35 Family-Friendly Day Trips from Chestermere & Langdon
Looking for screen-free, budget-friendly fun this spring and summer? Whether you're based in Chestermere, Langdon, or nearby, we've rounded up 35 easy day trips that are perfect for families. From scenic hikes to quirky roadside attractions and museums, these spots are all within a few hours’ drive and ideal for kids of all ages.
Need a break from the usual playground circuit? Grab your Parks Canada Discovery Pass (for applicable sites), pack the cooler, and hit the road. All drive times are estimates from the Chestermere/Langdon area; your mileage may vary depending on traffic and snack stops.
Did we miss your favourite family day trip near Chestermere or Langdon? Email me or comment below, and I’ll add it to the list!
Nature & Hiking Adventures
Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area – Calgary Area (33 mins)
A 4,800-acre nature zone just southwest of Calgary. Hiking access only (register at the kiosk or online). No dogs, bikes, or drones, just peace and quiet.
Big Hill Springs Provincial Park – Kananaskis (34 mins)
Easy trails, a small waterfall, and a perfect picnic spot. Great intro hike for little legs.
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park – Cochrane (41 mins)
Roughly 30 km of trails with sweeping views and plenty of room to roam.
Frank Lake – Southeast of Calgary (47 mins)
A birdwatcher’s paradise with hundreds of species calling this wetland home.
Elbow Falls – Kananaskis (1 hr, 1 min)
Short trail, big payoff. Still stunning post-2013 flood, and ideal for a peaceful walk.
Horseshoe Canyon – Kneehill County (1 hr, 2 mins)
Epic badlands views, easy trails, and $2 parking. Bring water—it’s a suntrap.
Troll Falls – Kananaskis (1 hr, 30 mins)
Gentle trail, family-friendly, and features a pretty waterfall. Leash your pup.
Grassi Lakes – Canmore (1 hr, 38 mins)
Colourful lakes, a waterfall, and two trail options, easy and “moderately adventurous.”
Dinosaur Provincial Park – Brooks area (1 hr, 55 mins)
A UNESCO World Heritage Site! Fossils, hoodoos, and interpretive trails for all ages.
Johnston Canyon – Banff Area (2 hrs, 6 mins)
Catwalks, waterfalls, and Instagram gold. Go early, it gets busy!
Waterton Lakes National Park – Waterton (2 hrs, 34 mins)
Explore waterfalls, canyons, wildlife and more in this jaw-dropping national park.
Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park – Milk River (3 hrs, 19 mins)
Hike through hoodoos, hunt for ancient rock art, and soak up the otherworldly landscape.
History & Culture Stops
Okotoks Erratic – Okotoks (38 mins)
The biggest rock you didn’t know you wanted to see. Dragged here by glaciers 10,000 years ago.
Cochrane Historical Museum – Cochrane (42 mins)
Step inside Cochrane’s first hospital and explore local history in a bite-sized format.
Museum of the Highwood – High River (45 mins)
Interactive fun for kids with a side of local lore. Check out the Imagination Station!
Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre – Nanton (56 mins)
Old-school farming meets modern curiosity. Learn how grain shaped Alberta.
Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park – Siksika (57 mins)
Book ahead for an authentic and educational Blackfoot cultural experience.
Bar U Ranch National Historic Site – Longview (1 hr, 12 mins)
Take a wagon ride and explore the cowboy lifestyle of the late 1800s.
Stephansson House Historic Site – Near Red Deer (1 hr, 25 mins)
Visit the 1920s home of Alberta’s "Poet of the Rockies" with costumed interpreters.
Alberta Sports Hall of Fame – Red Deer (1 hr, 27 mins)
Interactive exhibits highlight Alberta’s athletic legends. Bonus: kids can test their skills!
Cave and Basin – Banff (1 hr, 31 mins)
Birthplace of Canada’s national parks system, featuring a cave, boardwalk, and bubbling thermal spring.
Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station – Banff (1 hr, 33 mins)
Ride the Banff Gondola and learn about Canada’s space science legacy.
Atlas Coal Mine – Drumheller (1 hr, 36 mins)
Walk the wooden tipple and tour an old mine. Tickets must be pre-booked.
Frank Slide Interpretive Centre – Crowsnest Pass (2 hrs, 14 mins)
Learn about Canada’s deadliest rockslide and the town it buried.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump – Fort Macleod (1 hr, 49 mins)
Explore how Indigenous hunters used the cliffs to harvest buffalo for centuries.
Water Fun & Outdoor Playgrounds
Olds College Botanic Gardens – Olds (56 mins)
Stroll through themed gardens and check out the treatment wetlands.
Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash – Sylvan Lake (1 hr, 39 mins)
Floating waterpark meets obstacle course. Lifejackets are mandatory, and fun guaranteed.
Discovery Canyon – Red Deer (1 hr, 41 mins)
Natural lazy river, splash zone, playground and picnic areas. It’s a water-loving kid’s dream.
Ellis Bird Farm – Lacombe (1 hr, 42 mins)
Bird conservation meets family-friendly farm fun. Great for budding naturalists.
Raymond Aquatic Centre – Raymond, AB (2 hrs, 20 mins)
This outdoor aquatic centre is worth the drive. With waterslides, a lazy river, a zero-entry pool, diving board, and splash pad, it’s perfect for a full day of family water fun.
Quirky & Offbeat Stops
PaSu Farm – NW of Calgary (48 mins)
A sheep farm with a boutique and restaurant. Come for the lamb, stay for the views.
Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station – Vulcan (1 hr, 5 mins)
Beam yourself to the ultimate Star Trek-themed info centre. Live long and get souvenirs.
Torrington Gopher Hole Museum – Torrington (1 hr, 10 mins)
Taxidermy gophers in tiny costumes reenacting small-town life. You really have to see it.
Royal Tyrrell Museum – Drumheller (1 hr, 21 mins)
Dino fans rejoice, massive fossils, hands-on exhibits, and epic badlands nearby.
Brooks Aqueduct – Brooks (1 hr, 38 mins)
Check out this towering piece of prairie infrastructure and marvel at its size.
