COVID has taken its toll on everyone, especially the children. However, Alberta is OPEN for the Summer! We can fully embrace the chance to go out and experience life again! But, where could you take your dayhome kids? Considerations like prices, hours of business, things to do, items to bring along … Embolden PDC has you covered! We’ve compiled a list of 9 places across Alberta that are dayhome friendly activities that are sure to keep the kids entertained and get you outside again.Â
Edmonton & Area
1) JURASSIC PARK
Information:
- Address | 2-23210 Township Road 564, Gibbons, AB
- Phone | 780-470-2446
- Price | Adults $15 Children $10 (No additional discounts offered for dayhomes, however, tour packages are available)
- Hours | Open 7 days a week 9am to 7pm
- Things to do | Walk the Discovery Trail while completing scavenger hunts. Picnic areas are available for your dayhome group to pack a lunch. If you want to have a treat at the park you can take advantage of the concession available. Sadly, mini golf is currently closed. But, their outdoor play parks are open for the kids to enjoy.
- Remember to bring | Water Bottle, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Weather Appropriate Clothing
2) FORT EDMONTON PARK
Information:
- Address | 7000 143 Street, Edmonton, AB
- Phone | 780-496-7381
- Price | Reserve your tickets online! Adults $26.20 Children $20.90 (No additional discounts offered for dayhomes)
- Hours | Open until Sept 6 on Wednesdays to Sundays 10 am to 5pm
- Things to do | NEW! John J. Jones Midway & Exhibition features new Ferris Wheel, Winding Maze, Electric Fun House, and Games. NEW! Indigenous peoples experience. Visit old favorites like 1846 Fort, 1885 Street, 1905 Street, 1920 Street, Capitol Theatre, Train & Street Care, Wagon & Pony rides, 5+ Concession food places available.
- Remember to bring | Water Bottle, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Weather Appropriate Clothing
3) EDMONTON VALLEY ZOO
Information:
- Address | 13315 Buena Vista Road, Edmonton, AB
- Phone | 780-442-5311
- Price | Reserve your tickets online! Adult $14.95 Children $10.50 (No additional discount offered for dayhomes)
- Hours | Open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm
- Things to do |Â Unfortunately, animal talks, rides (train, carousel, and paddle boats), and the urban farm contact yard are not operating or are closed. However, the outdoor walking paths around the animal exhibits are open! Water fill stations are available. You can pack your own lunch food and eat at the picnic areas provided throughout the zoo. If you don’t, all their food concessions are open for business. Additionally, play structures are open! With 350 animals to explore it’s a great way to spend the day.
- Remember to bring | Water bottle, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Weather Appropriate Clothing
Red Deer & Area
4) DISCOVERY WILDLIFE PARK
Information:
- Address | 5400 42 Ave, Innisfail, AB
- Phone | 403-227-3211
- Price | Adult $19 Youth $16 (Call ahead & purchase your tickets ahead of time! They confirmed with Embolden PDC that they’re flexible and would be happy to extend the school and youth discount which lowers admission to $8/person to dayhome groups!
- Hours | Open until Sept 30, 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm
- Things to do | Go meet the Discovery Wildlife Family! Monkeys, bears, tigers, wolves, raccoons, and cougars. They offer daily animal presentation talks 4 times throughout the day. NEW! Play structures including a rocket, helicopter, dozer, climbing wall, tractors, VW bug, and sand pits. Need some quiet time? They offer a family room that has AC, kids books, and toys. The Honey Bear Concessions is open! The park is 90 acres with tables and benches throughout. You’re welcome to bring your own lunch.
- Remember to bring | Water Bottle, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Weather Appropriate Clothing
5) KRAAY FAMILY FARM
Information:
-  Address | Site 6 Box 9 RR1, Lacombe, AB
- Phone | 403-302-1709
- Price | SUMMER Individual Day Pass $17.15 – Save $2 per pass by purchasing ahead of time online! Some attractions are not included with general admission passes and require the purchase of tokens! Check their website for detail. (No additionial discount offered for dayhomes)
- Hours | Monday thru Saturday from 10am to 9pm
- Things to do | Kraay Family Farm has 40+ activities and attractions to keep your dayhome group entertained. Go for a ride on the Grain Train. Play a round of miniature golf. Climb the adventure course. Mine for gemstones. Most impressively it features a 15-acre corn maze! Play at the sandpits, slide barn, mini crooked houses, pumpkin pad, sprider web, jumping pillows, or swings. Giant games anyone? Have a round of giant billiards. Don’t forget their roller bowlers, zip line, horse carousel, pumpkin cannon, stalk car racing, and so much more! Get a snack at the sugar shack or corncession stands! You are welcome to bring your own picnic lunch as well.
