We're finally coming to Calgary! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

SparkyOne · 03-11-2009, 09:35 AM

Tickets purchased, flights booked....the free trip is finally happening!

We leave next Thursday night (March 19) and get into Calgary about midnight. The Dino Museum and the game against the Blues on Friday, Banff on Saturday, the game against Detroit on Monday. Leave after the game to take the red eye to Toronto, where we'll visit the HHOF and do some sightseeing before coming home on Tuesday night.

Our seats are the same for both games--228, row 15. Hope they're decent...even offering to pay more for the one game, they told us this was about the best we could get.

One quick question. We're staying downtown and I'm wondering whether there's anywhere between the airport and downtown where we could stop for some quick food supplies...are 7-11s open 24 hours in Calgary?

We are all so very excited...the kid is about jumping out of his skin already!! Haven't finalized things yet, but I think we're going to do a daily report, with photos, on the QC Flames website.

STeeLy · 03-11-2009, 09:41 AM

7-11s are mostly 24 hours if not all. There's also Mac's which is very similar to 7-11, and are all 24 hours...

We also have 24 hour Wal-Marts...

GoinAllTheWay · 03-11-2009, 09:44 AM

lol, awesome man, hope you enjoy the trip!

To answer your question re: supplies and such, there would be a ton of places between downtown and the airport. There are 7-11's open 24 hours but to be honest with you, no idea which ones. Just tell the cab driver you need to pop into a convenience store and he should be able to help you out.

You will love the Dino museum and Banff. Haven't been out to the Museum in ages but pretty sure they have done extensive renos in the past little while. Same with Banff, think they just completed re-doing main street and should look pretty spiffy. With the amount of snow we have recived, there should still be plenty of it out there despite the upcoming warm weather.

Hope you have a blast and looking forward to reading your reports!

octothorp · 03-11-2009, 09:46 AM

My suggestion would be to take Deerfoot and Memorial (by far the fastest route to downtown), but then rather than taking the bridge into downtown, turn north on Edmonton Trail, and there's a Macs store after about two blocks. And then you can just take Edmonton Trail south across the river into downtown. Alternatively, there's also a Macs toward the west end of downtown, which may be convenient depending on your hotel location. (Not the nicest neighbourhood really late at night, but not exactly dangerous, either).

Fobulous · 03-11-2009, 09:53 AM

Glad to hear you are making a trip out to Calgary. Hopefully the weather will be a little better than it is right now.

Just wanted to give you a quick heads up... 7-11's in Canada are not like the 7-11's in the states (no booze at the 7-11's in Canada

). Although you should be able to get most of your supplies I would suggest hitting up a Superstore or Wal-Mart as they are open until 11 pm.

MelBridgeman · 03-11-2009, 10:07 AM

Maybe there is a closer one...but there is a Walmart on 36 street that is easy accessible from the airport, that is 24 hrs

Russic · 03-11-2009, 10:21 AM

Your seats are pretty good:

They are in a corner but you're high enough up that both ends will be unobstructed. If you get too low in the corner I find it can be tough to see the far end.

Kipper is King · 03-11-2009, 10:23 AM

I hope you enjoy your time here! I agree with everyone else that the Tyrell Museum is awesome. If you are into art and history, the Glenbow Museum is also quite good, and at the very least, the gift store in it is great for souvenirs.

I also recommend you check out the view from the Calgary Tower. They installed a glass segment (not just the floor, but also the surrounding wall) a couple years ago that is quite cool.

tvp2003 · 03-11-2009, 10:28 AM

That's awesome -- hope you have a great time! I think I mentioned this earlier but you might want to consider sending Ken King an email to let him know you're coming all the way from QC. I'm sure he'd be happy to arrange a tour or something at the Dome -- his email is kking@calgaryflames.com

Quote:

Originally Posted by MelBridgeman

Maybe there is a closer one...but there is a Walmart on 36 street that is easy accessible from the airport, that is 24 hrs

You're sending him to the Ghetto Wal-mart?!?

There's a 24 hour Wal-mart just off Deerfoot Trail (the main road that takes you from the Airport) at 64 Ave (beside Deerfoot Mall). If you're taking a cab he should know how to get there. I would recommend going to that one instead (although there are crazies at any Wal-mart after midnight it seems -- that's for another thread though!).

tvp2003 · 03-11-2009, 10:32 AM

Also, enjoy the HHOF in Toronto -- I'm sure you and your kid will love it. As much as the Leafs suck, Toronto's a nice city to visit; let me know if you have any q's

Aeneas · 03-11-2009, 10:33 AM

So, did Drunkskunk win, or are you still bringing the wet blanket?

SparkyOne · 03-11-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aeneas

So, did Drunkskunk win, or are you still bringing the wet blanket?

No wet blanket!!!

But DS is leaving (maybe Friday??!) for a week in Washington, DC....he had the plans and tickets before the wet blanket backed out. He was the first person I asked, but he couldn't do it....comes back the day we leave, I think. He's even missing the jersey auction this weekend!!

I'm bringing another long-time STHer and veteran road-tripper, a guy who's very excited to be going....we travel together a lot. It'll be a FAR more enjoyable trip without her!!!

icarus · 03-11-2009, 11:07 AM

The Tyrrell Museum is fantastic--I'm very glad to hear you are making sure you visit it. It is one of my favourite museums in the whole world. It's not just dinosaurs, there a massive section of the museum devoted to pre-Mesozoic life, and a nice-sized chunk devoted to life between the dinosaurs and the modern day. Keep in mind it is about 2.5 hours drive each way to the museum from Calgary.

