In the summer of 2000, my boyfriend at the time, now my husband and I were living together and I convinced him (begrudgingly) to get a puppy. I had been on the Humane Societies website and saw that they had four American Eskimo puppies. I fell absolutely in love with a photo of one, then named Indy. I went to meet him all by myself. He was the runt of the litter. All ears and we named him Buddy.
If you’re travelling to Cold Lake this summer, Kinosoo Beach is definitely one place that you’ve got to check out!
Named as one of Canada’s top 25 beaches by Canadian Geographic Magazine Kinosoo beach is the perfect place to spend your summer days! With a roped off area to swim, zip line, spray park nearby and plenty of sand to hang out, it will soon become your favourite too!
Emma’s On The Beach is also open during peak hours and offers snacks, refreshments, as well as ice cream. You can also rent water recreation equipment from Wicked Watersport Rentals which include paddle boards, kayaks, and flyboards.
We have celebrated Canada Day in Cold Lake a couple of times and the celebration that is on Kinosoo Beach is amazing. From a flyover of fighter jets to fun family activities, there is fun to be had by all.
If you are also looking for a great campground that is nearby, Cold Lake Provincial Park has around 200 campsites with walk-in tenting, power, as well as power sites. Right in Cold Lake and about a 5-minute walk from the beach is also Cold Lake Municipal District Campground.
For more reviews on campgrounds and beaches across Alberta make sure you follow the Alberta Mamas Explore section on our blog!
Eye health has always been a huge priority in my family. My mom, as a young adult, was diagnosed with an eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. Over the last 20 some years her vision has progressively declined and she is now legally blind. There is no cure for this, but thankfully clinical trials are ongoing. Advances and new discoveries over the years in all areas of eye health have made early detection of serious eye diseases possible. Regular eye exams by a licensed Optometrist are essential for everyone, regardless of family history.
Last Black Friday Amazon had a door crasher deal on genetic kits from 23 and Me. My husband and I thought it would be fun to do, so we ordered the kits. They arrived in record time in small little reusable boxes. November and December came and went and the kits sat on the kitchen island, getting shuffled around whenever we tidied up. I’m not sure why it took so long for us to actually send our DNA in. Maybe we were subconsciously sabotaging it, afraid for what might show up in the results. Or, maybe we were just busy. Whatever the case, they sat around for about 6 months before we finally got around to it.
The 23 and Me kit is really simple. You spit in a tube that is provided with the kit, register your kit number online, seal up the spit in the returnable box and drop it in the mail. We procrastinated on something that literally took 5 minutes. Once the lab received our samples we both were sent an email making us aware that they were beginning to process our samples. Throughout the process we were kept up to date via email and our individual and online accounts.
Kid Can Catch is a program that takes place across Alberta and teaches kids all about fishing which includes proper ways to bait a hook, where to drop a line, and what to do once a fish has been caught.
Several Kids Can Catch events have been organized for this season across Alberta and best of all they are free. Get all the details for each of the events by clicking on the individual links below.
Events can vary from drop-in to requiring registration so make sure you check the event that you’re looking to attend.
All children attending this event must be accompanied by an adult and youth 15 and under do not require a fishing license. Anyone 16-64 years that plans to fish will need a license. While the program does have some rods that can be borrowed during the event if you have your own make sure that you bring it!
For more details about Kids Can Catch events visit www.ab-conservation.com/events/kids-can-catch/
It’s no secret, we like the Calgary Zoo! We’ve written about it a few times, each with new information, because the place is just plain awesome. My husband, kiddo and I headed to the zoo last week and spent 5 solid hours traversing one of Calgary’s most popular family destinations. We think there’s a million reasons why you would want to visit the zoo, but here’s my top must sees.
If you’re looking for festivals to attend in Alberta this summer, the Days of Yore festival definitely needs to be on your list. So dress up in your favourite period costume and mark your calendars.
Taking place August 3rd & 4th in Didsbury, AB (between Red Deer and Calgary) at Rosebud Park the Days of Yore festival is a family-friendly festival that takes you back in time to watch reenactments from:
Other activities at the festival include sing-a-longs, storytelling, live music, an Artisan Alley for you to shop for heritage arts and traditional crafts, as well as delicious food from the canteen.
You can also explore the Medieval Stick Pony Maze which is new to the festival this year and don’t forget the BIG CANNONS!
You can find the Days of Yore festival at Rosebud Park which is at the East end of Didsbury. The hours of operation are 11 am – 5 pm on both days and admission is $6 for 13+, $3 for 6-12 yrs and children 5 and under are free.
Some vendors at the festival will be able to take credit or debit however having cash on hand is always best. If you require a bank machine, there are several ATMs in Didsbury for you to access.
For more information about the Days of Yore festival visit www.mountainviewartssociety.ca/daysyore/
