Before you get started, here are a few tips for trying out escape rooms for kids (especially younger ones!)

• Consider their interests and personality: If your kiddo has a hard time focusing on one task or wouldn’t do well in one room for an extended amount of time, escape rooms may not be for them (yet!)
• Find a room they’ll love: Check out the website of the location you plan to visit and see what escape rooms are currently being offered. Is there a theme that jibes with your child’s current interests? Ask them to help you pick one out! Many companies rate the difficulty level, age recommendation, time limit, and provide a short synopsis of your escape theme to give you a better idea of what the room will be like.
• Get them involved in the hunt for clues: Escape rooms involve finding hidden objects and using them to solve clues. Get your kid on the case of finding those hidden clues inside, under, behind, and on top of furniture and objects in the room!

Escape Rooms in Calgary for Kids & Families

Escape60 | escape60.ca

1638 10 Ave.
Escape60 offers an escape room experience you won’t soon forget! Folks who have visited their live escape rooms can’t stop raving about the attention to detail in the custom-built rooms, and love the themed (adult and non-alcoholic) drinks you can try out before and after your escape experience. Escape60 currently has 11 live escape rooms that guests can book including four wizardry-themed rooms, as well as The Office, Friends, and Jurassic Park themes and more! Looking to try the experience at home? No problem! They also offer at home/virtual/mobile escape themes and packages. There is no age limit but the games are designed for adults. Ages 9 – 13 must have one participating paying adult per 4 children.

The Locked Room | thelockedroom.ca

3 Locations: Bay #15 2015 32 Ave NE,  9937 Fairmount Dr SE and 5330 72 Ave SE #191
The Locked Room is one of the original escape rooms in Calgary, and they now have three locations to visit across the city with 12 escape rooms to choose from. Work together in teams of 2-10 to solve clues and make your grand escape in rooms with themes like Game Over, The Great Train Heist, and Mythical Creatures. Children ages 6 to 11 require at least one adult or guardian (18+) in the group to participate. Children under the age of 6 are not permitted in the escape rooms.

Trapped | trapped.ca

1139 Kensington Rd NW
At Trapped, each of their six themed rooms are suitable for first time escapers. Take a peek at their themes page to find the best fit for your team! Most of their current running themes are designed to be appropriate for all ages, but some of their themes are considered 14A, so any participant under the age of 14 needs to be accompanied by an adult. There are currently three PG-Rated themes for younger escapees to try out: The Carnival, Ancient Pyramid, and Medieval Prison. Any participant 12 or under will need to be accompanied by an adult regardless of which theme they’re trapped in.

Confined | confined.ca

Bay L – 2020, 32 Ave NE
Confined escape rooms in Calgary offer different one-hour themed rooms for up to 8 players, aged 6 and up. Certain rooms may have a specific age restriction, and all rooms are designed for adults. Players aged 6 – 14 should be accompanied by an adult as game-play can become too confusing and/or difficult, and some elements may be unreachable. Those under the age of 14 must have an adult over the age of 18. There are no restrictions for players over the age of 14. The Alice In Wonderland 3-D room comes highly recommended by escape-room connoisseurs for its immersive, other-worldly design, but all rooms have been applauded for their attention to detail, craftsmanship, and unique puzzles.

Escape Hour | escapehour.ca

3016 19 St NE #200
Escape Hour has four immersive themes for you to plan your escape from, with The Lost Jewel of Zanzibar recommended for kids 9 and up. If you’re looking to host a birthday party for your teen, Escape Hour is great for kids 15 and over, but does require that an adult attend inside the game room (the adult is free of charge) There is nothing in the current Escape Hour rooms that is scary for young people, however new room themes are always being developed and there may be one in future that will be more frightening. If so, it will be clearly identified. For something a little different, check out their VR escape experiences!

Exit Calgary | e-exit.ca

Mount Royal Village, Unit 60, 880 16 Ave SW
Exit Calgary has 5 themed rooms to choose from for participants 6 years and over. Current themes that escape artists have loved include Tokyo Rush and Ancient Egypt. For youths 6 – 12 years old, at least one adult (18+) must be amongst the participants. If you’ve got a baby in tow, great news – you can still play! Infants are allowed  into most of their game rooms if accompanied by an adult. There must be at least one adult in the room per child under the age of 6. If you’ve got kids between 13 and 17 who’d like to try the puzzles out on their own, at least one adult (18+) must be present in the building to sign the waiver on their behalf, and this stay in the building during their game.

