1. Visit the Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is hands down my pick for the best museum in Washington for young kids. It is fill of displays that I found mind-blowing even without having a major interest in airplanes, like the original Wright Flyer.

One of the great things about the museum is it is full of real airplanes which even Nicky (11 months), was able to appreciate. There are also lots of interactive displays and opportunities to go inside some of the planes (Gordie’s favorite part). I can’t even count how many times since we’ve been that Gordie has said, ‘we saw that at the Air and Space Museum’. Oh, and you can touch a piece of the moon – the moon!

If you are a big aviation fan, you are also going to want to check out the newer Udvar-Hazy facility which is 45 minutes outside Washington. It has some amazing pieces like the SR-71 Blackbird and the Space Shuttle Discovery but is less kid friendly.

(Check out my full review of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center).

2. Take in Some Art

Taking preschoolers and toddlers to art museums can be a bit daunting. The National Mall features two outdoor sculpture gardens perfect for an introduction to art. They are not huge an are close to many places to warm up again indoors so you should easily be able to take a walk through even if it’s a bit chilly. Although the kids still can’t climb on the art, there is no problem with them being loud or running around.

The National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden is centered around a fountain that doubles as a skating rink the the Winter. Across the mall you’ll also find the Hirshorn Sculpture Garden. If you are feeling a little more confident, the Hirshorn Museum features contemporary art exhibits – the art displayed may not always be beautiful but will rarely be boring making it a great starter museum for kids.

(Check out my review of the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden and the Hirshorn Museum).

3. Learn about History

As the capital of the United States and seat of the US government, Washington, DC is a natural place to learn about US History. The American History Museum is a great place to learn more about American History and many of the exhibits such as ‘America on the Move’ will be of interest even to young visitors in a way that say, a tour of the White House may not.

The best history museum for young kids in Washington, DC, however, is the Museum of Natural History. With exhibits featuring insects, dinosaurs, giant squid and butterflies you are sure to find something to please the toddlers and preschoolers in your family. Gordie was thrilled to see the dinosaurs and Nicky was enthralled with the butterflies.

(Check out my reviews of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian National American History Museum).

4. Walk the National Mall

Okay, this isn’t exactly a great thing to do if the weather is chilly, but it is something you don’t want to miss. The number of highly recognizable landmarks, buildings and memorials along the National Mall is astonishing and includes the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the Vietnam War memorial and the Capitol Building to the East and the White House a bit to the North as well.

If it is a bit cool bundle up and stop by the Botanic Gardens on the East side to warm up, and the Ranger Station to the South West of the Washington Monument (Where you can also get your National Park Passport Cancelation Stamps). If you find it even too cold for that take a driving tour. You can’t go home without being able to tell your kids “We saw that! We were there!” when the Washington Monument or the Capitol Building are on TV. This is one area where I really wish we were able to spend more time but it was just so cold!

(Read more: Our tour of the National Mall and check out my review of the US Botanic Gardens)

5. Go for a Day Trip

There is plenty of beautiful park space for kids to run around in but places for kids to burn off some energy can be a little harder to come by on a cold day. There are no Children’s Museums inside DC, but there are two close by.

The closest, the National Children’s Museum is 20 minutes away in National Harbor and is aimed at kids under 8. It features a section for kids 3 and under, two sections for older kids, Our Town – which has centres with familiar city themes, and Our World – which has centres that help kids think about how people around the world, live, eat, travel and dress.

Port Discovery, located an hour away in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore, is one of the highest ranked Children’s Museums in the US. It aimed at kids 10 and under and is huge – we only managed to go to about half the exhibits. Gordie loved the large wooden train the best. I was really impressed with the toddler/baby area and thought the giant climber in the centre of the museum was pretty cool too. The Inner Harbor is also home to the Baltimore Aquarium and the Maryland Science Centre.

(Check out my review of the National Children’s Museum, Port Discovery and the Baltimore Aquarium)

Those are my picks but we definitely haven’t seen all that Washington, DC has to offer.

