Chuck E Cheese!

There's only one Chuck E Cheese location in Calgary and it's at 2612 32ND Street NE, or right next to Sunridge Mall. I just took my kids there a few days ago when it was raining (booooo) and what a great way to entertain the kids indoors!

I'm pretty happy with the management at Chuck E Cheese; every time I go it's clean, most of the machines work, the pizza's pretty good (though over-priced), and they are diligent about stamping and checking the hands of everyone who enters and leaves to ensure no kids sneak off without their parents!

At Chuck E Cheese 1 token = 1 game. The best deal I've found is by signing up to their email list: you'll receive coupons to print out such as 100 tokens for $16.99; actually right now there is a bonus 20 tokens so you'll get 120 tokens for $16.99. If you want to spend less, just use this coupon, don't buy food there, and it'll be an afternoon of fun for less than $20 for at least a couple of kids! You can also get 15 free tokens by bringing in a good report card or 10 free for filling out calendars such as a homework calendar, but only with food purchase. See these promotions here.

For hours, map, and phone, click here.

To sign up for email coupons click here.

BTW, my youngest is terrified of the Chuck E Cheese mascot so beware!

I give it 8/10 because of the over-priced food, limited menu, and the staff could be perkier.

Cardel Place

Cardel Place is a huge recreational facility in N.W. Calgary. It's right by my house so we go there often usually to the Country Hills Library which is located inside or to the swimming pool which is clean and nicely designed. The library is a newer one so it's very nice looking too. I take my youngest to story-time there, and these free story-times book up SO fast because they're so popular.

The pool is not as huge as a leisure center pool, and no waves, but there's a unique "river" feature which is a semi-oval shaped section attached to the major pool that has rushing/bubbling water running through it that drags you along like a river. It's quite relaxing if you're hanging onto a floaty. There's also a big shallow end with tons of fountains perfect for toddlers and a warmer baby pool. There are only 2 lanes for laps but it's usually not busy so you'll definitely get a turn. The hot tub is cool because it's designed like an infinity pool where the water reaches the top of the hot tub and sort of spills over the edges and has a nice view of green fields through the large windows next to it.

Cardel Place also offers a rock climbing wall which the kids will love, badminton courts which need to be reserved in advance, a fitness centre, skating rink, day care, and I love the mom and tot play time which runs three times a week where they usually inflate a huge bouncy castle and let kids up to age 6 go crazy in the big gym (for less than $4).

Check out their website to see what else they offer for you and your family! I give this beautiful recreational facility 9/10, docking one point only because I think the swimming pool could use a larger deep end.

Cascade Ponds - Banff National Park

I have to start this blog with a spot at my #1 favorite place around Calgary, world-renowned Banff National Park. The only word that comes close to describing Banff is "Majestic". It's highly unlikely that you live in Calgary and haven't taken at least a day-trip out to Banff, but there may be some spots you've missed that are great for kids so I'll be posting about them now and then...

Did you think that it's too cold to swim in Banff (other than the hot springs)? Well, during a hot summer's day, the shallow waters of the Cascade Ponds are actually a very popular spot for families to take the kids swimming. We were out there a week ago and saw tons of kids in small rubber boats paddling around out there, and older kids/teenagers jumping from the small bridge into the middle of the deep pond. The water is absolutely clean and inviting, and if it's a hot day, not too cold to swim in!

Cascade Ponds is on Lake Minnewanka Road. There are bathrooms, tons of picnic benches, and I counted 6 barbecue pits, so if you want to barbecue you better arrive early to grab a spot! There's an easy walking trail around the ponds and the cascades from which they get their name are a small cascading stream/falls on one end of the park.

It's a picturesque place to spend the day with the family with the rockies providing a beautiful backdrop to the nature all around..like a little piece of heaven on earth! We'll be making a trip out again the next hot day with some rubber boats!

I give Cascade Ponds 9/10 , docking one point just because of the slightly stinky washrooms!