- Remember to bring: Water Bottle, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Weather Appropriate Clothing
6) DISCOVERY CANNON PARK
Information:
- Address | 3800 River Bend Drive, Red Deer, AB in the River Bend Golf and Recreation Area
- Phone | 403-343-6341
- Price | Entry is free! If you don’t have tubes you can rent them for $5 each
- Hours | Open 7 days a week from 11am to 7pm
- Things to do | Perfect for older dayhome children! The park features natural river-fed bubbling pools of water, tube floating, trickling rivulets, a wading pool, beach and boardwalk, washrooms and showers. The kids can play at the nature themed playground. Then you can get a treat at the concession! If that’s not for you then bring your own snacks and lunches to enjoy at the picnic tables provided.Â
- Remember to bring: Water Bottle, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Swimsuits, & Towels
Calgary & Area
7) CALGARY ZOO
Information:
- Address | 1300 Zoo Road NE, Calgary, AB
- Phone | 403-232-9300
- Price | Adult $34.95 Children $24.95 Discount programs such as Air Miles, AMA, etc available (No additional discount offered for dayhomes)
- Hours | Open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm
- Things to do | Explore all the areas the zoo has to offer including the Canadian Wilds, Conservatory Gardens & Butterflies, Destination Africa, Exploration Asia, Land of Lemurs, Penguin Plunge, and Prehistoric Park. Gateway to Asia is currently closed. The zoo features 3 playgrounds which are all open. You’re welcome to bring your own snacks and lunch but the zoo multiple concession stands that you can treat yourselves too.Â
- Remember to bring | Water Bottle, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Weather Appropriate Clothing
8) IRON HORSE PARK
Information:
- Address | 820 Railway Gate SW, Airdrie, AB
- Phone | 403-948-2601
- Price | Admission to the park is free! Rides cost $3 each – ticket bundle pricing available
- Hours | Open on Sundays
- Things to do | The park is 11.5 acres of land with miniature trains, track and landscape that are representative of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The trails are 1/8 scaled diesel or steam locomotives. There are picnic areas available on site for your dayhome group to bring and have lunch or snacks. Stop in at the full size replica CPR station for snacks.
- Remember to bring: Water Bottle, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Weather Appropriate Clothing
9) GRANARY ROAD
Information:
- Address | 226066 112 St W, Foothills No.31, AB *Google maps does not provide an accurate route – check out their website for instructions
- Â Phone |Â 403-453-7623
- Price | Adult/Child Day Pass $13 (No additional discount offered for dayhomes)
- Hours |Â Open 7 days a week from 9am to 5pm
- Things to do | With 36-acres of play and learn adventure! The frog pond fun pad is where the kids can enjoy in-group trampolines and park activities. The farm friends area lets you meet goats, visit sheep, alpaca, llama, miniature horse, and a donkey. Don’t forget the peacocks, turkeys, pigs, and bunnies. Be daring on the arachnid web where the kids can climb the rope webs. The mushroom meander will make you feel tiny compared to the giant mushrooms. The ant farm is 4 stories of slides, climbing nets, spinners, and walkways. Check out the bee garden and feel real honey comb wax. Straight from a fantasy comes the orchard treehouse where kids can explore the 2-storey corkscrew apple slide, and rope bridge. Learn about wetland ecosystems by viewing the wetland tank and walking out onto the pond. Go to the bat cave to learn about bat-ology and up close look at the bats within the exhibit case. Play in the chicken coop park. Lastly, climb on a real tractor or water the crops like a real farmer in the croplands. Garnary road also features a weekend farmers market with over 25 vendors. You can bring your own food and use the picnic areas available. The food reviews are outstanding! Be sure to check out the snacks when you visit!
- Remember to bring: Water Bottle, Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, Weather Appropriate Clothing
Responses