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Visit these venues in and around Calgary !
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Art Gallery of Calgary
This contemporary art gallery, housed in two recently renovated downtown buildings, places a special emphasis on the contribution of local and regional talent and is a good place to see Calgary's contribution to the modern-art scene. National and regional shows also travel to the Art Gallery.
Bar U Ranch National Historic Site
An hour southwest of Calgary is this a well-preserved and still-operating cattle ranch that celebrates both past and present traditions of the Old West. Tours of the ranch's 35 original buildings (some date from the 1880s) are available; a video of the area's ranching history is shown in the interpretive center. Special events include displays of ranching activities and techniques; since this is a real ranch, you might get to watch a branding or roundup.
Calgary Tower
Reaching 762 steps or 190m (626 ft.) into the sky, this Calgary landmark is topped by an observation terrace offering unparalleled views of the city and mountains and prairies beyond. The high-speed elevator whisks you to the top in just 63 seconds. A stairway from the terrace leads to the cocktail lounge, where you can enjoy drinks and a panoramic vista. Photography from up here is fantastic. The Panorama Restaurant (tel. 403/508-5822) is the near-mandatory revolving restaurant.
Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park
Calgary's large and thoughtfully designed zoo resides on St. George's Island in the Bow River. The Calgary Zoo comes as close to providing natural habitats for its denizens as is technically possible. You'll particularly want to see the troop of majestic lowland gorillas and the African warthogs. The flora and fauna of western and northern Canada are on display in the Botanical Garden, and there's an amazing year-round tropical butterfly enclosure as well. Adjoining the zoo is the Prehistoric Park, a three-dimensional textbook of ancient dinosaur habitats populated by 22 amazingly realistic replicas -- these imposing reproductions will give Barney-loving children something to think about. Call to inquire about special summer events, such as Thursday Jazz Nights and free interpretive talks called "Nature Tales."
Canada Olympic Park
This lasting memento of Calgary's role as host of the 1988 Winter Olympics stands in Olympic Park, which was the site for ski jumping, luge, and bobsledding during the games. Exhibits include the world's largest collection of Olympic souvenirs, such as the torch used to bring the flame from Greece; costumes and equipment used by the athletes; superb photographs; and a gallery of all medal winners. The reason that the park is still an exciting destination is the activities and lessons available. In winter, both adults and children can take downhill and cross-country ski lessons, learn to ski jump or snowboard, or get an introduction to snow skating. More exciting are the opportunities to ride a luge or bobsled -- luge rides for C$20 (US$16) are available year-round and will get the adrenaline pumping for road-trip weary teenagers. Other summer activities include a mountain-bike course, and chairlift rides up to the ski-jump tower.
Devonian Gardens
These indoor gardens are a patch of paradise in downtown, especially in the chill of winter. Laid out in natural contours with 1.5km (1 mile) of pathways and a central stage for musical performances, they contain 20,000 plants (a mix of native Alberta and tropical plants), a reflecting pool, sun garden, children's playground, sculpture court, and water garden. The Devonian Gardens, encompassing 1 hectare (2 1/2-acres) and rising three stories, is one of the world's largest indoor parks.
Dinosaur Provincial Park
In Red Deer River Valley near Brooks, about 225km (140 miles) east of Calgary
and 193km (120 miles) southeast of Drumheller, this park contains the world's
greatest concentration of fossils from the late Cretaceous period. More than 300
complete dinosaur skeletons have been found in the area, which has been named a
World Heritage Site. Park excavations continue from early June to late August,
based out of the Field Station of the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Much of the park is
a natural preserve, with access restricted to guided interpretive bus tours and
hikes. Space on these tours is limited, so be prepared to be flexible with your
choices. "Rush" tickets are sold at 8:30am for that day's events; maximum four tickets per person. Reservations are strongly encouraged in July and August. May to August, lab tours run so that you can view fossil preparation.
