Airdrie, AB Outdoor Activities

Players duck behind the husks of one-storey huts, towers, and abandoned cars as they navigate a grassy labyrinth. Others dart between industrial concrete walls, firing at the enemy from behind padded barriers. On seven more outdoor fields, teams advance in tandem between towering spruce trees or over hills and valleys, seeking the refuge of wooden fortresses and the coziness of trenches. Whether competing on the Okotoks location's 80,000-square-foot outdoor field, the Calgary location's 28,000-square-foot indoor arena, or Millarville's 55 acres, visitors to Rampage City Paintball immerse themselves in a range of capture-the-flag scenarios. Experienced staff oversees each 15-minute game, and outfits players with Tippmann gear and protective bodysuits. They also supply gear upgrades such as semiautomatic Tippmann guns, goggles, and temporary-invisibility dust.

In a forest of spindly trees and twisted thicket, paintballers slink by gutted Cessna planes and giant tractor tires to find cover behind wooden barriers. These are a few of the props furnishing five fields of play where gamers must employ strategy, teamwork, and quick reactions. After sprinting, diving, and splatter-tagging friends with zipping paintballs, teams can retire to the picnic area to nosh, rehydrate, and discuss future plans of attack.

Seasoned, affable, and PADI-certified scuba-diving instructors staff Caribbean Dreams Diving, which offers personalized programs for training would-be underwater explorers of all skill levels. In-pool dive training is available for every age bracket starting with 8-year-old bubblemakers. Once you've gained some experience, instructors can help you prepare for Open Water certification, sans floaties, at some of the area's most beautiful and lucid bodies of water, including Forgetmenot Pond and Lake Minnewanka. They also teach the PADI Dive Master course and schedule refresher courses for experienced divers.

The course at Boulder Creek demands both strength and control as players knock dimpled orbs about the 6,963-yard Ron Ehlert design. Each challenger must remain wary of the terrain’s most prominent feature: the 30 acres of water that confront play on 14 of the 18 holes. Despite the daunting watery depths, the course caters to all levels of golfer with five sets of tee boxes that render the course as short as 5,272 yards or as long as 6,963 yards. Additionally, an on-site practice facility comprised of a 300-yard driving range and a putting green offers an ideal spot to limber up before a round or practice for the professional mini-golf circuit.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Five sets of tees per hole
• Total length of 6,963 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 72.2 from the back tees
• Course slope of 125 from the back tees
• Designed by Ron Ehlert

During one full day, Bridal Expo Calgary showcases myriad wedding necessities all in one place, quelling the chaotic feelings one may experience when planning the big day. Ceremony and reception essentials such as florists and photographers eliminate the need to travel to far-flung vendors, whether it be a specialty dress shop or a buzzed-about DJ only available on the moon.

Born from the union of a kayaking school and the Adventure Trippin' Tours travel company, Aquabatics runs programs that immerse participants in the thrills of stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing. Available pool and outdoor lessons get students sea-worthy in a controlled environment, and multi-day guided wilderness trips test participants' endurance and ability to ask for directions from passing fish. Experienced guides emphasize water safety and keep classes limited in size to ensure personalized coaching. The Aquabatics store also sells professional gear ranging from life jackets, apparel, and helmets to boards, boats, and manatee saddles.