World City Guide

Key Attractions

Calgary Tower
At 190m (626ft), the Calgary Tower, opened in 1968, is not as tall as much of the promotional literature would have visitors believe. Nevertheless, this attraction, standing among the gleaming skyscrapers of the city centre, is a must-see. The Observation Terrace offers a bird’s-eye view of the city and the snow-capped Rocky Mountains to the west. A snack bar, cocktail bar and revolving restaurant, the Panorama Dining Room, provide a more relaxed environment in which to take in the view.

101 Ninth Avenue SW
Tel: (403) 266 7171.
Website: www.calgarytower.com
Admission charge.

Glenbow Museum
The Glenbow Museum alone makes a trip to Calgary worthwhile. Built during the oil-rich 1960s, the museum spared few expenses, its three floors housing an excellent collection celebrating the Canadian West. The permanent collection follows the development of the west through Canadian indigenous art, early-European depictions of native Canadian peoples, native crafts, fur trade exhibits and much more. A permanent gallery, Nitsitapiisinnii: Our Way of Life, showcases the traditions and history of the Blackfoot people in their own words.

130 Ninth Avenue SE
Tel: (403) 268 4100.
Website: www.glenbow.org
Admission charge.

Calgary Stampede
Each July, for 10 days, Calgary hosts one of the grandest celebrations of cowboy culture in the world. Over a quarter of a million visitors, most of them in cowboy hats and boots, descend on the city for a week and a half of chuckwagon races, rodeos (the roughest in North America), parades, square dancing and free pancake breakfasts. By night, there is music, cabarets, dancing, fireworks and a lively bar scene. The main venue for the Calgary Stampede is Stampede Park (where visitors find an amusement park, concert halls, bars, restaurants and a range of stalls), although the festive atmosphere infects the entire city.

Stampede Park
1410 Olympic Way SE
Tel: (403) 261 0101 or (800) 661 1260.
Website: www.calgarystampede.com
Admission charge.

Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park
Scenic St George’s Island is home to an attraction that houses more than 1,000 animals – the Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden and Prehistoric Park. One of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, the zoo was founded in 1920. Its 300 different species are left in their natural environments as much as possible, such as in the ‘Canadian Wilds’ exhibit where close encounters with cougars, grizzlies and Rocky Mountain goats are possible. The more exotic ‘Destination Africa’ section opened in 2003. The Botanical Garden, including a butterfly garden and a rainforest garden, is spread out throughout the zoo, while the Prehistoric Park features 19 life-size dinosaur models.

1300 Zoo Road NE
Tel: (403) 232 9300 or (800) 588 9993.
Website: www.calgaryzoo.ab.ca
Admission charge.

Fort Calgary Historic Park
Fort Calgary dates from 1875, when the Canadian government dispatched a troop of North-West Mounted Police to cross the Bow River and build a fort. Although the Mounties’ occupation of the fort ended in 1914, the fort is once again seeing life as local volunteers reconstruct it using period tools. An interpretive centre outlines Calgary’s development via artefacts, audiovisual displays and guided walks along the river. The site also includes the Deane House Historic Site & Restaurant, a historic building that now houses a restaurant (open year-round).

750 Ninth Avenue SE
Tel: (403) 290 1875.
Website: www.fortcalgary.com
Admission charge.

Calgary Science Centre
The Calgary Science Centre offers a variety of attractions and exhibitions that celebrate science. The Discovery Hall features a constantly changing menu of multimedia interactive exhibits, covering topics such as nature, the atmosphere, the universe and physics. The Discovery Dome was North America’s first multimedia theatre and features Alberta’s largest indoor screen.

701 11th Street SW
Tel: (403) 268 8300.
Website: www.calgaryscience.ca
Admission charge.

Calaway Park
Calaway Park is western Canada’s largest amusement park. The park has 27 rides, including the Corkscrew rollercoaster, the Mountain Scrambler and the Rocky Mountain Rail, as well as the popular Shoot the Chutes and Ocean Motion rides. There are also live musical and stage shows performed daily.

245033 Range Road 33 (off Highway 1, 10km/6 miles west of city limits)
Tel: (403) 240 3822.
Website: www.calawaypark.com
Admission charge.

Bow Valley Ranch
The Bow Valley Ranch was built in 1896 by Roger Hull, a Calgarian who made his fortune supplying beef to railway crews as they pushed west into British Columbia. In 1973, the building and its sprawling grounds were bought by the Alberta government. The grounds became Fish Creek Provincial Park, the largest urban park in North America, popular for walking and swimming during the summer and for cross-country skiing in the winter. The ranch house was slowly restored and converted into a restaurant, The Ranch Restaurant, with full period effects, such as wall coverings, historic furniture and full restoration of the stately veranda. Visitors can sample authentic western Canadian food such as caribou or buffalo.

Fish Creek Provincial Park
Bow Bottom Trail SE
Tel: (403) 297 5293 or 225 3939 (restaurant).
Free admission.