Amanda MacKay

Amanda is mum to two fun and lively kids. Together with her entrepreneur husband, she loves seeing the world through her kids’ eyes, introducing them to new experiences and adventures and, when they are finally asleep, tucking into bed with a good book. Visit Amanda on Instagram at Food + Country.
* Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) member

Refreshing Ways to Beat the Summer Heat in Calgary

Amanda MacKay News & Reviews

With summer 2018 upon us, we can all use some ideas on staying cool during hot weather. Even if you’re lucky enough to have air conditioning at home, staying in all the time is bound to make the kids restless and you irritable. (And if you ...Read More

Free Fun in the Summer Sunshine: Must-Visit Calgary Playgrounds

Amanda MacKay News & Reviews, Parks & Pathways, Sponsored

Presented by Boiron Canada. I have many fond memories of my childhood summers… long bright days, loads of free time, seemingly endless weeks of freedom from the regular school routine. But now, as a parent, I realize that my own parents may have found those ...Read More

Need a Mini Vacation? Put a Little Français Into Your Day… at Vélo Café!

Amanda MacKay Food & Drink, News & Reviews

On Calgary’s 17th Avenue SW, about a dozen blocks west of ‘restaurant mile’, there exists a foodie mecca and the perfect spot for a quick getaway from everyday reality. The Casel building is home to upscale French eatery Cassis Bistro, her little sister Vélo Café, ...Read More

Get Your Family Moving! Guide to Family-Friendly Recreation Facilities in Calgary & Area

Amanda MacKay Indoor Pools, Indoor Skating Rinks, News & Reviews, Recreation Centres

Recreation centres are great places for families to stay fit and have fun together. Here’s where to find all of them in Calgary! Please note, this is a work in progress and we are continuing to add locations. Within Calgary City Limits Cardel Rec ...Read More

Planning Family Adventures, But Don’t Have All the Gear? Where to Rent Sporting & Outdoor Equipment in Calgary!

Amanda MacKay Cheapies & Freebies, Local Stories and Adventures, News & Reviews

Sometimes family adventures call for some specialized equipment, but there’s no point in investing big bucks in stuff you’ll only use once. Gear rentals save you money, storage space and can also let you ‘try before you buy’. They’re also great for your out-of-town ...Read More

Make Merry in Your Own City – Explore Downtown Calgary During the Holidays!

Amanda MacKay News & Reviews, Weekend Getaways

Traveling during the holiday season can be tough. With crowded airports, the already-challenging suitcase packing complicated by bulky gifts and the higher than usual chance of encountering delayed flights or snowy roads… it can all add up to frayed nerves and some less-than-festive feelings. Some families choose to forego ...Read More

Sporting Life is Now Open at Southcentre Mall and Equipped to Outfit Your Whole Family For Active Living!

Amanda MacKay Local Businesses, News & Reviews, Sponsored

Sporting Life – the dynamic, modern, style-centric and quality-focused Canadian sporting goods company that’s been outfitting active Ontarians since 1979 – has finally opened their first Western Canadian store and it’s right here in Calgary! Located within Southcentre Mall, the new location is large, beautiful and very well ...Read More

SPUD Delivers Nutritious, Delicious Weekly Staples Right to Your Door

Amanda MacKay News & Reviews, Nutrition & Wellness, Sponsored

For those of you not yet in the know, SPUD (Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery) is renowned for delivering fresh, nutritious and predominantly organic foods directly to households in urban centres across Western Canada. Back when SPUD started, they were just about the fruit & veg, but ...Read More

Make Friday Nights Family Night – At Home or Out on the Town!

Amanda MacKay News & Reviews

  Say “How are you?” to any parent these days and there’s a very good chance that their answer will include the word “busy”. Between work, school, chores, extracurricular activities and friends, modern family life certainly is busy! Families may, in fact, start to feel like ships passing ...Read More

Calling All Master Builders: A Visit to The LEGO Imagination Nation Tour in Calgary

Amanda MacKay News & Reviews, Past Events

The LEGO Imagination Tour has taken over the BMO Centre in Calgary over September 9-11, 2016. We attended on the first evening and this is what we found! Whether they prefer constructing, playing LEGO video games, watching LEGO movies, learning more about Master Builders ...Read More