Fort Calgary (Calgary AB)

Fort Calgary is an old Canadian Royal Mounted Police posting. It is a fun-for-all place with a fair amount of facts. There is a treasure hunt for kids and the treasure hunt also has some small prizes. You have to go into every area to find some of the things.

A "Must-See" for the family!





[PS--kids had BETTER behave or moms can put them in "jail"!!]

Fort Calgary (Calgary AB)

:-)

:-)

:-)



BEST thing: being able to dress up! There were different mountie uniforms. And you could "ride" in a trolley. And you could dress up in old clothes to be a driver or a fancy lady in an old car.



WORST thing: we didn't have enough time to play pool [billiards] or play with the trains or play the old games in the backyard place.

for FAMILIES: do the treasure hunt. You pick out a card or two. They you have to look for that thing somewhere. Look real carefully--some are tricky! Then tell the person at the desk where you found it. You will get a small prize!

Canada Olympic Park (Calgary AB)

BEST: Seeing a real bobsled track, even though there was no-one on it.

WORST: Being there in between the seasons and not being able to do any of the activities.

Canada Olympic Park -- Calgary AB

:-)

:-)

Most INTERESTING: getting to actually SEE a bobsled track. It was cool! You could walk right up and look into it. It was bigger than I thought from TV.


SAD thing: We couldn't ski or do any of the other things cuz winter season is over and the other stuff isn't open for the summer yet.


for FAMILIES: Make SURE you wear a coat even if it's sunny. The wind in spring is COLD. Also, go to the playground in the middle of the bobsled track. It's FUN!

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument -- WY (May 2)

4/25/09 --We plan to make a day trip of this location on May 2nd. This is where the infamous "Custer's Last Stand" occured. Although it is now a USA National Monument, it is on Crow Agency Indian Lands.

5/2/09 -- Because we got into our campsite so early in the afternoon and because the weather was warm and sunny, we ended up visiting this place on Friday, May 1st instead. Then we returned for just a little while on Saturday, May 2nd so the kids could show Randy the Indian Memorial, which he had missed when he made a quick stop the day before.

For more information: http://www.nps.gov/libi/index.htm


I found the scattered white stones to be very evocative. Each one is placed where a soldier was found dead. It gives some idea of the movements of the group---and gives a much clearer idea of how desperate they must have been by the end. The tombstone for the horse cemetery gave a similar feel---how hard it must have been to have killed their own horses as a last ditch effort at survival for themselves.

The Indian Memorial was beautiful. The ideas behind it, spelled out in signs near the site, were really touching---looking for reconciliation, healing and peace between peoples. The memorial plus the film inside the visitors center made the valid point that the indians were fighting to protect their families, their homes, and their way of life. The 7th Cavalry were doing their jobs...but they were indeed the invaders. We had interesting family discussions about war, and fighting, and rights, and differing cultural views...

If you are in the area...DEFINITELY take time to stop here!

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

:-)

:-)

:-)

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument is a fairly interesting place to go. It was originally dedicated to Lt. Custer ( Custer's last stand), but was renamed to honor all those who died, soldiers and Indians and otherwise.

its an OK place for family's to come to, but is not necessarily a must-see for others.

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

:-)

:-)

:-)

The MOST INTERESTING thing: something the ranger said--that Lt. Custer was born in OHIO!!!!!!

A SAD thing: so many people died. There was even a horse cemetary---the soldiers even killed their own horses and hid behind them to try to stay alive. But it didn't work.

for FAMILIES: You can get another Junior Ranger Badge here. Try and see if the program in the national cemetery (there is a button to push...) is working when you go.





And also, you might like to dance by the horse statues in the Native American memorial circle!