Over the Canada Day long weekend, my family headed south to catch our first-ever glimpse of a panda. And by ‘south’ I mean we took a leisurely three-hour drive to the Calgary Zoo to check out their new Panda Passage exhibit!

This was our second family trip to Calgary, and I think we’re going to make it an annual tradition. Last year we travelled to Calgary over the July long weekend for a wedding and extended our stay by a few days to take in Canada Day festivities and explore the Calgary Zoo.

Elle was only 10 months old at the time and my husband and father-in-law still talk about how animated she was when encountering the Penguin Plunge (she was squawking louder than they were)!

The Panda Passage

I knew we had to return when I heard that the Calgary Zoo finally welcomed two adult giant pandas and two cubs on May 7 after six years of preparation and the completion of a state-of-the-art $14.4 million habitat. I’ve long admired this charming species but have never caught a glimpse of one in real life.

When we arrived at the zoo, we immediately headed over to the Panda Passage exhibit. Let me just say, the space is huge! There were two lush, public-facing indoor habitats, a bamboo forest, water features and an expansive outdoor space, too.

I’m happy to report that the pandas were just as sweet as I’d hoped! We stayed for almost half an hour, admiring the mother panda, Er Shun, and one of the cubs chowing down on some bamboo.

And the male panda, Da Mao, was quite active, playing on a tree trunk and climbing on rocks.

Buzzing with excitement from seeing the pandas, we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the zoo’s many fabulous exhibits. We stopped only to enjoy a picnic lunch…. which Elle happily shared with her panda.

It was also our first time wandering into the zoo’s conservatory gardens – we didn’t quite have time last year – and I was blown away by the tropical oasis.

Where we stayed in Calgary

This trip we stayed at the Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel, which proved to be a fabulous choice. I’d highly recommend it, especially if you’re travelling with kids.

As I’ve mentioned before, Elle goes to bed just after 7 pm and sleeps until 8 am. She’s a rockstar but those timelines aren’t ideal when it comes to travelling.

Thankfully, we stayed in a suite which allowed us to put Elle down in her own space. Then Aaron and I popped some bubbly and ordered a movie out in the comfort of a separate sitting room.

We also had access to the Sheraton Club Lounge, which proved to be really handy. Snacks and beverages are available all day, but we stopped by after the zoo to sample a few of their evening hors d’oeuvres before heading out to dinner. The club lounge also took the guess work out of our morning, as we were treated to a deluxe continental breakfast.

…And it came with a great view too!

The real jaw dropper, though, was the waterpark!

I’m being serious – the Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel doesn’t have a pool, it has a waterpark! I’m talking two 250-foot water slides, a swimming pool, kiddie pool, hot tub and sauna. It even had a large selection of lifejackets on hand, so Aaron was able to take Elle on the waterslides… again and again. She loved it. I even felt like a big kid again – it really was the cherry on top of a fabulous weekend.

Panda Contest YYC

If you’ve been looking to take a road trip or have been wanting to check out the Calgary Zoo, now is the perfect time. Not just because Calgary is a fab summer destination, but because Tourism Calgary is hosting a contest, too!

From now until August 31, 2018, guests who book a panda package stay at a participating Calgary hotel can enter to win an unforgettable winter weekend in Calgary. Up for grabs is a chance to win a 2-night stay and 4 tickets to ZOOLIGHTS, a favourite festive event where 1.5 million lights transform the Calgary Zoo grounds into a magical winter wonderland.

For more details on this contest, and to find some great deals when planning a panda trip of your own, be sure to stop by the Tourism Calgary website.

Please note: this is not a sponsored post, though Tourism Calgary did provide this vacation free-of-charge. All opinions are my own.

xo Holly Hunka