What would you recommend for families with young kids?

The post 5 Great Things to do With Young Kids in Washington, DC (even if it’s cold) appeared first on calgaryplaygroundreview.com.

Community: Brentwood – Chapel Road just North of Capri Ave Parking: Free street parking

Age Range: 0 – 8
Ground cover: Pea gravel
Shade: Great shade from mature trees
Surrounding park area: Nice green space to the North of the playground and to the South there is a small hill – at the bottom there is a community rink in the winter and a field area in the summer.
Seating: 2 benches and 2 picnic tables – there are a couple more benches nearby.
Accessibility: No wheelchair accessibility. There are two bouncers and two swings for kids to benefit from vestibular stimulation.
Features: Play structure with two slides, turtle climber, motorcycle bouncer, horse bouncer, dinosaur climber, 2 swings (1 baby).

The kids really enjoyed running around the park area too. They had a great time running up and down the hill and playing freeze tag.

Gordie loved hosting a party at the park. Bringing the Peelin Pops made it extra special. Even though we go to tons of playgrounds each year, this is going to be a time he’ll definitely remember. Now I’ll just have to convince him we don’t need to bring them every time we go to the playground!

Have you seen any playgrounds that use small things to make the playground special?

This post was generously sponsored by Nestle, but the opinions and images are my own. For more information, visit www.nestle.ca [http://www.nestle.ca/]

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Rental Cost

When You Can Book?

Booking Hours

Bowness Park
Monday – Friday 8:45 am – 2:45 pm, 3:15 pm – 9:15 pm
Saturday/Sunday 8:45 am – 2:45pm only

Prairie Winds Park
Monday – Sunday 8:45 am – 2:45 pm, 3:15 pm – 9:15 pm

All other parks
Monday – Sunday 9 am – 3 pm, 3 pm – 9 pm
Should your picnic overlap the 6 hour blocks, you are able to book and pay for both six hour blocks, and reserve the site all day.

1. Bowness Park

Bowness Park has the largest bookable picnic spots in the city. There are 7 sites available to be booked ranging in size from ones that will accomodate up to 25 people to ones that will accomodate up to 263 people. The park is currently undergoing re-development so take a look at the city of Calgary website to check which picnic areas or other amenities might be closed when you are planning to visit.

3. Edworthy Park

Edworthy Park has 9 bookable picnic sites. Most of the sites will accomodate up to 100 people. There are plenty of trees so most of the sites feel surprisingly secluded. Firewood can be requested free of charge.

4. North Glenmore Park

North Glenmore Park has 14 bookable picnic sites – many accommodate up to 25 people but others accommodate up to 100.

5. Pearce Estates  Park

Pearce Estates Park has one bookable picnic site near the playground that can accomodate up to 100 people. 

6. Prairie Winds Park

Prairie Winds Park has one bookable picnic site that can accommodate up to 50 people.

7. Sandy Beach Park

Sandy Beach has 6 bookable picnic sites most accommodate up to 50 people but two can accommodate up to 100.

8. Shouldice Park

Shouldice Park has two bookable picnic sites along the river and near the playground that can accommodate up to 100 people.

9. South Glenmore Park

South Glenmore Park has one bookable picnic site. It is outside of the Children’s Variety Park playground area closer to the Reservoir. It can accomodate up to 25 people.

10. Stanley Park

Stanley Park has two bookable picnic sites along the river that can accommodate up to 50 people. They are near a playground and the outdoor pool.

Other: Carburn Park

You used to be able to book picnic sites at Carburn Park too, but that is no longer available. They still have great picnic sites, but they are first come first serve. The one draw back is that the only bathroom is at the park entrance. (There used to be one near the picnic areas but it’s been removed).

What is your family’s favorite place to have a picnic?

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Location     map

Community: Prestwick – Prestwick Drive & Prestwick Circle

Have you been to this playground? What did you think?

