Bowness Park: A Winter Wonderland

by Stacie Gaetz, Calgary’s Child Magazine

We have all been to Bowness Park in the summer.

Walking among the gigantic Douglas fir trees, biting into a hot dog at one of the convenient picnic areas and watching ducks at the majestic lagoon in the urban park are wonderful ways to spend a sunny afternoon.

However, I had no idea how fun and vibrant the oasis can be during the winter months. It is nearly impossible to remember that you are in the middle of a city when you are skating along the 1.6-kilometre trail with the frosty Bow River rushing by on one side and the expansive 74-acre park on the other.

My husband and I recently took our two kids and their grandparents to Bowness to skate on the lagoon. My 7-year-old daughter learned to skate last year, and my 4-year-old son is still shakily step-step-stepping his way to learning while tightly gripping his bright orange skater aid.

We had a blast at the park gearing up and gliding along the frozen lagoon and canal all afternoon. This is a gorgeous place for families to spend the day but also makes the perfect friend gathering or date opportunity.

Amenities

• Plenty of benches to sit and strap on your skates and a rubber padded ramp to get to the ice make gearing up and getting out a cinch.
• A number of both real and artificial fire pits with plenty of seating help to warm chilly hands and toes and fill the air with the pleasant scent of burning cedar.
• The kids also loved seeing the rentable ice bikes that populated the large skating area. The bikes’ front tires have been replaced by a blade making them a popular alternative for those who can’t skate.
• To make sure there is enough space for all, hockey sticks and nets, toboggans and sleds are not allowed on the ice.
• Halfway through our adventure, the kids’ stomachs started growling so Nana and Papa made a quick trip into the Lagoon Café and Cappuccino Bar to get them some cupcakes and bottled water.
• The treats were reasonably priced, and the washrooms were open to the public when we were there.
• If you are looking for a larger meal, the Seasons of Bowness Park restaurant and fresh market take out overlooks the lagoon and is open between 11:30am and 8pm or 9pm (depending on the day of the week).
• We took our adventure on a warm Saturday and it was fairly busy but manageable as the lagoon is large.
• Parking can be tricky as it is limited to the fairly small lot. However, you can also park in the community and walk to add to the experience (but be warned, your kids will be wiped out after their adventure-packed day of skating on the lagoon).