Eau Claire Market & Prince's Island Park
Eau Claire Market is part of a car-free pedestrian zone north of downtown on the banks of the Bow River that links to lovely Prince's Island Park, a bucolic island in the Bow River lined with paths, shaded by cottonwood trees, and populated by hordes of Canada geese. This is where much of downtown Calgary comes to eat, drink, shop, sunbathe, jog, and hang out in good weather. The market itself no longer offers a lot for the traveler except for a few eateries (better options are the pubs in the plaza outside the market) though it remains busy with a four-screen cinema and an IMAX Theatre (tel. 403/974-4629), with its five-story domed screen.
Fish Creek Provincial Park
On the outskirts of town but easily accessible, Fish Creek Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world -- actually, a kind of metropolitan wildlife reserve. Spreading over 1,175 hectares (2,900 acres), it provides a sheltered habitat for a vast variety of animals and birds. You can learn about them by joining in the walks and slide presentations given by park interpreters.
Fort Calgary Historic Park
On the occasion of the city's centennial in 1975, Fort Calgary became a public park of 16 hectares (40 acres), spread around the ruins of the original Mounted Police stronghold. In 2001, volunteers completed a replica of the 1888 barracks using traditional methods and building materials. The Interpretive Centre captures the history of Calgary, from its genesis as a military fort to the beginnings of 20th-century hegemony as an agricultural and oil boomtown. Kids can do time in the 1875-era jail, or dress up as a Mountie. There are a number of interesting videos and docent-led displays; always in focus are the adventures and hardships of the Mounties a century ago. The rigors of their westward march and the almost unbelievable isolation these pioneer troopers endured now seems incredible.
If all this history whets your appetite, cross the Elbow River on 9th Avenue and head to the Deane House. This historic home was built by a Fort Calgary superintendent nearly 100 years ago and is now the Deane House Restaurant operated by Fort Calgary (tel. 403/269-7747), open Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm.
Glenbow Museum
One of the country's finest museums, the Glenbow is a must for anyone with an
interest in the history and culture of western Canada. What sets it apart from
other museums chronicling the continent's native cultures and pioneer settlement
is the excellence of its interpretation. Especially notable is the third floor,
with its vivid evocation of Native cultures -- particularly of the local
Blackfeet -- and compelling descriptions of western Canada's exploration and
settlement. You'll enjoy the brief asides into whimsy, such as the display of
early washing machines. Other floors contain displays of West African carvings,
gems and minerals, and a cross-cultural look at arms and warfare.
Museum of the Regiments
The largest military museum in western Canada tells the story of four famous Canadian regiments from the early 1900s to today. A series of lifelike miniature and full-size displays re-create scenes from the Boer War in 1900 to World War II; contemporary peacekeeping operations are also depicted. You also see videos, weapons, uniforms, medals, and photographs relating the history of the regiments and hear the actual voices of the combatants describing their experiences.
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
North of Drumheller, and about 145km (90 miles) northeast of Calgary, this is one of the world's best paleontology museums and educational facilities. It offers far more than just impressive skeletons and life-size models, though it has dozens of them. The entire fossil record of the earth is explained, era by era, with an impressive variety of media and educational tools. You walk through a prehistoric garden, watch numerous videos, use computers to "design" dinosaurs for specific habitats, watch plate tectonics at work, and see museum technicians preparing fossils. The museum is also a renowned research facility where scientists study all forms of ancient life.
Radiating out from Drumheller and the museum are a number of interesting side trips. Pick up a map from the museum and follow an hour's loop drive into the badlands along North Dinosaur Trail. The paved road passes two viewpoints over the badlands and crosses a free car-ferry on the Red Deer River before returning to Drumheller along the South Dinosaur Trail. A second loop passes through Rosedale to the south, past a ghost town, hoodoo formations, and a historic coal mine.
Telus World of Science
Newly renamed (formerly the Calgary Science Centre), this museum features a fascinating kid-oriented combination of exhibitions, a planetarium, films, laser shows, and live theater, all under one roof. The hands-on, science-oriented exhibits change, but always invite visitors to push, pull, talk, listen, and play. The 360-degree Discovery Dome Theatre offers a number of filmed presentations that engulf the senses.
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