Discover Huxley with Avenue magazine

Huxley: Find amenity-rich urban living with a small-town feel

Located in northeast Calgary, the brand-new development of Huxley celebrates its grand opening on September 27. Designed across 160 acres of land, the future vision for this thoughtfully designed community will include five public parks, a stormwater pond with surrounding pathways, a future public middle-grade school and an extensive network of multi-use pathways and walkable streets. Still in the early phases of development, now is the perfect time to discover more about this dynamic neighbourhood.

Here, Avenue magazine took a closer look at Huxley, a community that balances access to nature with city convenience and selected just some of the amazing nearby amenities.  

In no particular order, here are our 14 top picks. 

Meet the Kangaroos at Cobb’s Adventure Park

This family-owned attraction is known for its petting zoo, and its animals don’t disappoint. Open May through October, and only one kilometre from Huxley, Cobbs has kangaroos, wallabies, sloths, sugar gliders, snakes, fainting goats and much, much more. 

With a particular focus on animal welfare, visitors can pet and learn about the exotic animals that call Cobbs home. Other attractions in the park include tractor rides, giant slides, a fence maze and food trucks for a perfect day of all-ages fun.

Explore Nearby Public Parks 

Still in its early stages, the future vision for Huxley includes five public parks, but its location means there are several established parks within minutes already. Applewood Park, 10 minutes west, features a large web climber and adult-size accessible fitness equipment, or you can head 10 minutes east to Chestermere’s Cove Park playground that’s lakeside and nautical-themed. If you’d like a dog-walk option, Elliston Park, less than 10 minutes west, has an off-leash area as well as a 3.4-km paved loop.  

Ride the Thunder Slide at Village Square Leisure Centre

Less than 13 minutes away from Huxley, Village Square Leisure Centre is a multi-purpose recreational centre in the community of Pineridge. It offers ice rinks, a weight room, an indoor jungle gym, a gymnasium and an indoor water park. The Village Square public library is also onsite, so you can browse for books post- or pre-workout. The centre’s indoor water park features a wave pool, with an average temperature of 29 degrees Celsius, and waterslides, including the famous Thunder Slide, which stands six stories tall and is 568 feet long. With drop-in options offered daily, it’s easy to spend an entire day at Village Square, ripping down the waterslides, playing a game of pickup basketball in the gymnasium or working out in the weight room. 

Shop Local Farmers’ Markets 

Huxley’s location means it has easy access to many of the nearby small towns that surround the city. In the summertime, a trip to a local small-town farmers’ market can be a regular part of your routine. Strathmore’s market is on Fridays, June to mid-September, at the Strathmore Kinsmen Park Pavilion and is just 30 minutes east. Don’t miss VanO Meats and Grandpa’s Honey Farm. You can also head north about 30 minutes to Crossfield. Its market has more than 30 vendors and is held on Thursdays, July to September. In the city, Crossroads Market and Calgary Farmers’ Market South are both less than 25 minutes west, and are both open year-round, so you can shop local all year long. 

Celebrate the Season at the Chestermere Winter Lights Festival

Kick off the holiday season at the annual Chestermere Winter Lights Festival, a quick 10-minute drive east from Huxley. Held at John Peake Park in late November, this family-friendly event has roaming entertainers, such as fire spinners and stilt walkers, food trucks, wagon rides and Santa photos. There’s also a holiday market where you can browse for gifts. The main event is the official lighting ceremony, where thousands of twinkling lights illuminate the park.

Find Everything You Need at East Hills Shopping Centre

Huxley residents don’t have to go far to find all their essentials. The East Hills Shopping Centre is a four-minute drive, or less than a 30-minute walk, straight south. Home to Costco, Walmart Supercentre, Marshalls, Dollarama, as well as boutiques, restaurants, spas and salons and several dental and physiotherapy offices, East Hills can be your go-to for everything on your list. There’s even the East Hills Cineplex, so you can catch the latest flick. 

Fuel up at Dosa Xpress

One of the restaurant options in East Hills is Dosa Xpress. A dosa is a thin, savoury crepe popular in South Indian cuisine, that is often stuffed with potato or lentil and is typically gluten-free. Dosa Xpress has two dozen different dosas you can try, including some stuffed with savoury potato, egg, parmesan, and onions and chillies. The extensive menu also has samosas, idli, a savoury rice cake, biryani and more traditional dishes like chicken korma and butter chicken.

Experience Filipino Cuisine at Barrio Fiesta

Filipino cuisine is a fusion of influences from Chinese, Spanish and Malay cooking. It’s particularly known for its flavourful meat dishes and colourful, icy desserts. Barrio Fiesta, approximately 10 minutes west, has a tropical interior where you can sample dishes like the chicken adobo, meat marinated in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic, the laing, taro leaves in coconut cream and shrimp paste topped with pork belly and the halo-halo, a combination of sweetened fruits topped with leche flan.

Savour the Perfect Pho at Pho Dau Bo

Regularly mentioned in Avenue magazine for its seriously delicious beef pho, Pho Dau Bo is one of the best spots for a bowl of the savoury Vietnamese noodle soup in the city. It’s only a 10-minute drive southwest from Huxley. Pho Dau Bo’s beef pho broth is simmered for 16 hours and comes loaded with rice noodles and thin slices of meat served in its signature bright green bowls.

Dine Lakeside at Dockside Bar & Grill 

This local lakeside bar and grill has been a Chestermere staple since 1979. A 10-minute drive from Huxley, Dockside offers weekly entertainment, including live music and Friday night karaoke, and has happy hour Tuesday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers daily food specials – like $16.95 fish and chips on Thursday nights and $4.50 tacos on Tuesdays. In the summertime, its sunny waterfront patio feels like a mini-vacation. You can watch the water, sip a margarita and unwind.

Tee Time at Lakeside Golf Club

While you’re in Chestermere, why not extend your stay with a game of golf? The 18-hole waterfront golf course is known for lovely views and interesting water features, particularly on the front nine, and offers a challenge for all skill levels. Typically open from April to mid-October, Lakeside has tee times available from early morning to twilight rounds. You can fuel up pre- or post-game at the Rusty Putter Grill in the clubhouse. 

Recharge at The Lakeshore Spa

If a tee-time isn’t your thing, spend an afternoon at Chestermere’s Lakeshore Spa, instead. This carbon-neutral day spa has an aesthetic studio, massage clinic and tanning club. You can indulge in a classic pedicure, manicure or facial or combine all three services with the classic spa refresher trio package. The massage clinic has hot stone, prenatal and traditional options, and the tanning club has beds and spray tans to choose from. 

Find a New Fit at Sunridge Mall

Completed in 2020, Sunridge Mall underwent a renovation that expanded the space and refreshed its exterior, giving it a modern upgrade. With more than 150 different brand-name stores and services, and only 15 minutes west of Huxley, Sunridge is the perfect place to find a whole new wardrobe. Find your next look at retailers like Old Navy, Reitmans, Suzy Shier, Urban Planet, Winners and West49.

Sample Sweets at Gwalia

Located near Sunridge Mall, and less than 15 minutes from Huxley, Gwalia Sweets and Restaurant offers vegetarian Indian cuisine and delectable bite-sized sweets. Sold individually by weight or available in beautiful, gem-like gift boxes, these sweets make the perfect gift, for yourself or someone else. Try the rose bahar, made with cashews and flavoured with rose petals, it’s pretty and tasty, or the besan laddu, aromatic sweets made from chickpea flour.

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