Has your family ever tried an escape room together? Which escape rooms in Calgary are must-tries? Let us know in the comments!

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Kid-Friendly Escape Rooms in Ottawa & the Capital Region

Unlocked Ottawa

While Unlocked Ottawa is an all ages escape room experience it was designed with families in mind. Choose from rooms such as Twisted Tales, Victorian Vampire Mystery, Superheist, Reindeer Games, or Shipwrecked and three different levels of difficulty (Kids, Family, Expert).  This escape room is located in the west end of Ottawa in Kanata.

Escape Manor Junior

With several escape room options under one roof your kids will want to visit this location a few times! Located in Nepean these rooms are designed for children ages 6-12 but all ages are always welcomed! Each group of children must have at least one adult in attendance in the escape room with them. Whether it’s for an upcoming birthday celebration, PD day fun or family day out Escape Manor Junior is great for the entire family. We recommend booking a time for your escape room prior to your arrival as these kid friendly escape rooms are in demand.

Funhaven Ottawa

Yes, Funhaven also offers escape room options! You can use your Funhaven game credits to experience their escape rooms in Ottawa with themes ranging from Rainforest Renegades, Deep Descent, Curse of the Forgotten and Ripple Creek. When you are done enjoy the rest of the great play options that Funhaven offers for families.

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Check out this roundup of some of Vancouver’s best escape rooms for families…

Kid-Friendly Escape Rooms in Vancouver & the Lower Mainland

Evolve Virtual Reality

Looking to take your escape room experience up a notch? Evolve Virtual Reality is a virtual reality (VR) arcade with 11 VR escape rooms. This super immersive experience is designed to provide an accessible and family-friendly VR experience – with the added thrill of an escape room. Themes range from Chernobyl to Christmas to Jungle Quest, and more. Up to 6 players can take part, and while there is no age requirement, Evolve Virtual Reality advises that children under the age of 5 can have difficulty understanding VR.

EXIT

Touted as the ‘Ultimate Room Escape Experience’, EXIT offers a range of innovative escape rooms in varying levels of difficulty. Each location features its own themes – at Vancouver West Broadway, you’ll find Avalanche, Horcrux: Haunted Mansion, Arcade Frenzy, and CSI: The Chopping Block. Depending on age and comfort level, look for the degree of difficulty listed in each theme description. An adult must accompany children between the ages of 6-12. Multiple locations across the Lower Mainland.

Find and Seek

Find and Seek promises to deliver a memorable adventure! The immersive puzzle adventure escape room experience is located in downtown Vancouver, and features two escape room themes: The Mystery at the Majestic Theatre and The Curse of Madame Zita’s Curiosities. Children between the ages of 8-15 should be accompanied by an adult.

I-EXIT

I-EXIT takes a European-style approach to escape games, with a unique design and high- quality props. There are four themes with 10 rooms in total: Pirates on the Rocks, Doomed to Win in Vegas, Party at the Studio, and The Matrix. I-EXIT is designed to be non-scary with varying levels of difficulty, and an emphasis on fun and creativity. Players are given 60 minutes to escape – longer than most places. All players 16 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Located in downtown Vancouver.

Time Escape Vancouver

At Time Escape, you’ll find several fun-filled real life escape games to mentally and logically immerse yourselves. Themes include Sacred Treasure (the highest success rate), The Prophecy (popular with kids), The Sorcerer’s Quest, and 2055 / Bonus game. Adult supervision with young children is recommended. Head to Richmond to check out the Lower Mainland’s only location.

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Below we roundup 10 GTA and Toronto escape rooms that will challenge your family to (usually) solve a mystery in 60 minutes or less. While all these spots offer family-friendly experiences, keep in mind that escape rooms aren’t really meant for little kids. Unless we state otherwise, we recommend not bringing kids under seven. Also note that all the places listed below require that kids be accompanied by at least one adult per room.

Toronto Escape Rooms for Kids & Families

Captive Kids

3413 Wolfedale Rd., Unit #2, Mississauga

As the name suggests, this escape room is designed specifically for kids and their families. It features three different storylines—one built around ghosts, another focused on pirates and a third about a village struggling with a witch—all of which will appeal to participants of nearly all ages (it’s still best to leave non-school age kids at home). But while the puzzles are family-friendly, don’t expect them to be easy! Each storyline is designed for four to 12 players and can easily accommodate a birthday party full of kids. Currently Captive Kids is only open in Mississauga but it’s working on new locations in Toronto and Vaughan.

