calling all calgary area camping mommas...need campground help

[bezbabe]

we just decided that we might like to go camping near calgary from july 4-11 since we have family in calgary and could do multiple day trips without having to pack up the tent a bunch of times...but we've run into a couple of snags.
1. being that we are not familiar with calgary-ish area campgrounds and
2. being that it turns out that is stampede week so even if we knew the local campgrounds, there is likely going to be a bit of a shortage...
anybody know of a really great, family-friendly lesser known campground within about a 1/2 hours drive of city limits (ish)? we would love something with some sort of swimming option, preferably a beach or river or something but also willing to do a pool and we just want to be able to be close enough that we could go into calgary a couple of times during the week. maybe to the zoo or maybe even stampede (if we are brave enough). we would like to do daytrips to banff and drumheller so both directions out of town. thanks for any help you might be able to offer!

[benjaminsmom]

Maybe check out the alberta campground guide. We used to use it all the time to figure out where to camp you can view it on line (we like a hard copy for when we go but we just pick it up at goverment centre.
http://www1.travelalberta.com/en-ca/index.cfm?pageid=25
HTH!

[Calgary SHAM]

I use the above links lots. Ever since I was a kid we've called Stampede week "Camping week" best of luck.

We like to go down Elbow valley (Elbow falls, Elbow River, southwest of bragg creek) but It's about 1 hour out of town, depending on how far down the valley you go. there are a few campgrounds in there.