Last updated on May 21st, 2018 at 07:00 pm
Opting for a staycation vs a vacation doesn’t always need to be about saving money. It can be a chance to reallocate funds like airfare to do things you couldn’t normally afford to do while vacationing.
Choosing to vacation at home can be a chance to level up and create an unforgettable family trip. Without the stress of flights and all of the other challenges associated with visiting unfamiliar territory, your family vacation can be focused solely on fun.
Right now we’re home in Calgary,
Here’s what we think are some of the best Calgary staycation ideas!
Stay Different Ways

What do you usually spend per night for accommodation when you travel? Hotel costs are one of the biggest hits to any travel budget. What could you do with the money you’d usually spend staying multiple nights in a hotel?
Here’s some inspiration for different ways to stay during your Calgary staycation.
- Stay a night at The Fairmont Palliser Hotel, Calgary’s oldest and most extravagant hotel.
- Rent something to Make your own outdoor space a little more luxurious, like a hot tub, for the family to enjoy for a couple of days.
- Check out some of Calgary’s best Airbnb rentals. Some hosts offer some pretty incredible accommodations in Calgary’s most desirable neighborhoods. How much fun would it be to rent a cool place a night or two and explore historic Elbow Park, metropolitan Eau Claire, or along the river in beautiful Bowness?
Check out Calgary’s Most Exciting Attractions

Airfare is one of the most expensive travel costs. Imagine all the fun the fun things you could do in Calgary with the money you’d spend for flights!
Here are some of the most exciting activities you can try in Calgary.
- Get a different perspective on home. Take a balloon with Sundance Balloons! The most fun way to get a view of everything that Calgary’s surrounding area has to offer floating way up high in a hot air balloon! Sundance’s tour in Calgary takes about four hours, a truly special experience you and your kids will never forget.
- Try bobsledding and/or luge at Winsport’s Canada Olympic Park. Seriously, winter or summer you can experience an exciting ride like no other for a lot less than you’d think.
- Float down the Elbow River in a raft and see your city from a different perspective. Lazy Day Raft Rentals has everything you need for a fun and safe trip down the River.
- Did you know Calgary has the largest urban pathway system in North America? Around 800 kilometers of maintained pedestrian and bike paths! This means we Calgarians don’t need to leave the city limits to find great biking terrain. Pick a few routes and explore the most beautiful parts of the city.
- Make the most of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth! The Calgary Stampede is 10 of the most exciting, fun-filled days in the city. This year playing at Stampede Park can even be affordable! The new Stampede Super Pass entitles visitors unlimited entry to the park for only $39.
Escape the City for a day or two
You don’t need to travel far to find adventure in Southern Alberta!
- There are 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites within short driving distance from Calgary; Dinosaur Provincial Park, Waterton Provincial Park, Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, and Banff National Park. Why not visit them all! Go glamping in Dinosaur Provincial Park, camp for a night in a real tipi in Waterton Provincial Park and visit Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump. Drive the Bow Valley Parkway In Banff National Park, stay a night at the Bakers Creek Mountain Resort, and hike Johnsons Canyon.
- Visit Drumheller to check out The Tyrell Museum, explore the historic Atlas Coal Mine, and climb into the mouth of the world’s largest dinosaur!
- Want to explore the Canadian Rockies a different way? How about from the inside! Check out the Rats nest Cave system near Canmore. The subterranean site has more than 4 Kilometers of underground tunnels containing cool things like ancient bone deposits, pictographs, and cave formations. It’s a museum, lab, and art gallery all in one incredible location.
Go to a Show

