Enjoy indoor family activities on those bad weather days
by Michele Tipman Stott
No need to feel blue on a gray day in the Bow Valley. When spring rains fall or blizzards blow, the opportunities for family indoor activity are as boundless as the landscape.
Families with children from toddlers to teens should find some good ideas from the following suggestions.
Go Bowling in Banff
The five-pin lanes at Fairmont Banff Springs Bowling Centre are open daily to visitors of all ages.
Experienced and novice bowlers alike will be tickled and challenged by neon black light bowling. The lights go out and bowlers aim illuminated balls at pins that glow. Black light bowling takes place Fridays from 6 to 12 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 to12 p.m.
With your bowling game done, take a wander around the beautiful historic hotel - known as the "Castle of the Rockies".
Wake Up, Go Watersliding
Year-round fun awaits at the indoor waterslides at the Douglas Fir Resort in Banff, open Monday through Friday from 4 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The large indoor recreation area at this family hotel sports two waterslides, a kiddy pool, hot pool and steam room. The hotel opens its recreation area to the public for a reasonable $8 per person. Children 3 and under are free.
Take a Dip or Hot Tub It
If you're not feeling adventurous enough for the slides, head over to the Sally Borden Building at the Banff Centre in Banff or the Canmore Recreation Centre for a swim. The Canmore Recreation Centre also offers an exercise room, a skating rink with daily public skating and Canmore Eagles hockey action September through March. You can even drop in and play at the gymnastics studio Friday nights.
Pick a Good Flick
There's nothing like a good movie on a cold night, or a thrilling matinee on a blustery day. There's always something good on at the Lux Cinema on Bear Street in Banff, including the latest family films. The Lux has four large screens and boasts Dolby Digital Ex Stereo. The theatre is wheelchair accessible and offers advance ticket sales during regular office hours.
Take a Cooking Class
Give going out to dinner a new twist. The chef at The French Quarter Café unlocks the secrets to Creole and Cajun cooking every second Tuesday evening. Sign up for a cooking lesson, which also includes two beverages, a full meal and some new recipes to bring home. An evening at The French Quarter would be suitable for parents and their teenage children.
Get Crafty with the Kids
A chilly afternoon or rainy day provides a great excuse to head indoors for some crafting fun in Canmore.
O' Canada Soapworks on Canmore's Main Street offers a class in making bath seltzers, bath milk and bath salts. Supplies are included with your fee. Call 678-4644 for times and further information.
If you and your children are interested in crafting, why not drop by Beading Hearts in Canmore and put together a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry to remember the visit or take home to a special someone. Beading Hearts sells original handmade jewelry and a huge selection of beads, gemstone beads and jewelry making accessories. A large crafting table at the back of the store is open for customer use.
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Ginger Sellers works on her ceramics project at Great Bowls Afire in Canmore, a great spot to spend a few hours of relaxing crafts time with the family, or on a poor weather day.
Great Bowls Afire paint-your-own-pottery and cappuccino bar will unbridle the creativity in artists of all ages. No experience is required, and friendly staff are happy to guide you in creating your individual masterpiece. Drop into the Canmore studio and chose from over 100 items from mugs and teapots to plates and vases. Even the youngest members of your family will enjoy painting their own special piece. Painted items are fired for you on the premises. Take home a truly unique gift or souvenir. Shipping is also available.
Museums, Cultural Facilities Offers Hours of Fun
Numerous local museums offer hours of family entertainment and a sense of Alberta and local culture. At the Banff Park Museum view wildlife specimens dating back to the 1860s in Western Canada's oldest natural history museum.
The Natural History museum in Banff features geological displays and a life-sized model of the legendary Big Foot. The Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum celebrates the history of natives inhabitants of the Canadian Rockies and prairies with traditional displays. The Walter Phillips Gallery at The Banff Centre features contemporary art by national and international artists. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies houses four galleries. Six heritage homes can be found on its grounds. In Canmore, check out the Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre and the Northwest Mounted Police Barracks.
The Banff Centre, an internationally renowned education facility for artists and performers offers a wide variety of concerts and theatre including lunch hour concerts. For current events call the box office at (403) 762-6301.
Climb Inside for Some Fun
If you are looking to work up a good sweat and enjoy a hugely popular rocky mountain activity, head over The Vsion, Canmore's indoor climbing gym.
The Vsion offers reasonably priced climbing lessons for all ages. The Banff Centre also has a climbing wall open to the public. Equipment for all ages is available including full body harnesses for children. It's best to book an instructor to do the rope work if you are inexperienced.
Whether your family craves the adrenaline rush of a climbing wall or a great afternoon of companionship and crafting, the Bow Valley offers indoor fun sure to bring smiles to every face in the family.
Michele Tipman Stott is a Canmore-based freelance writer and the mother of two very cute youngsters.
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