Where to stay in Calgary
Vacation house with a pool or hot tub in Calgary
Pet friendly vacation homes in Calgary
Where Is Calgary?
The largest city in Alberta, Calgary sits in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and is roughly four to five hours north of Montana along the United States border. Edmonton, Alberta’s capital, is three hours directly north of Calgary. The Calgary Airport is in the northeast quadrant of the city and 25 minutes from downtown. Calgary is spread out, with many of the outdoor adventures spread outside the city, so a car is recommended, but public transportation is available within the city by bus or light rail.
What Is Calgary Known For?
Calgary is often used as the launching point to explore Banff and Jasper National Parks. Calgary offers excellent urban delights of its own with a little bit of Western charm thrown in to keep it grounded. The Calgary Stampede is one of the biggest festivals in Canada, taking place over the course of 10 days every July. Despite this, Calgary’s reputation as “Cowtown” is being mellowed and balanced with the riches of a thriving oil and gas industry, in addition to an up-and-coming arts and culinary scene. The city is home to a positively surprising amount of public art installations and busking is a very common sight — especially in the summer months. Calgary also has no less than eight colleges and universities in the area.
Things to Do in Calgary
- Glenbow Museum & Calgary Tower: The premier museum in Calgary is in the city center across from Calgary Tower. Glenbow Museum features a mix of history, art, and pop culture across 20 galleries on three floors. The museum is well-designed with many textures and displays — not to mention temporary exhibitions that tend to verge on the edgy and thought provoking side. Calgary Tower is near the museum and has an observation deck standing at 625 feet above street level, creating unparalleled panoramic views of the city, the prairie, and the foothills.
- Heritage Park Historical Village: A living history museum that tells the stories of pioneers on the Canadian frontier from the 1860’s to the 1950’s, Heritage Park Historical Village houses 200 exhibits across 127 acres of parkland. It is great fun for young ones and solid entertainment for adults. The property includes a steam train, historical homes and buildings, amusement rides, and old-fashioned shops. There is also a restaurant and cafe serving modern food in a historical setting.
- Big Rock Brewery: Consistently rated highly, Big Rock Brewery is one of Canada’s most prized craft beer institutions. Visits to the facility include a 90-minute tour and tasting, in addition to a restaurant to chow down after enjoying a couple brews.
- Studio Bell: National Music Centre: One of the city’s newest museums is the Studio Bell: National Music Centre, dedicated to Canada’s musical history. Housed in a contemporary copper-clad building, collections inside include Canada’s Music Hall of Fame, cultures that have contributed to Canada’s music, educational exhibits on the power of music on humans, and the art of music creation.
Popular Destinations Near Calgary
- Banff National Park & Banff Town : Banff is undoubtedly one of Canada’s top tourist attractions, but Lake Louise is another, smaller commercial center. Banff is known for everything from skiing, hiking, hot springs, fancy restaurants, and a film festival all wrapped up in a boutique resort package. It is, in some ways, like an Aspen or Park City of the Great White North, though the surrounding nature is far more spectacular.
- Jasper National Park: Though sometimes seen as Banff’s little sister, Jasper National Park is larger by many square miles. The backcountry is less developed and less travelled, so shorter journeys tend to be more difficult for those looking for a half day hike. Maligne Lake, Miette Hot Springs, the Icefields Parkway, and Maligne Canyon are all worth the effort. For as much attention as Banff gets, Jasper is delightfully wild and untouched.
Best Neighborhoods in Calgary
- City Center : Mostly centralized around pedestrian Stephen Avenue Mall, City Center features some of Calgary’s finest dining, shopping, public art, and entertainment venues. Glenbow Museum, Calgary Tower, and the National Music Centre are all downtown.
- Kensington Village : Located in northwest Calgary, Kensington Village is known for being a mix of bohemian flair and a little bit funky. The neighborhood is fantastic for fashion, art galleries, antiques, fun cafes, and creative restaurants, all centered along 10th Street NW and Kensington Road NW.
- 17th Avenue SW : Running east to west across the city and ends at Calgary Stampede, 17th Avenue SW is a major scene for food, drink, and shopping. If not found directly on 17th, there is a huge selection of more restaurants and shops heading north up to 14th Avenue SW and Macleod Trail SE.
Home-types in Calgary
Calgary has a variety of property types for you to consider when booking a trip. Here are the most popular property types in Calgary:
Points of interests in Calgary
Calgary has several popular points of interest for you to check out when visiting the area. Here are the most popular points of interest in Calgary:
- Calgary Tower: 6 vacation rentals
Popular rental amenities
Price trends in Calgary
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