Foothills Fun

Get out of the city and into the sun at a hidden gem called Sunshine Adventure Park, located a few minutes outside of Okotoks at Kayben Farms, a family-friendly u-pick farm. This unique playground and picnic area offers enough to-dos to fill a summer day.

You won’t see the giant red, yellow and blue trampoline/jumpy pit upon entry, but you’ll get to know it well. It’s big enough for fifteen people to jump on (including adults) without edges, walls or metal parts to worry about. But keep your head up. Kids of all ages love launching the lightweight plastic balls overhead in what can only be described as a plastic tubing artillery unit. Little kids tend to get conscripted to gather the balls and deliver them via little green wagons to the big guys tall enough to reach the launch unit.

But that’s not all Sunshine Adventure Park has to offer. A giant, two-storey play centre gives kids the opportunity to scale a wall (or take the stairs) and shoot down a wavy four-lane slide on corn sacks. Kids can also try their hand at full-sized pedal karts around a wear-them-out track. Another fave is the rubber duck water race, accessible to any kid capable of using a hand pump.

We love the covered picnic area complete with baby swings hanging from the rafters, and onsite JoJos Café serving paninis (turkey and brie with black-currant compote is delish), veggie trays from the farm’s kitchen garden, espresso and honey-sweetened slushies. Indoor seating is also available (and outside food is allowed).

Did we mention the u-pick? Strawberry picking is already underway on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but don’t assume there will be berries to pick each day. After last spring’s late frost, berries are not as plentiful as in previous years (so call ahead to confirm). Black currants make their debut in August. Take bug spray. Mosquitoes are out in full force midday.

Kayben Farms offers reasonably priced summer birthday party packages as well that include access to the park, an indoor party barn and wagon rides. Kayben also hosts the annual Flavours of the Foothills Harvest Festival on August 28 (in conjunction with Chinook Honey Company and Leighton Art Centre) focusing on locally produced food.

Sunshine Adventure Park is open Monday through Saturday until the end of August. Admission is $8 per person or $25 for a family of four.

Leave the city behind and (ad)venture into rural cowboy country for the day, before books, bags and boots are back on the urban horizon.

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