3 Free Things to Do In and Around Calgary this Fall

Many people love the onset of fall — it marks a aesthetic transitional period from hot summer holidays to cool school mornings. But, it's rumoured by local meteorologists that this year's fall will come to an abrupt end with the early onset of a long, frigid winter. To make the most of the time we have left with this beautiful season, we recommend having you and your family doing some of the following activities:

1. Bike Along the Bow River

Wild Rose Adventures has prepared a free bike route collection using the city's extensive pathway system that can take your family from the cityscapes of downtown Calgary to the scenic golden-coloured valleys of Fish Creek Park. The pathways are less busy in the summer, so it's worth taking advantage of the cooler weather to explore the city on your bike!

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2. Attend a Seasonal Farmer's Market

A habitual activity I always do in the fall is attend the local farmer's market to see what the local harvests have yielded. Luckily, there are numerous farmer's markets to attend in and around Calgary! The one in Hillhurst is a widely-known and well-recognized market for its variety of local goods. Until October 9th, you can visit the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association from noon to 4 p.m. and peruse through their selection of vendors. If you want to venture a little ways outside of the city, you can attend the Millarville Racetrack farmer's market until October 9th. It runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features over 150 vendors from across Southern Alberta. There is a parking fee of $3 for each car.

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3. Take a Day Trip to the Mountains

Take advantage of the smooth road conditions to have a day trip through the rocky mountains. You can take the long way round — like the "Cowboy Trail" or Highway 22 — to travel alongside the mountains for picturesque views of the rolling hills filled with golden leaves and the mountains in the background or travel on Kananaskis Trail (Highway 40) to see a less travelled area and beat the crowds heading to Banff and Lake Louise.