With our first Canadian adventure happening this summer with a fantastic RV trip in the state of Alberta, we wanted to share some ideas for planning a trip to one of its main cities - Calgary.
Whilst 'The Stampede' is likely the best known cultural event in Calgary - a ten-day extravaganza of rodeos, exhibitions and parades every July - and the city is the well established start point for the famous Rockies, Calgary also has some great activities available throughout the year to keep you entertained.
Five Things to do In Calagary
#1 Get up high at The Calgary Tower
Of course, when it comes to towers, Toronto’s CN tower is undeniably Canada’s most iconic. However, Calgary’s own version with an observation deck and 360 restaurants provides visitors with some of the best views in the city.
You can find information on visiting The Calgary Tower here.
#2 Check out the Museums & Galleries
From the Glenbow - one of Canada’s best museums catering to all tastes - to a fantastic selection of contemporary art exhibitions, a rainy afternoon in Calgary should not be lacking in culture! Also, be sure to swing by the phenomenal ‘Wonderland’ sculpture to be equally confused and captivated from every angle.
The Heritage Park Historical Village is also a popular visitor attraction, viewed as Canada’s largest living history museum.
#3 Cheer on the Flames at the Saddledome
In the land where ice hockey is king, catching a live game is essential.
The Calgary Flames play in this saddle-shaped arena and witnessing the action play out in front of you is likely one of the most memborable cultural activities in the city.
Find visitors information for the Scotiabank Saddledome here.
#4 Visit Fish Creek Provincial Park
In the south of the city, Fish Creek is the largest urban park in Canada and plays home to the popular Sikome Lake and various gardens. It's a beautiful place to feel a million miles from the city without even leaving it!
#5 Hit the Slopes at the Olympic Park
In the mountains to the west of the city, you will find the Calgary Olympic Park. Back in ’88, this was the venue of the Winter Olympics and it remains a popular snowboarding and skiing location for locals. Once you find a flight to Calgary, you'll just have to make the decision about whether you leave the skies at home or not!
Five Fun Facts about Calgary
More than 120 languages are spoken in the city, which has a population of 1.2 million.
A person from Calgary is called a…Calgarian! Sounds very Game of Thrones to us.
Calgary is the sunniest major city in Canada, with an average of 2,300 hours of sunshine per year
The coldest ever temperature recorded in Calgary was -45 degrees C in 1893.
The city was ranked #33 in the world in Mercer’s 2018 Quality of Living Survey.
