Best things to do in Calgary

The largest city of the Canadian province of Alberta is Calgary. With 1,306,784 residents and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 as of 2021, the city was the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan region in Canada. 

Calgary is located at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers in the province’s southernmost region, in the area that separates the Rocky Mountain Foothills from the Canadian Prairies. It is 240 kilometres north of the U.S. border and about 80 kilometres east of the Canadian Rockies’ front ranges.

The Parkland Natural Region and the Grasslands Natural Region are next to the city. But without further ado, here are my picks for the top Calgary activities.

#5 Fort Calgary

In modern-day Calgary, at the junction of the Bow and Elbow rivers, Fort Calgary was a North-West Mounted Police outpost. After the outpost’s initial commander, Fort Brisebois, the name was changed to Fort Calgary in June 1876. 

The outpost was constructed in 1875 as part of a larger effort by the force to stop American rum and liquor smugglers in the area and to establish “good relations” with the territory’s indigenous peoples. In 1882, the fort’s designation as a “district post” led to its extension.

A 16 hectare historical site, Fort Calgary Historic Park, is located close to the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers on the southern shore of the Bow River. However, the designation of National Historic Site of Canada is limited to a region of property measuring about 12 hectares in size that surrounds the fort’s original location.

#4 Prince’s Island Park

Calgary’s Prince’s Island Park is a public urban park. It is situated on an island in the Bow River, just to the north of the city centre of Calgary. 

Island Park is a beautiful, well-liked park in the heart of Calgary that often hosts major events like the Calgary Folk Festival and Canada Day. 

Peter Anthony Prince, a Quebec-born lumberjack who immigrated to Calgary in 1886 and established the Eau Claire Lumber Mill, was honoured with the name Prince’s Island. To obtain logs, the Eau Claire and Bow River Lumber Company constructed a waterway. Kananaskis is an island because it is nearer to the Calgary sawmill.

#3 Heritage Park

It’s difficult to choose what to do first when there are so many options available, such as a rumbling steam train, vintage midway rides, and immaculately restored heritage structures and homesteads. 

The biggest living history museum in Canada, Heritage Park is located in Calgary. It has hundreds of exhibits, rides, stores, dining options, shops, and daily demonstrations and events to keep both young and old interested in the past. You’ll get a history lesson you won’t find in a textbook because no two days at the Park are the same. 

For more information, you can go to: https://www.heritagepark.ca

Price: $29.95

 

#2 Downtown Calgary

The view of Calgary’s skyline from a distance is what you would anticipate from a city with a population of more than 1.2 million. However, when you are in and around downtown, you realise how diverse and particular Calgary is. Much of the region is bordered by the Bow and Elbow Rivers. 

The mature, beautiful vegetation along these rivers, as well as the nearby pathways, are popular with families, cyclists, and river walkers. Cultural icons like the Glenbow Museum, New Central Library, Bow Building, and National Music Centre not only awe, but also beckon you to explore and study.

#1 The Calgary Tower

The Calgary Tower, which gives the greatest perspective in the city and is a must-see on each visitor’s itinerary, is perched 191 metres above the city’s centre. You may enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree view of the bustling metropolis, the gorgeous Rocky Mountains, the foothills, and the grasslands from the Observation Deck. Up to 200 people can fit on the rotating restaurant floor, while 250 could fit on the first observation deck. 

As a joint venture between Marathon Realty and Husky Oil, the Calgary Tower was once known as the Husky Tower. It was built to celebrate Canada’s centennial and to promote the downtown area as part of a Calgary urban renewal initiative. The Tower is now a well-known tourist attraction and a preferred dining location. The Tower is still a proud civic landmark even though it has been dwarfed in size.

For more information, you can go to: https://www.calgarytower.com

Price: $19.00

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