. And these parents and kids enjoyed it thoroughly. 

We actually surprised them the first time we went, so they didn't know until they saw the sign. They were so excited! 

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So, after Gasoline Alley, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and Fort Calgary, The Little One announced Friday morning "Mommy, I don't want to go to another museum today." Right. Got it. We need a little less looking, and a little more doing. Let's go to...

Telus Spark is a brand new science centre in Calgary, AB. It opened in the Fall, and we had yet to discover its wonders, so off we went on Friday of Staycation week. And from the moment we walked through the doors, we knew this place was awesome!

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One of those characteristic Calgarian sights is Fort Calgary. And yet, our family had never been there! 

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Okay, okay. I know what your thinking. Beach Day? In Calgary, Alberta, Canada??? In March?????

Well, I was committed to the Staycation plan, and part of any awesome vacation for our family is beach time, so I gave it a shot. Although I would not say we gleened the same relaxed, deep breathe, serenity that can be obtained from actually sitting on sand watching waves, we had a pretty fun day.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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We have been to more than one huge amusement park with our kids. They have memories of each one, which they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. They will also always remember the trip each Summer to our smaller, local mecca of amusement, Calaway Park. Smaller amusement parks offer a familiarity, relaxation and level of comfortable fun that can only be found closer to home. (Although I know families who skip Disney and go for smaller parks while traveling, too.)

We all love to travel with our families, and planning the next big trip is always exciting. But sometimes it is necessary, and even nice, to find ways to "vacation" close to home. And it is surprisingly fun to discover new things right in your own city. Here are a few tips.

Two weeks ago, the city I live in was full of cowboys hats, free pancakes and country music. Not to mention actual cowboys, horses and chuckwagons. Did I leave out deep fried everything, exhausted everyone and every style of thrill ride you can imagine? That is just a sampling of what happens during The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede, and it happens every year.

Okay, this is a totally self serving post. But I think maybe some of you KinderJet-setters may be interested. We have friends who live far away from us, in a place that is jam packed with family travel opportunities. We have traveled to see them several times, and will do so many more, I'm sure. We love it there! But we would like to convince them to come visit us, too. Hard to do when they live in a virtual family travel paradise. So begins my attempt to point out all that we have to offer families here in Western Canada.

I will post more about the Calgary Zoo another time, but I wanted to share this video I did of the Dinosaurs Alive! Exhibit that was there last year. It is quite spectacular and I would recommend taking the family to see it if it comes to a zoo near you.

I live in Calgary, and I love it here. Once in a while, we pretend we are tourists and take in the sites. The Calgary Tower is one of our favourites. The kids dig the glass floor, even if it makes their parents nervous. Mostly, they love to run around, and around...and around.

My kids have always LOVED Heritage Park. There are old style fair rides, a ferris wheel and carousel etc. A paddlewheel boat, steam train (a favourite, of course) and horse drawn carriage. And every trip to heritage Park includes a stop at the Ice Cream Parlour.