Calgary: what to see at the entrance to the rocky mountains


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What to see in Calgary, where it is located, lifestyles, itinerary including the major attractions and main places of interest in the city of Canada.


Tourist information

Calgary is located where the vast Canadian prairie meets the jagged snowy peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

Its sparkling young skyscrapers rise out of the more ancient suburban areas and seem strangely superimposed on this incredibly varied panorama.


In addition to being the gateway to the Rocky Mountains, Calgary has become an independent tourist destination.

It attracts many tourists every year with the Calgary Stampede festival where participants must wear a cow boy hat.

For this reason many have compared today's Calgary to Dallas in a Canadian version.


In fact, like the inhabitants of Dallas, even those of Calgary are usually self-confident, some showing themselves to be wearing a cowboy hat even in the city, especially businessmen.

In addition there are noisy taverns where you can eat thick steaks and clubs where you can dance to the rhythm of country music.

For these factors and for many others related to lifestyle, the cities of Calgary and Dallas are very similar to each other with an economy that has developed above all, in both cases, thanks to the presence of important oil fields.


What see

Calaway Park is the largest amusement park in western Canada, featuring over 30 rides, including a traditional carousel, bumper cars, the Ocean Motion swinging ship and the Vortex roller coaster.

Among the latest news of the park, the Mind Blaster deserves to be mentioned, where the participants are literally tied in circular carriages and thrown in every possible direction, so it is advisable not to go up after eating.

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Musical and theatrical performances are also held.

From Calgary Tower, a tower that stands out among the skyscrapers located in the center of the city with its 191 meters high, you can admire a circular panorama of the city, including the surrounding prairies and the rocky mountains.

There is a revolving restaurant, the Sky 360, where you can relax eating something and enjoying the magnificent view.

Calgary Zoo, located on the picturesque island of San Giorgio, contains over 1,000 animals divided into 300 different species, left as far as possible in their natural environment.

Close encounters with cougars, gray bears and mountain goats are possible.

The section called Africa destination includes gorillas, giraffes and zebras, while the Eurasia exhibition hosts Siberian tigers, snow leopards, red pandas and Asian elephants.

The Botanical Garden, which covers about 6 hectares, includes the butterfly garden and the rainforest garden with waterfalls.


In the Prehistoric Park there are 22 life-size reproductions of dinosaurs.

In Canada Olympic Park, a park created for the winter games in 1988, you can practice skiing and snowboarding, or try tobogganing and bobsleighing.

There are also 25 km of mountain bike trails.

Fort Calgary Historic Park is a fort dating back to 1875, of which today it is only possible to visit one of its reconstructions within a 16-hectare park.

Through artifacts, audiovisual displays and walks along the river, the fundamental features of Calgary's development are shown.

It is possible to try on a prisoner uniform in a prison cell that was once present.


In the historic building Deane House Historic Site & Restaurant, there is a restaurant.

The Glenbow Museum, built during the 1960s, displays an extraordinary collection that celebrates the Canadian West, including indigenous art, native crafts, fur and commercial displays.

The traditions and history of the people are shown in a permanent gallery.

Heritage Park Historical Village is a historic village covering a total of 52 hectares, including the theme park, where life in the Canadian West is recreated before 1914.

It includes more than 150 restored buildings, each functioning as part of a specific type of community with costumed characters.

It is possible to get carried away by the steam locomotive, take a ride on the old Ferris wheel and take historic trams.

In the adjacent Gasoline Alley Museum there is a large collection of vintage cars.

Telus Spark is a scientific center that houses the four galleries of Being Human, Earth and sky, Open Study and Energy and Innovation.

There is also a Creative Kids Museum, equipped with interactive programs for children and an outdoor park with HD cinema, theater and learning places.

Driving Alberta [Rocky Mountains] Calgary to Canmore (February 2024)


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