As I mentioned in our Years in Review post, one of my resolutions was to find cheap/free fun things to do in Calgary. This has many purposes – to help out my bank account a little, to get away from the partying lifestyle that has been the last five years of my life and to have more purely fun experiences that help me to get to know the entirety of my city better, and not just what pubs are good (Joyce on Fourth) and what bar to go Wednesday after work that has the most cute guys (ahem, the Metropolitan Grill on Eighth ave).
Here is what has been brainstormed so far:
- Go to/rent movies (this may seem like a giveaway, but honestly I don’t go see many movies or rent many either)
- Go for a walk with my best friend twice a week (Calgary has beautiful walking trails downtown along the river)
- Tea parties
- Glenbow Museum (and if this is enjoyable, others as well)
- Go up the Calgary Tower, both during the day and at night
- Go to the mountains (Banff – Erica lived there for one winter!, Canmore, etc.)
- Go showshoeing or cross country skiing (you can rent equipment in Kananaskis for a low price)
- Visit Bragg Creek
- Board game nights (Settlers of Catan is hands down my fave, but I need more awesome TWO PLAYER games)
- Visit my best friends sister and brother in law for free meals and to fawn over their newborn
- Go to real estate open houses (you know, check out our options in case either of us decides we can afford to buy a house, and check out our options)
- Volunteer somewhere
- Cook/bake together (i.e. I will take any excuse to eat chocolate chip cookie dough)
- Have postcard writing nights to help us to be better long distance friends (I think this one is my favourite)
- Go to the library (I am a book worm!)
- Buy a cheap secondhand guitar and learn how to play it
- Use my new Wii Fit twice a week
This is where you come in – I am looking for your suggestions! I am not necessarily looking to take up a new hobby (i.e. Erica – don’t suggest knitting) but what do YOU like to do with your partner and/or best friend that could be included on my list? I appreciate your recommendations! THANK YOU!
Also – One little comment I left awhile ago really paid off! You must check THIS awesomeness out. If you want, skip to the 1:20 mark to see the goodness.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m trying to think of what non-bar activities Jen and I do for fun but I’m not coming up with anything that new and exciting. I think we mostly watch wedding shows, Jon & Kate Plus 8, cook, gossip, and eat a lot of popcorn. Popcorn = the most amazing (and cheap!) snack that has ever been.
Kent and I play a lot of Boggle and Sequence and a lot of guitar.
A good movie out right now is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. You should see if any theatres have cheap Tuesdays.
The latest blog stylings of Micaela: Taking the party down a notch.
Cheap night of fun = crafts!
Or puzzle parties!
The latest blog stylings of Kate: Taking the party down a notch.
Sounds like you thought of a lot of things to do!
There’s always sewing…but then you would need a machine or two, and patterns, and fabric..and…and..
Actually I want to start playing cribbage.
The latest blog stylings of mommy: Last post of the old year!
I always like going to the Parliament buildings. Last time we went we couldn’t go up the Peace Tower, so maybe I’ll drag Kayl with me when we get back!
The latest blog stylings of Lauren: Taking the party down a notch.
Ooh crafts! I am not really a crafty person but I got invited to a craft night once and surprised myself with how much fun it was.
My friends and I also do a potluck girls night every once in awhile… My friend and I host, and we each invite all our girlfriends and ask them to invite their girlfriends too, and we spend the evening eating appies, painting our nails, playing a board game or watching a girlie movie or Grey’s Anatomy.
Other stuff I like doing for fun (and for cheap) is going out salsa dancing (I don’t drink much when I’m out salsa-ing because I can’t keep up with the dance moves if I’m tipsy, so it ends up being really cheap!), going for photo walks in scenic parts of my city, and hiking. I just tried snowshoeing for the first time today and that was really fun too!
The latest blog stylings of Laura: 2008 totally just flipped me the bird as the door hit its ass on the way out. I hope the door hurt.
great ideas! Matt and I love Yahtzee – perfect two player game! And we’re very into Life right now since we got a new and improved board for christmas.
You should look into becoming a big sister. This is something I’ve been babbling about for a year now and just think it would be so good for me…and obviously for them. And the organization would probably have even more suggestions of cheap activities!
And the salsa dancing suggestion is also great! I’ve gone a few times here with the in-law ladies to this little place that teaches it in a karate studio for like 10$ a week. It’s great exercise and then you learn to dance! Google it in your area, I bet you’d love it!
Good luck!
Ian and I play oldschool kids games after the little ones go to bed.. Connect 4 and guess who are always fun..haha
Cranium is a fun game to play with a group of people, as long as they want to participate! Its fun, interactive, and me and my girlfriends always laugh so hard when we play!!!
Thanks everyone for your comments! I have added them to the list and will let you know how they go. Especially salsa dancing! WOo!
Did you know there’s a Settlers card game, for two players?
I got it for Christmas, but haven’t tried it out yet. It’s a bit different than the board game, but looks fun.
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@Elle Bee – Wow that is fantastic! Thanks, I will look into that.
The latest blog stylings of Leah: Tuesdays With Micaela #1 – A Day at the Beach