Calgary hosts a whole litany of fun family friendly festivals. Then there’s all of the theaters and businesses that offer shows and plays that kids and grownups love.
- Visit Calgary, Calgary’s Tourism board offers up to date information about everything happening in Calgary. Check out the calendar of events on their website and time your staycation to include a show or festival you’d like to attend. Some personal favorites are Global Fest, a fireworks extravaganza; Events and special installations at Telus Spark; Beakerhead, one of the world’s coolest spectacles of science, art, and engineering; and big city markets like the Lilac Festival and the Sun and Salsa Festival.
- Jubilations Dinner Theatre– Three hours of serious family fun. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another place and time! They coordinate musical comedies with four-course meals to create a fun experience like no other in Calgary.
- Go to a sporting event- When was the last time your family went to a Fames or Stampeders game? What about the Roughnecks? Going to a game is a great way to keep the excitement high during your homestay.
Learn Something New
A family staycation is a great time to learn something new!
- If you want to staycation in the Winter, learn to ski in under 2 hours at Winsport’s Canada Olympic Park. Their Winter Discovery Ski Lessons last 90 minutes and include ski equipment rentals and a lift ticket for the remainder of the day.
- Try climbing at The Calgary Climbing Center. They have 3 family friendly locations in Calgary.
- Learn about horses and how to ride them. There are a variety of guest ranches and tour operators around the city that offer different types of horseback adventures.
- Take a city tour and learn cool stuff about your hometown! Calgary Walks offers a fun filled 2-hour tour to help you discover tons of hidden gems in the Downtown area.
There is always something happening in and around Calgary. Choosing to take a staycation instead of an out of town vacation could give you the chance to experience something really incredible in your hometown. Customize a staycation to fit your timeframe and budget.
Featured image by Sundance Balloons.
Hello Tracey,
You have captured the most amazing photos of the place and the best one is the view from the sky by sundance ballons. Hoping to visit soon. Fingers crossed!!
Thanks Terry! I will keep my finger’s crossed for you too, Calgary is such an incredible place to visit.
Calgary is my hometown, too, and I just love these staycation ideas. I was recently talking with a friend about spending a night at the Palliser and then treating ourselves to high tea the next day! We spend a lot of time camping in the Kananaskis area–we’re so lucky to be close to rafting, hiking, and so many other great outdoor adventures. And I literally just booked tickets to Jubilations Dinner Theatre–I love that place! Great tips! I think I just might try Sundance Balloons–such a cool idea!
I’ve never been to Calgary, always thought of it as, ‘come for the oil, stay for the average hockey.’ Bad jokes aside, what a nice reminder that you can take a staycation in any city.
Go Canucks!
I just love your Escape-the-City-for-a-day-or-two photo!
It’s really impressive that Calgary has 4 UNESCO World Heritage sites! It must be awesome to live in a place that has such a variety of activities available.
It seems that Calgary offers a wide range of activities, I am surprised. The firework photo make it looks a bit like my hometown Brno in Czech republic. There is a huge fireworks exhibition each year. By the way, thanks for accommodation tips, it is always handy to know where to stay.
While I can’t say Calgary has ever really been on my to do list, you’ve done a good job of selling the destination to me!
That shot you’ve used above the ‘go glamping’ section is stunning! Is it yours? Whereabouts was it taken?
Hey Chris, Rob took that photo in Dinosaur Provincial Park. The landscape is surreal. Most visitors to Calgary go West to Banff and the Rockies. East of Calgary is like another world. Worth a trip for sure:)
Wow I never had Calgary on my list before but now I think I need to. That hot air balloon ride looks awesome! I just did one in Napa and I’m dying to do it again. Also, who knew Calgary had awesome horseback riding? I’m in!
oh CANADA eh?! One of my favorite countries in the world. Calgary even! <3 The thing I love about Canada is the park and the endless amount of activities, as you mentioned, you really need not travel much to find adventure ANYWHEREIN Canada, because there are always places to see! nice post. keep it up 🙂
I live in Vancouver, but I haven’t been over the Rockies since I was a kid. I’d love to head to Calgary soon and especially visit some of those day trips you suggested.
Adelina, places like the Bow Valley Parkway and Dinosaur Provincial Park are definitely worth the trip from Vancouver
I had my fist Maple Bacon Cupcake in Calgary and it is now my favorite! Good information, Calgary is a great city you don’t hear much about
Maple bacon cupcake, YUM! Where did you eat that delicious sounding treat? There really are so many fun things to do in and around Calgary:)
I would love to go glamping in one of the parks outside of the city. and also love to visit calgary since I’ve never been. There’s so much to do. and the hot air balloons as well. that view is incredible