Daydream Toronto

1803 Danforth Ave., Toronto

Calling itself, “Toronto’s only art installation escape room,” Daydream Adventures offers an experience that is both aesthetically and mentally challenging, but still kid-friendly. Choose from two different rooms, each with a unique storyline and set design. The Dream Portal, which accommodates three to seven people and needs to be solved within an hour, is set in an enchanted forest and has more of a fantasy feel. Meanwhile the Ice Cave, which accommodates three to eight people and is a little more challenging (you get an extra 30 minutes to solve this one), takes place in, “…a seemingly abandoned temple where powerful artifacts remain frozen.”

Dreamescape

570 Bloor St. W., Toronto

Looking to entertain preteens and teenagers? Then Dreamescape’s highly immersive storylines might be a good fit. Designed for players ages 11 and up, The Abduction revolves around waking up onboard an alien spaceship. The team behind Dreamescape is also working on a new storyline called The Cavern, which will have your group working together to escape a cave. Both storylines are designed for four to eight players and the Abduction can have its difficulty levels adjusted and additional challenges are available for those families who are escape room experts. Dreamescape also features a café and lounge that offers board and arcade games, to add in even more fun.

Enigma Escape Room

30 Dundas St. W., 3rd Fl., Toronto

While some of Engima’s seven storylines are a bit too intense for the under-10 or even under-12 set, others, like Magic School or Pirate are great for school-age kids who have a sharp eye for details. The number of participants varies depending on the story your family picks, but most allow up to seven or nine players. All games are private—no playing with strangers—and guarantee an immersive experience.

E-Exit

70 Yorkville Ave., Lower Level, Toronto

Kids ages six and up are welcome to check out any of E-Exit’s five storylines. While some themes are a bit darker, and more challenging, than others, this place does offer up Harry Potter and Star Wars-inspired storylines. Both of those rooms take between two and six participants. Birthday packages are available, but even more fun is that you can play at this escape room for free on your birthday or get 50 per cent off for the two days before and after your birthday.

The Imaginarium

116 Tycos Dr., Unit #4, Toronto

This highly reviewed escape room is known for its immersive and challenging storylines. Unfortunately, this means that it’s intended for players ages 13 and up but if you need a bonding activity to do with teens, a trip to North York might be in order. Three different storylines are currently available, including the extra-hard Steampunk Express (you get 75 minutes to solve that one). The Imaginarium’s easier two storylines, one about a haunted house and the other about a cursed ancient temple, are meant for four to 10 players, while the trickier third storyline is for four to six players. Note that none of these rooms are private unless you group fills up all of the slots.

Looking Glass Adventures

2944 Danforth Ave., Toronto

Three different storylines are available at this top-rated escape room. The first two, which involve exploring the collection of a renowned archeologist or being secret agents on a “dangerous” mission, are best for kids who are eight and older. The third option, which will have your family subduing the evil forces that have taken over a wizard shop, is recommended for kids 10 and up. Each storyline can host two to ten people and the first two choices can have their difficulty level scaled up with bonus puzzles. Birthday party packages are also available but note you’ll need to plan for food and cake elsewhere.

Roundabout

330 Yonge St., 2nd floor, Toronto

With four of its five themed rooms labeled as “family friendly” (shockingly the room called Butcher’s Basement is not for kids), this downtown escape room gives you multiple reasons to check it out again and again. And given the success rates for the rooms —the easiest room has only a 50 per cent solve rate—you may need to come back. Available storylines include one where you’re ninja, another where you’re tomb raiders and another where you’re wrongfully convicted and on death row (maybe that one’s a better fit for older kids). All rooms are private and depending on the storyline, can host up to nine players.

Secret City Adventures

Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto

How does solving an escape room inside of Toronto’s only castle sound? Like fun? Then you’ll want to book one of Secret City Adventure’s many storylines, all of which are delivered with the assistance of live actors. While some of those storylines, like the one about bootleggers, is restricted to kids ages 12 and up, others, like the mystery of the dragon’s song, can be played by kids as young as eight. All games can accommodate up to 12 players and you may find your family playing with strangers unless you fill up all 12 spots or opt for a private game (this option also lets younger kids participate).

