North Glenmore Park — Attraction in Calgary

I am at the park with my family and friends. We are going to have a picnic lunch. My friends and I wonder off, leaving the adults to prepare lunch. Isabella and the other kids play dodge ball, I can hear them giggling and shouting with glee. I stand there for a moment and watch them all, like a bystander. Clutching my latest play book to my chest I stroll along, looking at the little wild flowers that grow along the path. I hear my friends play with joy and the noise of busy adults preparing the picnic. Looming directly in front of me is a magnificent gum tree. I decide to rest my back against its huge trunk. I open the book The Nutcracker Story, written by ETA Hoffman and thought about Tchaikovsky who composed the music so that it could be adapted to a ballet. My fingers found the page and I started to read the part about the gingerbread house. The sun danced through the little openings in the leaves. This allowed the sunlight to fall directly on my face. The sun felt warm and strangely soothing. As I flicked the next page over the words started to move about. Oddly I tried in vain to control the words by blinking and screwing up my face. Suddenly the words disappeared. Just at that point I could hear in the distance familiar music playing. What is that music playing I thought. Of course it is Tchaikovsky’s music, to the scene in the gingerbread house. As I walked through these bright red poppies, I could see a woman dancing ever so gracefully. As I drew nearer she somehow vanished. Once again I heard the music from the nutcracker and realised it is the introduction to the Waltz of the Flowers. Several Ballerinas appeared dressed in different coloured fairy like costumes. When the fairies lined up, the costumes look like a beautiful rainbow. Using hand gestures the fairies beckon me over to dance. The introduction has ceased and the Waltz is about to begin. I am wondering whether this dance piece is going to be the some dance that Miss Karen choreographed. With apprehension I join the group. As I began to dance my slight apprehensiveness disappeared and only joy filled my heart. We glided lightly and smoothly in unison. Stretching and jumping like there is no tomorrow. All too soon the dance finished. The other ballerinas wondered off in an unknown direction. When I call out “WAIT” they were already gone. Dreamingly I then wonder back through the tall, red poppies. Their fragrance was unbelievably exquisite to my senses. At that point I heard someone calling my name and I realised it was Isabella’s voice saying “Kaitlyn, Kaitlyn.” I then opened my eyes to see Isabella standing there and asking me what you have been doing. I say “dancing to the nutcracker music”. She gives me a knowingly smile and says” come on, it is time for lunch”. Isabella runs off to join our friends. With a sigh I slowly stood up. Holding my dearly beloved book to my heart, I walk with a sense of happiness. As I stroll along, I was looking down at the brightly coloured wild flowers that scattered the pathway. In the background I could hear laughter and busyness. I...

I was amazed to see the beautiful, charming, well maintained, and super-clean park at the Glenmore reservoir on Elbow river in Calgary.

Had I not visited, I would not have believed this is one of the largest, most popular, and best parks in Calgary which draws thousands of visitors, particularly, on weekends and holidays.

The lush green mowed lawns, innumerable old and new trees, the humongous reservoir, natural forest area, and multitude of people engaged in various activities create an electrifying, exalting, and soothing atmosphere.

The colossal park has lots of designated areas with fire pits and tables, view points, separate paved tracks for walking and cycling, children playgrounds - I saw two of them at different locations, washrooms, water fountains, tennis courts, uncountable magnificent views, benches to relax and enjoy the beautiful sceneries, and a great deal of parking lots - I came across parking lots marked A to R and one reserved for the canoe club members.

Although there are numerous parking lots - at least 20 between the two contiguous - north Glenmore park and Weasel head park, on a busy day, it is challenging to find a spot at your preferred location.

The parking area L, which is where the bigger and more equipped playground and the only cafeteria are located, usually gets full pretty soon.

At the northern end, there is a boating club - Calgary Canoe and rowing club - where you may get a rental canoe and even learn techniques of safe boating. A sizable pair of piers supports a docking area that may be used by numerous boating enthusiasts, simultaneously.

This is a must visit historical place if you visit or are in the beautiful city of Calgary. It, definitely, is a boon...

No matter if you want to walk, run, bike, bird watch, fish, picnic, or paddle this park has it. There are separate pathways for bikes and pedestrians for the majority of the park. The pedestrian pathway enjoys spectacular views overlooking the reservoir. There are a few ways to get down to the water and you can walk along the shore or fish.

The Canoe club is located at the east entrance to the park and you can rent canoes to get out on to the reservoir. If you get a membership you can also take out their kayaks.

The park is a great place to walk your dog. There are plenty of garbage cans along the pathway so you don't have to wait long to drop off their business. Please follow the signs and don't take your dog down to the water or let them off- leash, there are many other great places for that. Let the wildlife in this park feel safe.

Speaking of wildlife there are great birdwatching and nature gazing opportunities. I've seen coyotes cavorting on mud flats near the west end of the park, bald eagles sitting on fallen logs on the reservoir, and a myriad of other birds everywhere. In the spring/ early summer there are tons of Franklin gulls and swallows everywhere. Late summer you'll see lots of cedar waxwings.

The park has many playgrounds and public picnic sites. It's a great place to take the family for an outing. Parking is usually not a problem but it can get busy on the weekends. Drive a little further and you will likely find a parking spot.

The washrooms are a mix of porta potties and 'real' washrooms with running water. They are generally...