A No-Rush, Family-First, Toddler-Approved Weekend in Canmore

Take A walk along The Bow River: There are multiple parking spots located throughout Canmore that lead you straight to the Bow River Walking Trail. Enjoy the mountain views, get some fresh air, and get those wiggles out for the whole family.

Play at West Canmore Park Playground: This playground is great for all ages and offers beautiful mountain views all around. It is quite the walk from most parking lots, so factor that in when deciding when it’s time to leave (or bring a stroller/wagon with you).

Hike Grassi Lakes Trail: This short, two-kilometer hike offers unbelievably vibrant blue and green sparkling lake views.

Rent bikes and cycle the Trans Canada Trail: If your toddler is a little older and enjoys cycling, The Trans Canada Trail takes you on a scenic journey along the bow river with gorgeous views of the water and mountains. Some hotels even offer complimentary bike rentals to their guests during the summer season.

Walk the Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk: This is an easy family walk near downtown Canmore. The walking trail is flat and takes you on a journey over a wooden boardwalk over a marsh. Enjoy the scenic mountain views on this easy walk—and maybe you’ll even be surprised with some wildlife popping in view from afar to say hello.

Explore the Canmore Museum: In this immersive virtual reality museum, learn about the history of The Town of Canmore.

Take a short day trip to Banff: Many visitors who are looking for more affordable accommodations make Canmore their base camp and drive up to Banff National Park for the day to do a little exploring—just be sure that if you do this, you purchase your Parks Canada Pass ahead of time to skip the lines at the toll.

Rocky Mountain Bagel Co.: Rocky Mountain Bagel Co. is a must-visit for breakfast or lunch. This will be a spot you come back to over and over again, whether you choose to grab a quick bagel and coffee on your way out for a day of exploring, sit in and enjoy bagel sandwiches and specialty drinks for a slow morning with your family, or grab an assorted baker's dozen of their famous bagels and a few tubs of cream cheese to bring back to your hotel.

Rocket Pie Pizza: This casual Italian restaurant serves up pizzas, lasagnas, calzones, and more. Their famous chili oil drizzled over one of their pies, then dipped in their house-made dips is a must! My family also really enjoyed the vegetarian lasagna.

Beamer’s Coffee: If you’re looking to support a Canmore-exclusive coffee shop, Beamers has been operating in Canmore for over 40 years, with two picturesque locations. While grabbing yourself some delicious coffee, you can also treat your little ones with some steamed milk.

Tim Hortons: If you’re visiting from out of country, you have to stop at Tim Hortons for a taste of Canada. This classic Canadian chain serves up coffees, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, wraps, donuts, and more. While here, you must order an Iced Capp (if visiting in the summer) or a French vanilla (if visiting in the winter)! Then, grab a box of assorted Timbits to snack on during one of your family walks.

BeaverTails: Speaking of Canadian classics, you absolutely have to also stop at BeaverTails for this classic Canadian treat: flattened fried dough, shaped like a beaver’s tail, coated in sugar and topped with a variety of spreads and toppings of your choosing. Even for Canadians, this is a special treat that often is only found in high-tourist destinations, like Canmore and Banff.

Old School Bus Ice Cream: This converted school bus that sells ice cream is such a unique gem to experience if you’re visiting in the summertime. They offer a variety of ice cream flavors, shaved ice, milkshakes, and even floats. What better way to end the day than by getting ice cream and walking by the Bow River?