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Awesome Kids Birthday Party Places in Calgary

Parties for your Picasso-in-training:

Clay for Kids | clayforkids.com

Cost: Prices start at $200
Ages: Kids to adults!
Length of time: 75-90 minutes, depending on the party theme
Number of guests: Parties have a minimum charge (depending on project) starting at $200

As a teacher, Clay for Kids in-school field trips are always a huge hit with my class. I was so excited to learn that they also host 4 different birthday party options (with 150 different projects to choose from) at different price points. There are Clay Building parties, a Pottery Wheel Boot Camp, a Glass Fusion project and a Paint & Go option. A pottery instructor will bring all of the supplies to your home, demonstrate how to create the project and let the guest of honour try throwing a bowl as well. After the clay projects are finished, they need to be taken to fire in the kiln and will be returned within 21 days. Other projects are ready to take home at the end of the party.

4 Cats Art Studio | 4cats.com

Cost: Parties start at $185 and vary by theme, number of guests and length of time.
Ages: 5 and up
Length of time: Party lengths can be determined by you and start at 60 minutes.
Number of guests: Up to 20 (extra teacher fee is applied for groups over 16). Any person staying in the studio (excluding 2 adults for the birthday kid) are counted as guests.

For the budding artist, 4 Cats Art Studio has a variety of different party themes to explore. Create an incredible splatter painting, make an adorable oven-bake clay creation, design a “mini-me” mixed media sculpture, or sculpt a sweet earthenware clay cup! Choose to host your guests just for the art project, or stay for cake and snacks (provided by you).

Parties for the animal lover:

Calgary Humane Society | calgaryhumane.ca

Cost: From $250
Ages: 6+
Length of time: 2-3 hours (depending on package)
Number of guests: Up to 15

What could be better than spending your birthday with a bunch of adorable animals? Even if the answer to this question is “nothing”, a birthday at the Calgary Humane Society is so much more than just that! There are two birthday party packages available (Standard and Deluxe), both of which include a private party room, a tour of the facility, a craft, an interactive presentation, and a visit from a furry friend. Parties can be booked on Saturday and Sunday afternoons between 1 pm and 4pm for the standard party package and 10 am – 1 pm for the deluxe package.

Butterfield Acres | butterfieldacres.com

Cost: Parties pay general admission upon arrival. You can ADD-ON special additions to make it the day even mor special
Ages: All ages!
Length of time: 1 hour
Number of guests: 10-12

Butterfield Acres offers different party packages depending on the kind of cozy critter you’d like to spend your day snuggling with. Whether your guest of honour loves goats, lambs, bunnies, ponies or even unicorns, Butterfield Acres has you covered. Parties can be booked year-round and set up anywhere from a garage to a deck or backyard – this is the perfect option if you want to bring the cuteness to you.

Calgary Zoo | calgaryzoo.com

Cost: $32 per person (children and adult members)
Ages: All ages
Length of time: 1.5 hours
Number of guests: For parties for kiddos between 3-5, one adult chaperone is required for every 3 children. For parties for kids 6+, one chaperone is required for every 4 children.

A birthday party at the Calgary Zoo is guaranteed to be a roaring good time! Each guest receives a full day admission, a choice of one of three indoor or outdoor party locations, and a birthday meal for each guest (includes meal, side, juice box, cookie and a small toy). For an additional fee, add ons such as loot bags, a face painter, carousel rides and special sweets, treats and drinks are available. Parties start at 11 am, 1:30 pm or 3:30 pm.

Parties for the kid on the move:

Southland Leisure Centre, Village Square Leisure Centre, or Inglewood Aquatic Centre | calgary.ca

Cost: Dependent on party theme and location
Ages: Range depending on party
Length of time: 2 hours
Number of guests: varies depending on party and location

All three of these popular city facilities have a birthday party options available, including an Indoor Play Structure party (at Southland Leisure Centre and Village Square Leisure Centre) and Surf’s Up Swim parties (at all 3). Food and utensils must be provided by you.

