Family Fun In and Around Lethbridge
Family Fun In and Around Lethbridge
If you're trying to find a city full of family fun in Southern Alberta, look no further than Lethbridge! Whether you’ve got kids or are secretly a kid at heart, our amazing city has a ton of activities for all ages. From outdoor adventures that will get your heart racing to cultural experiences for the indoor enthusiasts, your kids will no doubt be tuckered out long before bedtime.
Local Attractions
Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden
With its close proximity to Henderson Lake Park as well as several hotels and restaurants, Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden is a must-visit during your next trip to Lethbridge. While you're there, make sure to ask about their daily events. You might be able to catch some sumo wrestling, origami practice, or rent a traditional Yukata! In the winter, check out the Winter Lights Festival. With ice sculptures and over 150, 000+ lights decorating the garden, this festival is an unforgettable and magical experience for the whole family.
Helen Schuler Nature Centre & Nature Reserve
With a sprawling landscape and a vast network or self-guided trail routes, the Helen Schuler Nature Reserve is a family-favourite if you're looking to escape the city and connect with nature. Open year-round, the nature centre offers interactive exhibits about the natural landscape and ecology of the Old Man River Valley (which are a great way to entertain the kids), as well as guided walking tours. They even have a live snake and salamander to say hello to!
Fort Whoop-Up
While you're exploring the river valley, check out Fort Whoop-Up, a replica fur trading fort. Here, learn about the history of Alberta and the settlers' early interactions with the Blackfoot (Niitistapi), or check out their interactive experiences. Your family can enjoy every things from roping practice, candle making, or paper parfleche making (a traditional Indigenous bag used to carry medicine or other belongings). Fort Whoop-Up has numerous animals to say hi to, and in the summer even offers horse-drawn wagon rides!
Outdoor Fun
Pavan Park
Pavan Park is one of our all-time favourite areas to recommend to families. Considered a hidden gem of Lethbridge, Pavan Park is a 125-hectare natural park on the city’s northern edge. They have a large nature-themed playground that is always a hit with the kids, a huge variety of walking and hiking trails, and easy access to the Oldman River! A visit here is a must!
Nicholas Sheran Park
If you're planning on spending some time on the west side of the city, be sure to check out Nicholas Sheran Park. With plenty of activity options for the family, it’s a great place to spend a couple of hours. You can go for a picnic, play some disc golf, or simply enjoy the signature Lethbridge sun. The playground is quite large, making it a favourite amongst local families.
Elizabeth Hall Wetlands
Are you just passing through Lethbridge on Highway 3 and feel like taking a pitstop? If so, a visit to the Elizabeth Hall Wetlands is perfect for you. These wetlands are a great place to visit to stretch your legs and walk off some energy. This park is a 78-acre nature interpretation park, meaning there is lots of wildlife to be found. Our favourites are the western painted turtles that can often be seen sunning themselves on the rocks!
Henderson Lake Park
Henderson Lake Park is one of the biggest parks in the city, central to many local attractions, hotels, and restaurants. A paved path runs around the lake, perfect for walking, biking, or running off some energy. The lake's playground is also a favourite amongst local kids, thanks to its large size and variety of playground equipment. While you're there, enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the local picnic shelters scattered around the lake!
Henderson Lake Pool
Typically the Henderson Lake Pool is open from mid-June to September. During these months, it is a perfect place to spend a couple of hours cooling off under the hot sun. With its zero depth entry pool, it is accessible to all ages and swimming levels. If you're looking for a bit more excitement, however, the pool also includes a deeper end with two waterslides and a rock climbing area. Parents can lay back in the large grass seating area, enjoy a snack from the concession, or even read that book that's been on your list forever, all while your kids are kept safe under the watchful eyes of the pool's lifegaurds.
Gyro Spray Park
If you're looking for a place where your kids can really burn some energy, check out Gyro Spray Park on the west side on Lethbridge. This spray park has multiple water-themed play areas where kids can keep cool in the hot weather. There is a grassy area on one side of the spray park for the adults in your group to enjoy some well-deserved down time while your kids play. As a bonus, this spray park is located beside a Dairy Queen. Nothing marks the end of a summer day better than an ice cream cone or milkshake, after all.
Legacy Park
Legacy Park is home to both an amazing spray park as well as a colourful playground. This area is a local favourite for Lethbridge families for its diverse activity offerings. With everything from calm park walks to crazy spray park afternoons to large picnic areas, Legacy Park has it all. Though it's on the north side of the city, it is definitely worth the drive—your kids won't want to leave!
Fun Beyond the City
Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park has always been a favourite destination of many families. Just 1.5 hours from Lethbridge, Waterton Lakes National Park is the perfect place for a day-trip, but if you have time, we highly recommend staying more than one night. One of the most family-friendly walks/hikes in Waterton is around the Red Rock Canyon. You can complete the easy hike or simply head down into the canyon to splash in the creek. If you want to stay close to the townsite, however, there's still plenty to see. Many local shops line the streets, and a visit to the ice cream parlor is a must. For some easy activity, you can rent a bike to ride the streets in town or a boat to ride the tide at Cameron lake. To end the day, make sure to check out the beautiful Cameron Falls, just a couple minutes away from Waterton Ave!
Incept Adventure Co.
If you're looking for something to get your heart racing, look no further than Incept Adventure Co., a company that hosts rafting and inflatable kayak adventures. You do not need any prior experience to join in on these adventures. They are open to skill levels, making it the perfect destination for your next family outing. Depending on the water level, children as young as three are welcome to join the raft rides while those as young as eight can join the kayak adventures. Incept Adventure's highly-trained guides will teach you all you need to know and keep you safe while you have the time of your life out on the river! Make sure to look online for their rates and appointment bookings.
Gentle Giant Acres
Many friendly (and furry) faces await you at Gentle Giant Acres. Located just outside of Lethbridge on the way to Raymond, this farm is easy to access—though the fun found here makes it hard to leave. At Gentle Giant Acres you can expect to say hi to many different kinds of animals, from goats and sheep to donkeys and horses. For those wanting to make a new friend, the farm also has many bunnies awaiting your cuddles. It is the perfect location for your next family outing!
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Crowsnest Pass
For more outdoor fun, head west on Highway 3. Whether you're a history enthusiast, an adventure seeker, or a nature lover, Crowsnest Pass has something to offer you. To learn about Canada's deadliest rock slide, visit the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre and hike the 1.5 km trail that winds through boulders bigger than your car. For a more relaxing visit, spend the day at Chinook Lake, one of Alberta's hidden gems. To get your heart pumping, visit the Pass Powderkeg's ski hill (for wintertime adventures) or mountain bike trails (for summertime fun). No matter what you choose, you won't regret a family trip to the Crowsnest Pass.
Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park/Áísínai’pi
Check out one of Southern Alberta’s hidden gems, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, an extraordinary natural treasure that will not disappoint. Áísínai’pi—Writing-On-Stone's Blackfoot name—means “it is pictured/written”, hinting to the site's numerous stone and cave drawings. In fact, Writing-On-Stone is home to the largest concentration of Indigenous petroglyphs and hieroglyphs in North America. While there, you can walk the 2.2km Hoodoo Trail, take a guided tour to see and learn about the petroglyphs, or head down to the sandy beach of the milk river. The unique environment of the badlands and the immersive historical landscape will keep the whole family entertained!
Make sure to add #ExploreLethbridge to any of the pictures you post on social media. We love to see visitors and locals exploring the city and its surrounding region, and may even repost some of our favourites! Don't worry, we always ask for permission first!