The HHOF is a lot of fun too, you could spend your whole time playing the interactive displays and stopping pucks from video Wayne Gretzky (LA) and Mark Messier (NYR).

SparkyOne · 03-11-2009, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

lol, awesome man, hope you enjoy the trip!

To answer your question re: supplies and such, there would be a ton of places between downtown and the airport. There are 7-11's open 24 hours but to be honest with you, no idea which ones. Just tell the cab driver you need to pop into a convenience store and he should be able to help you out.

You will love the Dino museum and Banff. Haven't been out to the Museum in ages but pretty sure they have done extensive renos in the past little while. Same with Banff, think they just completed re-doing main street and should look pretty spiffy. With the amount of snow we have recived, there should still be plenty of it out there despite the upcoming warm weather.

Hope you have a blast and looking forward to reading your reports!

Thanks for the info! I talked to JD Watt, Brett Sutter, and Pete Vandermeer one night when we were out and they gave me a ton of ideas (they all know the kid, and I swear Watt and Sutter are more like kids than the kid is!! So funny....) as well. We're going to see the icefields, too...and then spend the weekend doing stuff around Calgary.

Is there much of the zoo that's open now? Watt went nuts about the zoo!

Aeneas · 03-11-2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkyOne

No wet blanket!!!

But DS is leaving (maybe Friday??!) for a week in Washington, DC....he had the plans and tickets before the wet blanket backed out. He was the first person I asked, but he couldn't do it....comes back the day we leave, I think. He's even missing the jersey auction this weekend!!

I'm bringing another long-time STHer and veteran road-tripper, a guy who's very excited to be going....we travel together a lot. It'll be a FAR more enjoyable trip without her!!!

Good job then.
I assume you will rent a car at the airport?

SparkyOne · 03-11-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

That's awesome -- hope you have a great time! I think I mentioned this earlier but you might want to consider sending Ken King an email to let him know you're coming all the way from QC. I'm sure he'd be happy to arrange a tour or something at the Dome -- his email is kking@calgaryflames.com

The Flames folks should know....they're providing our tickets and making our hotel reservations.

But I'm going to email our guy here and ask about that!! We've been told to wear QC stuff to the games, so I'm thinking that there will be a "meet and greet" thing where they take pictures. The QC front office isn't really good at communicating, so it's like pulling teeth to get the info!!

The night of the Red Wings game is also the kid's 8th birthday and he's a hockey player, so I'm trying to see whether there's any way we can get him named the Scotia Bank Skater of the Game. Might be too late, but it's worth a try!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

You're sending him to the Ghetto Wal-mart?!?

There's a 24 hour Wal-mart just off Deerfoot Trail (the main road that takes you from the Airport) at 64 Ave (beside Deerfoot Mall). If you're taking a cab he should know how to get there. I would recommend going to that one instead (although there are crazies at any Wal-mart after midnight it seems -- that's for another thread though!).

We'll have a car the whole time...almost have to since we have day trips planned. Never thought of Wal-Mart! Great idea....we can pick up anything we've forgotten. We have GPS...I'll get the address and have my co-pilot program it in!!!

We wanted to leave at 3:30 and get in at 9:30, but they booked us on a 6:30 flight that gets in at nearly midnight. By the time we get our luggage and get through Customs, it's going to be very late, I'm afraid!! Just wanted to get a car at the airport and be done with it. And we're leaving after the Monday game at about midnight, so the timing will be perfect!

(Oh yeah....I'm a she, not a he!!! But I probly love hockey as much as any guy!!!)

burn_baby_burn · 03-11-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icarus

Keep in mind it is about 2.5 hours drive each way to the museum from Calgary.

How do you figure that? It is 140km (87.4miles) from Calgary. Should take 1.5 hours max. Unless there is a blizzard.

Ford Prefect · 03-11-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icarus

The Tyrrell Museum is fantastic--I'm very glad to hear you are making sure you visit it. It is one of my favourite museums in the whole world. It's not just dinosaurs, there a massive section of the museum devoted to pre-Mesozoic life, and a nice-sized chunk devoted to life between the dinosaurs and the modern day. Keep in mind it is about 2.5 hours drive each way to the museum from Calgary.

The HHOF is a lot of fun too, you could spend your whole time playing the interactive displays and stopping pucks from video Wayne Gretzky (LA) and Mark Messier (NYR).

Not true. I live in Drumheller, and it's about 1 hour 15 minutes from Drum to the airport traveling at 120 kph (75 mph). Traveling the speed limit it's about 1 hr 30 minutes from the city limits to the Tyrrell, 1 hour 45 minutes if the roads are icy.

STeeLy · 03-11-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkyOne

(Oh yeah....I'm a she, not a he!!! But I probly love hockey as much as any guy!!!)

Whoa... that's a surprise...

If your GPS has like store locations, you can just punch in for the nearest wal-mart and go from there...

Cactus Jack · 03-11-2009, 12:56 PM

If you're downtown and worried you can't get booze at 7-11, there's a liquor store on 14th Street and about 15th Avenue that is open until 2am.

The Dino museum is cool and Banff is awesome, try to go to Lake Louise when you go to the mountains. It's only about 30 minutes further but it's awesome. You could even try Lake Morraine which similar and nearby. If you like to board and hike, they're great spots.
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