Calaway Park | calawaypark.com

Cost: Starting at $342 (plus discounted park admission)
Ages: All ages
Length of time: All day!
Number of guests: Minimum 10 for “Come As You Are” birthday

Who doesn’t love Calaway Park? With two different party packages to choose from, Calaway Park makes it easy to plan the perfect warm-weather party. The Come As You Are Package covers admission for 10 guests over 3 years of age (kids under 3 are free), a birthday button for the guest of honour and a birthday prize for all guests. In this package, guests are invited to enjoy their party at one of the first-come, first-served picnic areas at the park. Add-ons including extra admission, food, and drinks can be purchased at an extra charge.

Laser City | lasercity.ca

Cost: Starting at $199.99 for laser tag and $349 for paintball
Ages: 6+ for laser tag and 8 to 12 for paintball
Length of time: 2 hours for laser tag and 2.5 hours for paintball
Number of guests: 10-36 players for laser tag and 10-20 players for paintball

If your kid has a passion for paintball or lives for laser tag, Laser City is your must-book party venue. Laser tag is available at their north and south locations and includes 2 games of laser tag and an hour for cake, pizza and gifts in the party room. You are welcome to bring your own food, and pizza can be ordered from Panago by using their order form. Paintball parties are available to book at the north location only and includes a safety briefing, a variety of games and all the equipment you’ll need to play mini paintball for an hour on their indoor paintball field. The last hour is yours to spend in the party room!

Sprog and Sprocket | sprogandsprocket.ca

Cost: Soft Play Parties. Portable Playground rentals, and Ball pits pricing varies
Ages: All ages
Length of time: From 4 hours to all weekend
Number of guests: Up to you!

If you’d like to bring the fun of an indoor play place to your home, Sprog and Sprocket has just what you’re looking for! Whether you’re looking for a 4 hour event, or a weekend or weeklong rental, they’ve got flexible options to keep the play going as long as you’d like! Soft Play Party rentals include setup and teardown and have 4 different options for equipment (and prices vary based on the option you choose). Add ons such as ball pools and extra obstacles are available for an additional fee. The portable playground is perfect for driveway or garage parties and includes full installation and teardown; ball pit rentals require you to pick up and return.

Indoor Play Places

Calgary has no shortage of awesome indoor play places that are perfect for the birthday kid who loves to run, climb and slide. Check out our roundup of spots in the city to learn more about their birthday packages.

Parties for the kid who wants to chill:

Canyon Meadows Cinemas | canyonmeadowscinemas.ca

Cost: discounted admission per child + $50 to book the party room for 1 hour
Ages: Movie lovers of all ages
Length of time: Approximately 3 hours
Number of guests: 6-12

Nothing beats an afternoon at the movies! Enjoy the best seats and treats in the house as your guests take in the silver screen from their reserved seats with a snack of popcorn, drink and a candy treat. After the show (or before, if you’d prefer), guests are invited to continue the celebration in a birthday party room, which has space for up to 12 guests and, of course, birthday cake. Each birthday party package includes free admission for two adults. Add-ons like extra snacks or movie passes for loot bags can be purchased for an extra fee.

A Little Campout | alittlecampout.ca

Cost: Starting at $40 per tent, depending on how many are rented (minimum 2).
Ages: Any age!
Length of time: All night long!
Number of guests: Up to 8 (Minimum 2)

Is the birthday girl or guy begging for a sleepover party? Make it extra special with these super cute sleepover tents provided by A Little Campout! Prices vary depending on the number of tents you order ($50 per tent for 2-5 tents, $45 per tent for 6-9 tents, and $40 per tent for 10+ tents). Each package includes the tent itself, a matching quilt, fitted sheet, air mattress, breakfast tray, lantern and battery-powered tea light, fairy lights, matching bunting, and a wooden chalkboard name sign. For an extra charge, add star projectors, sleep masks, and other fun decor items. Every party rental also receives a 15% discount at A Little Confetti (the company’s party boutique).

Feel Fabulous Mobile Spa | feelfabulous.ca

Cost: Packages start at $22 per girl. Add-ons such as crafts, decor and additional services are available. Minimum charge applies per booking.
Ages: Anyone who needs to relax and be pampered!
Length of time: Approximately 3 hours
Number of guests: Up to you!

The only thing better than a day at the spa is when the spa comes to you! Book a mobile spa party to come right to your home (a minimum $25 travel fee applies) and let the pampering begin. Party packages can be as basic as a manicure and can include everything up to hairstyles, facials and lessons on how to walk the runway. Services are available for girls and boys!

Would your kid love one of the birthday party places in Calgary listed above? Are there some great ones we missed? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!

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