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Location: Heritage Park
Address: 1900 Heritage Drive S.W.
Cost: $21+gst person ages 2+. Not included with regular membership.
Suggested Age Range: All ages of Thomas the Tank Engine fans.

Gordie’s Review (4 years old): What was the best part? “Riding on Thomas”
Nicole’s Review (14 months): “pony!” (signing)

Overall: 

Day out With Thomas was back at Heritage Park again this year to the delight of many little Thomas fans. Again this year, it was held over two weekends in May. Admission for this event is not included with an annual pass. When you purchase tickets, you get a ride on the train ‘pulled’ by Thomas. Your tickets have a specific time and you’ll go 3 times around the track. If you don’t want to ride on the train you can purchase admission at a reduced rate. If you are thinking of going I suggest buying your tickets well in advance, especially if you are hoping for a mid-day ride. Tickets have been known to sell out and walk-up tickets are very limited.

Gordie was so excited he had trouble falling asleep the night before and then woke up early the next morning. The early start didn’t hurt us since our boarding time for the train was 9am. I wasn’t initially thrilled that it was so early, but I think we might pick 9am next year. There are some advantages to being early which I’ll explain below.

We learned last year that for the best view of Thomas on your train ride, you want to be near the back of the train on the left hand side.

One of the things that was great about being there so early is that although everything was open, there weren’t any crowds. With our ride with Thomas already out of the way we headed over to get a wagon ride and got a ride all to ourselves.

Nicky was thrilled. She loves animals as much as Gordie loves trains.

Right by where the wagon ride pick up is, they have two little wooden mazes set up for the kids to run through. This year Gordie was old enough to be able to do the big maze by himself and loved it. He ran through it 5 times. Some of the rides suitable for young kids are also running, like the swing boats, carousel and small ferris wheel. This area is also a great place to sit and watch Thomas go by.

Over at the tents, they have a Thomas gift shop (with a small train table the kids can play with) and an activity area with temporary tattoos, facepainting coloring pages and performances. This is also where you can meet Sir Topham Hat. Over at the Opera house on the other side of the park they have story telling.

Although not everything in the Historic Village area is running on these weekends, things like the candy store and the bakery are and there are lots of things to see, like this old fire equipment.

They were starting to bring out some animals for their farm area already too. We saw baby pigs and chickens while we were there. Nicky was so excited.

We had a great morning at Day Out With Thomas both the kids were thrilled to be there and exhausted – even Gordie fell asleep in the car on the way home. If you have a Thomas the Tank Engine fan in your family, I bet you will have a great time too.

Has your family been to day out with Thomas? What did you think?

(Heritage Park generously supplied passes for my family for Day Out With Thomas in exchange for a review. All words and opinions expressed are my own)

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Location    map

Community: McKenzie Towne – Elgin – Elgin Ave and Elgin Rise SE
Parking: free street parking

Keenan’s Review (8 years old): “What was the best part of the park?” “The Swings.”
Ryan’s Review (5 years old): “What was the best part of the park?” “The big rock part
with the fossil under it.”
Ewan’s Review (3 years old): “What was the best part of the park?” “The dragon.”

Age Range: 0-12 years.
Ground Cover: Shredded recycled tires
Shade: Not too much shade as the trees are still young.
Features: Themed dragon slide (appropriate for a younger child), knight motifs, 1 tall slide, A volcano climbing wall, a smaller toddler friendly climbing wall, a bouncer, many ladders, bridges and climbing activities, and 4 swings ( 2 baby, 2 regular).
Surrounding Park Area: Large field in the middle of a quiet residential area.
Accessibility: None.
Seating: 1 picnic tables and 2 benches.

Overall assessment: This playground has a wonderful castle theme. Even as you enter off the street you walk over a drawbridge. The whole playground has many levels and the children climb higher and higher until they are on the bridge that separates both sides of the playground. It is great for imaginative play. It has a Dragon Slide and knight cutouts on the bottom of the park so that the kids can really pretend that they are in the middle ages.

