Alberta awaydays............
 

We hope to be in calgary in march.
We love as a family to have an away day to hidden gems within 1hrs drive from our location.So apart from the obvious, where can we find some wonderfully interesting places to visit (within 1hr) from our new home in mckenzie towne calgary.
Look forward to hearing about all your weird and wonderfull hidden gems...
Thanx in advance.
andrewjohn,the oh and 4 kids......................

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

An hour from Calgary will not get you very far. Elbow Falls could take that long from McKenzie Towne. The obvious of Heritage Park, the Reservoir, Fish Creek Park, Zoo, Kananaskis and all the towns around Calgary

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

I am glad you started this as after two years I am struggling and its starting to affect how I see the UK.

Since being here we have been to,

Drumheller, Cochrane, Bragg Creek, Ghost Lake, Nanton, Black Diamond, Waterton, Head Smashed In, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Frank Slide, Golden, Revelstoke, Canmore, Banff (we ski and hike etc).

Further afield we have driven to Montana, kelowna, Radium, Osoyoos, etc.

Lots to see and do if you put your mind to it etc, but somehow I am starting to miss the coast, beaches, UK, villages, airshows, fetes, horse races and London etc.

Would be great if I could have both.

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

Hi lamin.....
Ye our best days here are to the coast(st.andrews,fife coastal strip ext.) so we are not sure how we shall miss the sea?Do we have some kind of inbread feeling towards the sea? with being so close to it here....Do expats inland miss the ocean? Anyway we WILL adapt and the lakes should see us through....thanks for your replys folks.

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

Castle falls is a great place for day trips. The water is freezing, but its good fun jumping off the cliffs or picnicing on the rocks.

Also there is camping everywhere, all through the mountains and foothills. Great way to spend a weekend.

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

Yes.

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

SNAP!

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

There's a real nice old-fashioned ice cream/soda store in Black Diamond. Bragg Creek would be a good area to explore.

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

There's nothing like an afternoon on a windswept beach in the UK, or the crowds in London.

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

I certainly miss the sea; 25 years in South Devon will do that! The lakes don't even come close to replacing the coast. And it's a lot more "bracing" walking alongside a frozen lake at minus-25 degrees, than the still-chilly British coast. Still, it's only a twelve-hour drive to the BC coast!

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

I lived by the sea for forty years, taught landsailing on the beach for years and also was a member of HM coastguard for many years not to mention my love of boats, i then moved to Alberta !!!
yes i miss the storms and crashing sea's but now i fill up my time with winter sports and other things,

I came to canada for a change and fresh challanges, you can adapt, as someone said it's just a bit further to the coast

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

Johnston Canyon http://albertatravel.org/Johnston_Canyon.htm

The waterfalls will likely be frozen and the paths very icy in March so get some of these: http://www.google.ca/images?hl=en&q=...w=1259&bih=816 They're fantastic! :thumbsup:

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

I agree with Rose, Johnston Canyon is a great place to go, but I am not too sure if most of the places people have referred to here are within an hour of your part of Calgary, unless, of course, you are travelling by air:p

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

GREAT feedback folks..........
Maybe 1 hr could strech to 2 or 3 after all it is canada...and things are bigger,and with hopefully more time on our hands:fingerscrossed: we can spend more time on the traveling.
Just noticed the kids new school finishes at 12:15 on a friday...so that weekend away we crave for will allow access to some cracking weekend adventures...!!!!!
Keep em coming.......

Re: Alberta awaydays............
 

I agree, Johnston Canyon is lovely although tends to draw the crowds in the summer. Grotto Canyon (near Exshaw on the 1A) is nice - you get to walk along the frozen creek in the winter. Heart Creek Trail (on Hway 1 just before Canmore) is nice too - lots of little wooden bridges criss-crossing the creek as you go. We also like Grassi Lakes Trail just outside Canmore (just past the Nordic Centre) - two alternatives routes to go although one (the better) is closed off in winter. I know someone else mentioned Elbow Falls - lovely place to spend an afternoon with a picnic. Also, just a little further along from Elbow Falls is Forget-me-not Pond - another lovely place for a lazy afternoon. Another nice place a bit nearer to Calgary is Big Hill Springs Provincial Park (signposted from the 1A). It might not have the same wow factor as some of above but it's a nice little trek - lots of little waterfalls along a stream.