What to do in Calgary

cow tower (a simple look at things)

Calgary is situated in the foothills and prairies just east of the beautiful renowned Rocky Mountains. There are so many wonderful opportunities for both indoor and outdoor fun in and around Calgary. Whether you enjoy strolling around the many pathways/parks in Calgary to skiing or golfing there is so much you can do to explore this beautiful city,  here is a list of some of the Calgary attractions:

Calgary tower:

Is a 191-metre free standing observation tower located in the heart of the downtown core which offers a 360 panoramic view of the city. It also has a glass bottom floor for all the thrill seekers and for a bird’s eye view to the street below. You also have the option to dine in one of the two restaurants they have.

Calgary Zoo:

The Calgary zoo is the 2nd largest zoo in Canada, located east of the city’s downtown. See over 1000 animals, botanical gardens and prehistoric dinosaur park. Experience the animals in their different exhibits in their most natural habitat possible. Note they offer different seasonal activities throughout the year, check their website for more information.

Telus Spark Science Centre:

The Telus World of Science is a brand new science museum located right next to the Calgary Zoo. It is a beautiful building which invites people of all ages to explore and learn through their different interactive exhibits, programs and educational presentations.

Devonian Gardens:

Is a large indoor botanical garden located in the downtown core shopping centre. It has over 10,000 shrubs and 550 trees to create this beautiful park. It offers ponds with water features and fish, seating all around and a children’s playground.

Heritage Park:

Heritage park is a historical village located on 127 acres of parkland on the banks of the Glenmore Reservoir along Calgary’s southwestern edge. As Canada’s largest living history museum by number of exhibits, it is one of the city’s most visited tourist attractions. It is mainly closed throughout the winter but does offer activities during Halloween and Christmas, check their website for more details.

Prince’s Island Park:

Prince’s Island Park has been recognized as an urban oasis and is an important contributor to the cultural and recreational quality of life for Calgarian’s. This is a beautiful park in downtown Calgary that holds many large events throughout the year including the Canada Day celebration and Calgary Folk Festival. It features picnic areas, playground, canoe access to the river, pathway and hiking trails and flower gardens. The Bow river pathway is accessible from the park on both sides of the Bow river and spans a total of 48km throughout the city.

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary:

Is a wildlife reserve that is home to almost 270 species of birds, located along the bow river in SE Calgary and boasts numerous nature trails and on-site Nature Centre for exhibits and information on the sanctuary. There is no entrance fee and is open throughout the year. The best time to visit this sanctuary is during the summer and spring.

Calaway Park:

Calaway Park is Western Canada’s largest outdoor family amusement park. The park is located 10 kilometers (6.2 mi) west of the city of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. The park features a variety of rides including a large log flume, the rides Chaos and Storm, and the park’s two biggest attractions is The Vortex and the Dream Machine. There are many other rides that are unique to the park.

 

Shopping:

For the shopaholic, Calgary has plenty to offer and there are several shopping malls and districts to choose from around the city. For shopping malls you have a choice of:

  • CrossIron Mills
  • Chinook Centre
  • The Core
  • Southcentre Mall
  • North hill Centre
  • Deerfoot Mall
  • Sunridge Mall
  • Market Mall

There are still plenty of  places to visit in Calgary and this list is just a simple overview of what to do in Calgary. If you have any specific questions please feel free to email or call me at:

mmccartney@sothebysrealty.ca

403-875-5284