There are many different things to climb and challenge themselves and children of all ages can enjoy different parts of the park. Parental supervision is a must with those under 3 though, as it is really quite tall and if a child fell it would be a serious injury. There are little hidden themes in this park as well, under the second climbing “wall” for toddlers there is a dinosaur skeleton that is such a fun thing for the
kids to find. There are enough swings for 4 children to play and the ground is really soft. We saw some children with buckets and shovels there as well. In all this is another one of McKenzie Towne’s great themed parks, a must visit!

Have you been to this playground? What did you think?

Photos Courtesy of Alisha from Learning From My Kids

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1. Valleyview Park Spray Park and Playgrounds

Location: Dover- 28 St and 30 Ave SE
This is a beautiful park with two excellent accessible playgrounds. The preschool playground is in a fenced in area along with the spray park allowing for a lot of safe freedom for even the littlest kids. For school-aged kids there is a large playground within sight just up the hill that will both challenge and engage them. Both playgrounds have a type of equipment that is uncommon in Calgary and allow kids to take age-appropriate risks.

2. Prince’s Island Playground

Location: Prince’s Island Park, just north of downtown.
This is a definitely a destination playground. The surrounding park area is gorgeous, complete with pathways, mature trees and the surrounding river. During the summer months you can also walk over to the wading pool at Eau Claire. The playground itself is one of the largest in Calgary with something for everyone. The Calgary theme completes the package.

3. Prairie Winds Park Playground

Location: Westwinds/Castleridge – 233 Castleridge Blvd. NE.
This new playground is extremely popular – it is located in Prairie Winds Park which also features a huge hill that is great for plane watching and a large wading pool. The playground has accessible flooring throughout and has equipment for kids of all ages.

4. Nellie Breen Playground

Location: Inglewood - 14th St and St. Monica Ave SE
This park is a real gem. It is truly a community space with a playground that extends throughout the entire park. There is a Gazebo, plentiful seating, beautiful, mature shade trees and soft fall carpet flooring. Children of different ages can play together on most of the playground equipment, just in different ways. It is accessible for children and adults alike with low motor skills.

5. Vista Heights Jungle Playground

Location: Vista Heights – 1820 Valleyview Rd NE
Another new addition this year, this playground has a cute jungle theme and is designed for kids 5 and under. It has a ramp system that crawlers, early walkers and will love, musical panels and more. If you have a toddler looking for a challenge, this playground is a must see.

6. Haultain Park Playground

Location: Downtown – 225  13 Ave. S.W. (also known at 13 Ave Park)
This Downtown playground is located in the same park area as the Parks Foundation Calgary office so it’s no surprise the playground is excellent. The western theme on the preschool structure provides a great opportunity for imaginative play. Crawlers and early walkers will enjoy the accessible flooring and the ramps. This playground would be a perfect place to take kids with a wide range of ages or ability levels. They will all be able to have a great time on this equipment.

7. Kelvin Grove Woodland Playground

Location: Kelvin Grove – 73 Ave and Kerfoot Cres SW
This playground was my personal favorite for climbing around on with my son. It features a cute woodland theme, a preschool climber, a rope bridge and lots of swings. As an added bonus there is another great playground at the school across the field.

8. Bridgeland Community Centre Playground

Location: 9th St and Centre Ave NE.
This playground really shows what you can do with a only a modest footprint. It provides lots of different activities for little kids and big kids and with the ramps and recycled tire flooring, it’s accessible too. Every community should have a playground as good as this one.

9. Millrise Drive Playground

Location: Millrise – Corner of Millrise Drive and Millrise Way SW
Featuring a large merry-go-round climber, climbing walls, and 2 large boulders with ropes between them, this playground had plenty to challenge your kids. There are also lots of options for swinging and spinning.

