A guest blog by Lily Frebourg,
No matter the season, the weather, the current events around the globe, visiting Canmore with our family will always be a treat for us, big city people. Just a short drive from Calgary you find yourself in the cutest mountain town with so much character. I say, sign me up for a day (or two) in Canmore with my family!
Canmore is often overlooked by international tourists in favour of Banff but this year’s pandemic and subsequent short-lived closures of Canada’s National and Provincial Parks made Albertans fall in love with it all over again. And so with no further delay, I am happy to be sharing my top 5 things to do for families visiting Canmore.
Family-friendly Hikes
The hikes around Canmore are perfect for families with children. My 5 and 3-year-old love conquering the Grassi Lakes Trail. It’s relatively short, well maintained, very scenic all the way up and down, and the views from the top are simply spectacular. It’s a win-win for me as a mum and as a hiker. I have to warn you though, this trail gets ridiculously busy on weekends, so you will want to get there early or come here on a weekday after school.
There’s plenty more trails around Canmore that are great for kids: Barrier Lake, Ptarmigan Cirque (hello larches!), Troll Falls, and Elbow Lake Loop. Check out alltrails.com to compare the difficulty (you know your children’s abilities best) and go exploring.
Outdoor Activities for Families
Families visiting Canmore can spend some quality outdoor time just a stone’s throw away from Downtown. Go for a leisurely stroll along the picturesque Policeman’s Creek boardwalk, or grab your bikes and go riding Engine Bridge (something I can’t wait to do as soon as my girls are a little bit bigger). And in winter there are so many options for ice skating and tobogganing, your kids will never want to leave.
Family Friendly Shopping
Canmore’s Main Street is currently closed for vehicle access which gives visitors and locals so much space for safe exploring while social distancing. Masks are required indoors so if you are out there ready to shop till you drop (which will mean a lot to the local economy), make sure you and your little ones are wearing face coverings in every store.
Some of my favourite places to stop for a little browse are: HiJinx Toy Store, The Tin Box, Valhalla Pure Outfitters, and Stonewater Home Elements.
Eat
I’m not going to lie, food is a big part of my decision-making process when it comes to travelling and Canmore is the place to be when you’re hungry! Rocky Mountain Bagel Company, CommuniTea, Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. will all make your mouth water with some healthy options and a great vibe. Not to miss one of Canmore’s awesome microbreweries for mum and dad, The Grizzly Paw Pub. So many great food stops in Canmore, you will want to come back again and again!
Stay
If you find your family out and about the whole day and feel like you haven’t even scratched the surface, feel free to stay overnight at one of the reasonably priced Canmore hotels. Stay close to Downtown at Lamphouse hotel or Basecamp Suites for the best access to the main attractions of Canmore’s Main Street. That way you can start exploring first thing in the morning and stay up till late!
As you see, the exploring options in Canmore are endless. For a small mountain town, it really has it all: plenty of outdoor activities, fun stores for kids, and family restaurants and cafes. Bring the whole family to Canmore and explore our beautiful backyard!
About The Author, Lily: Lily Frebourg is a Travel Alberta content creator, Youtube sensation, and supermom from Calgary, Alberta. Lily, her husband, and their adorable daughters Tessa and Anais are always on the go and love spending time in Canmore, AB.
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