Wintertime in the Foothills

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When you’re a kid, the whole world is a wonder. If you’ve got a hand to hold and new sights to see it doesn’t matter if the only trip you take is in your own backyard. The Foothills of southern Alberta are Calgary’s Backyard and we invite you to see us through a child’s eyes. With more wonders than one day can hold, we hope you’ll come visit us many times.

Wintertime in the Foothills is pure Canadiana. If you yearn for a simpler time – outdoor excursions, hot chocolate, rosy cheeks and smiles as bright as the sky, you need to take a drive south to the Foothills. Follow along and imagine your family on one of these amazing Foothills adventures.

Sleigh Rides

Sleigh bells, sparkling snow and the rush of flying through the fields behind a team of horses await you. This winter make sure you hop on board one of the Foothills’ horse-drawn sleighs and make some incredible family memories. Let it snow, because there’s nothing quite like winter in the Foothills!

Trail’s End Beef

Visit a working cattle ranch in the Porcupine Hills of southern Alberta. This place is straight out of a western with real cowboys, working dogs and real Alberta grass-fed beef. Visit their ranch shop for a true taste of the west and learn how this ranching family continues the proud tradition of land stewardship and sound herd management. Visits are by appointment only, contact Trail’s End Beef for details.

Sandy McNabb

West of Turner Valley, up highway 546, as the grasslands change to the Foothills, you will find Sandy McNabb and Sheep River Provincial Park. It’s the perfect setting for an outdoor adventure with firepits, a family-friendly trail system and stunning views of the Sheep River and the Rocky Mountains. One of the best paths to follow is the 1.5 km Sandy McNabb Interpretive Trail, located in the Sandy McNabb Campground area. A pleasant stroll through aspen, spruce and pine takes you over foot bridges and meadows. Download the vintage pamphlet and learn about the history of the area and the man himself, Sandy McNabb.

Nanton Candy Store

What could make for a better childhood memory than a kid in a candy store? An easy drive brings you to a magical world filled with thousands of candies, from familiar favourites to imports from around the world. All the “are we there yet?” will be worth it when you can watch their eyes light up in delight.

Monkey Mountain Toy Store

Monkeying around in a toy store might not be practical at the moment but their online shop is almost as good as the real thing. From retro toys, board games, puzzles and books, Monkey Mountain has everything you need to make life more fun. With free curbside pick-up on every order, a surprise trip to Okotoks for a mountain of toys is a perfect Foothills family adventure. 

The Okotoks Erratic

A local landmark with a long history, and we do mean long, the Big Rock as it is known is between 10,000 and 30,000 years old and came all the way from what is now Jasper. Get up close and personal with this behemoth from times gone by. Young kids will marvel at the sheer size of the erratic and older ones will like the traditional Siksiká story of how the “okatok” came to be. Climbing the Big Rock is frowned upon so please do keep your feet on the ground.