10. West Hilhurst Community Association Playground

Location: 18th Street & 6th Avenue NW
This is a really well designed playground. It’s obvious that a lot of thought was put into the preschool play structure. Nearly everything on it allows two children to engage in the same activity beside each other – perfect for their developmental level. The school-age play structure has a section with a bridge that is over 5 feet tall and has lots of different varied and uncommon features.

11. Renfrew Preschool Playground

Location: Renfrew – 811 Radford Road N.E. (Beside the Renfrew Community Association – NOT the athletic park).
This playground was designed exclusively for children 5 and under. With safe fall carpet flooring and ramps there is no better playground for early walkers and even crawlers. More proficient walkers will love the independence they can have on the wide variety of equipment that is just their size.

12. East Calgary Greenway–Saddlebrook Playground

Location: Near Saddlebrook along the Eastern portion of the Greenway just South of Stoney Trail.
This is one of Calgary’s most unique playgrounds. It is not the easiest playground to get to but it is worth the short walk. This playground will provide a different kind of challenge for both big and little kids.

13. Rainbow Park Playground

Location: Albert Park – Radcliffe Crescent SE
This playground can be found in a lovely little park that is complete with large shade trees and a gazebo. The playground is excellent with ramps and accessible flooring and lots of options to challenge your little kids and bigger kids as well.

14. Springborough Playground

Location: Springborough Blvd & 26 Ave SW
This playground has something for everyone. The largely accessible flooring and ramps make it really great for early walkers and the large climber is set up so kids can get around without having to touch the ground. It also has a really popular spinner which is really easy to turn.

15. Winston Heights Xccent Playground

Location: Winston Heights – 22 Ave & 7th St NE
This playground has a sprawling interconnected climber that is unique in Calgary. Although this playground will appeal to younger children, what it really excels at is providing real challenges and group play opportunities for older children. This is not a playground that school-aged children will find boring.

Honorable Mention

Prestwick Pirate/Castle Playground

Location:Prestwick -  1 Prestwick Manor SE
Unlike many of the playgrounds on his list, this is located on a very modest park area but it is so unique I just couldn’t leave it out. With a pirate ship play structure on one side and a castle play structure on the other this playground provides an amazing opportunity for imaginative play. Nothing could be cooler than playing in a castle except maybe a pirate ship. This playground is very visually appealing and provides great opportunities for pretend play.

The post 15 of Calgary’s Best Playgrounds – 2013 appeared first on calgaryplaygroundreview.com.

Location:  High River, AB           http://www.museumofthehighwood.com/

Your child’s review (3 years old): “What did you like the best?” “The Horses!” (The old fashioned toy kind, on a stick)
Day Pass Cost: free, donations gratefully accepted
Annual Pass Break Even point: n/a
Parking: plenty of small town style angle parking
Food Services: The Whistle Stop Cafe, an authentic retired railway dining car situated just outside of the Museum
Age Range: 0 – 13
Stay Length: 1 – 2 hours

If you are looking for something to do during these blustery and muddy winter to spring transition days, head down to the Museum of the Highwood and The Whistlestop Cafe for some indoor fun.

My young son Eric often asks to go to see the “Dinin’ Car.”  After about an hour’s drive (30 mins from the south edge of Calgary), one may find an old retired railway dining car permanently parked on the lawn of the museum in High River (N.B. Google is off by a couple of blocks).

Both times we were there as breakfast was being served, so we ate through a hefty serving of eggs, pancakes and hashbrowns. The waitress is very friendly and kind to little ones and supplies window markers to the enthused dining guests, who then mark up the train car windows with delightful scribbles. This part is just about as exciting as being on a real “Dinin’ Car!”

After the food we headed in to the Museum of the Highwood in the sandstone building directly beside the train car.  This building was orignally the town train station, which you might guess from it’s shape and architecture. After surviving a fairly recent fire, the museum was completely renovated and the children’s area was given much thought and attention. The designers included an Early Childhood Education specialist and I can attest that the area was very well planned as it was difficult to pry Eric away both times that we were there.

What was really fun for me were all the pioneering memories that are kept alive through this simple yet engaging play space. I was happy to share with my son the experience of carding sheep’s wool or the sound of a handmade old fashioned wooden noise maker.

He spent most of his time in the General Store (“The High River Trading Company”, after the real store of the same name).

Amongst all the wares for pretend sale from days gone by he made pancakes, eggs and cake to serve at the tea party table. I enjoyed watched him figure out the hand cranked egg beater and grinding machine and I marvelled at how well made and detailed kitchen implements used to be.

Eric didn’t feel like dressing up in the playhouse but did enjoy the shape of it as I did. It is a miniature of the old “Superman” house in High River which was used in the filming of the movie in 1983.

Eric liked the turret which he pretended was an elevator. We rode the elevator up and down many floors on our hobby horses.  Hobby horses are sock headed horses on a stick – this toy was another great memory from my own youth.

If there are not any curiosities pre-loaded into the guessing game cubby holes you can find something in the drawers or the toy box to put in to see if your child can figure out what the object is by feel.From the old one room school desks to the train set to the chuckwagon bed with campfire, there is lots to play with.

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It’s no secret that I love indoor play places. Sure, I love the outdoors but Winter in Calgary can seem to last forever. This year was a good example, Winter came in October and as I write this it is April 8th and there is a thick layer of fresh snow on the ground. I think it’s great that there are so many places for kids to run around and have fun inside especially when it’s not so nice outside.

More than any other topic I’ve written about so far, the comments on indoor play places can sometimes get a bit heated – for any play place, some people will love it and others will find it disappointing. When I write my reviews, I try to keep in mind that each indoor play place is different and none is the right fit for everyone. Organized by area, here are short reviews on each of Calgary’s indoor play centres to help you find the one that’s right for your family.

 North West Play Centres

1. Coffee and ‘Scream

Located in Cambrian Heights NW this coffee and play place is aimed at children 6 and under. It features a driving track, little tykes climbers, kitchens, play house and a soft mat baby area and more. It has a full service coffee shop with food that is made to order. This is a great place for toddlers to engage in independent play. Coffee and ‘Scream will be under new management as of May 2013.

2. Joso’s Play and Learn Centre

Joso’s runs a play centre and a preschool program at their north Calgary location. The play centre is for kids 8 and under. It features a 4 level play structure with a ball pit, baby area and 2 plasma cars. They have a concession which primarily serves snacks.

3. Tommy K Play - North

Tommy K Play’s North location is at the North end of the Beacon Hill Shopping Centre and caters to kids 12 and under. It offers a huge indoor climber, trampoline basketball, time freak game, roller race track and toddler area. For an additional fee kids over 5 and adults can play laser tag or climb the climbing wall. They offer a number of pre-prepared lunch and snack choices.

4. Kiddos Coffee Time

New this year, Kiddos Coffee Time is located in the community of Highwood along 4th Street NW. It’s aimed at kids under 5 and features a play house, train table, foam block climbing structure, princess kitchen, caterpillar tunnel, rockers and small toys. They have a cafe at the front which serves coffee, snacks, sandwiches and hot dogs.

North East Play Centres

5. Stir Crazy Family Fun Centre

Stir Crazy is located in the NE and is aimed at kids 12 and under. It features a large dessert themed indoor playground, bouncy castles, toddler area as well as a quiet play room for kids 3 and older.  Stir crazy offers a variety of pre-prepared sandwiches, wraps and salads as well as cupcakes made on site.

6. Chuck E. Cheese

Located near Sunridge Mall in the NE, Chuck E Cheese  is free to enter but requires tokens to play the rides and games.  The primary attractions are redemption games and token operated rides. Chuck E. Cheese primarily serves pizza, but also has sandwiches and a salad bar.

South Play Centres

7. The Coffee Tot

The Coffee Tot is located in MacKenzie Towne and is geared towards kids under 4. It features a castle play structure with small slide, small train table, dress up clothes, ball enclosure (not a ball pit), rocking horse, zebra bouncer, caterpillar tunnel and many small toys. The have a cafe featuring premium coffee, baked goods, snacks and croissant sandwiches.

8. Fun ‘n’ More

This family fun centre can be found at MacLeod Trail and Canyon Meadows. Its features are aimed at children from 0-12 and include a tall play structure, toddler area, interactive floor mat, Black light mini-golf and skating on an artificial ice surface. There is a fast-food style concession and central seating with great visibility.

9. Play a Latte

Lcated in Midnapore ,  Play a Latte  features 3 big bouncy castles, 1 little bouncy castle climbing toys, ride on thomas train, bouncy and hippity-hop horses. For ages 7 and under. Play a Latte primarily offers snacks but they do have a couple of sandwich choices if you want to stay for lunch.

10. Tommy K Play - South

Tommy K Play is located in the South East at 130th Avenue and caters to kids 12 and under. It offers a huge indoor climber, a lazer maze, gaming tower, roller race track and toddler area. They offer a number of pre-prepared lunch and snack choices.

 11. Kids Play All Day

Located in the community of Silverado, Kids Play All Day is new this year.  They cater to kids under 12, and feature a jungle themed 2 story climber, toddler area, roller race carts, and an interactive floor mat. Their deli serves coffee, tea, sandwiches, salads and other snack items.

Outside Calgary

12. Playtopia

Located in Okotoks this play centre is aimed at kids 10 and under but can accommodate kids as old as 12. It features a multi-level play structure with a large ball pit, bouncy castle, climbing wall and baby area with a ball pit, slide and other age appropriate toys. The eating area has bright windows and serves fast food style options that are made fresh when you order.

13. Shakers Family Fun Centre

This family fun centre located to the west of Calgary is aimed at an older demographic than the others here serving teenagers and adults as well as younger children. Its also the largest centre with an indoor play ground, arcade/redemption games, climbing tower and laser tag. In better weather they also have mini golf, go-carts and water wars. They have a fast food style concession. Summer review of Shakers Family Fun Centre

Please Note: I love hearing other perspectives on Calgary’s play places both positive and negative, but I reserve the right to delete comments that I do not feel are in keeping with the family friendly tone of my website and forward them to the owners. This occurs extremely rarely.  If you have a bad experience at a play place, I encourage you to e-mail the owners with your complaint. If you have concerns over cleanliness, please file a complaint with the city.

The post Calgary’s Indoor Play Places – 2013 appeared first on calgaryplaygroundreview.com.

Address: Highwood - 4133-4th Street NW

Gordie’s Review (4  years old)– What was your favorite part? “the train table”
Nicole’s Review (12 months old) – the toys!

Cost: $5 for ages 1 to 5, $3 for 2nd child older than 1. $1 for crawlers.
Age Range: 0-5.
Footwear: Socks. Socks are available for purchase if you forget.
Safety Features/Concerns: there is a latched gate to enter or leave the play space.
Play Area Features: foam block climbing structure, little tykes house, rockers, princess kitchen, catterpiller tunnel, small toys.
Additional Services: private parties evenings and weekends.
Food Services: cafe at the front with snacks, drinks, sandwiches, hotdogs etc.

Overall Assessment:

The kids and I stopped by Kiddos Coffee Time on a quiet Monday afternoon. Afternoons are usually great times to go to places like these because so many kids are napping. The playspace isn’t huge but both the kids had a great time. Nicky felt comfortable going around the whole play space and I could easily supervise her from anywhere inside. Gordie spent most of his time at the train table.

They don’t have any seating inside the play space, but they have some bar seating along the side which is perfect if you have kids old enough not to need you right there with them, but still requiring monitoring. They also have a few tables for eating at the back.

This would be a great place to go if you’re looking to get the kids out of the house for a bit for some quiet play.

Have you been to this play place? What did you think?

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