Touristy Calgary Things

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

So for my first trip to Calgary in over a decade, this time with good weather and for more than one day.

I'm putting together a list of things to see/do

• Tour of the Holy Land (aka the Saddledome)
• Check out the Peace Bridge (that's right nay-sayers a tourist going to see the bridge)
• Chicken on the Way (it's talked about frequently here, so I guess I have to try it)

Might try and get up to Banff for a day

I plan on celebrating my brother's birthday on Friday (his work might disagree) that said, a good spot for 30 somethings to head out to?

Anything else quintessential Calgary I should do?

*of note I've done Calgary Tower and COP previously but am not opposed to doing them again.

it's nice to see that i'm not the only one to refer to the saddledome as the holy land!

[Sainters7]

Sounds like you've probably already done it (given you said you went to the Calgary Tower, which is right by where I'm about to recommend), but if you're kicking around Calgary on a sunny weekday, a stroll through Stephen Ave downtown is always nice and picturesque. Also a good way to soak up some local Calgary downtown culture.

Start from Olympic Plaza (where they awarded medals during the 88 Olympics), and there's plaques commemorating the medal winners in all the events - fun to look at the hockey rosters, USSR was staaaacked!

Then keep walking away from City Hall towards Stephen Ave. It's a historic street in Calgary with lots of preserved, Roman revival-looking buildings from the late 1800s-early 1900's. I really like the contrast of them, mixed with Calgary's recent boom era, glass behemoths. Especially the white limestone, Roman looking, century old Hollinsworth building, with the much darker and modern, glass-dominated Bankers Hall and TD buildings behind it. Looks great with the midday sun hitting them.

Lots of (admittedly overpriced, you are of course in the heart of corporate Calgary at this point), pubs and outdoor patios lining the street here, if you wanted to rest your feet and check out the sights and sounds over a $9 beer.
Aside from business people buzzing around, there's also lots of street vendors and even some impromptu street performers/musicians in the street, and a lot of those old buildings have been converted into touristy little stores.

Good way to kill an hour and get a feel of "Calgary culture", it's a pretty area down there, with lots of buzz during a weekday.






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[chid]

Last Best Brew - go there.

[Sainters7]

Forgot to add in my last post (trying to edit a longer post on my phone is a harrowing ordeal): Stephen Ave / Olympic Plaza is literally one LRT stop away from the Holy Land aka Dome, and - like the Dome - immediately off the LRT line as well. No arduous walk or anything


Posted from Calgarypuck.com App for Android

[northcrunk]

Check out the wildrose brewery for sure. Great beer.

[lazypucker]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Sounds like you've probably already done it (given you said you went to the Calgary Tower, which is right by where I'm about to recommend), but if you're kicking around Calgary on a sunny weekday, a stroll through Stephen Ave downtown is always nice and picturesque. Also a good way to soak up some local Calgary downtown culture....

Do you work for the Calgary downtown tourism board? You have impressive penmanship, my friend!!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Personally, I'm not a fan of the zoo. I find it really boring and crowded. You just kind of get corralled along in line-ups to view boring animals. Plus I always am underwhelmed by the animals.

I'm Brian Fellow!

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

Check out the wildrose brewery for sure. Great beer.

I work nearby, so if you do this on a weekday (except Thursday) at lunch time, send me a message and I'll drop in for an awkward internet stranger meet-up and buy you a beer.

[Harju]

"Might try and get up to Banff for a day"

You don't get up to Banff, you get out to Banff. My general purposes full day Park tour for visitors who do not want anything strenuous and hit the main things is: 1) up early to Moraine Lake before 8:00 AM to be sure to be able to park, 2) back to Lake Louise for a bit and some lunch, 3) then head out to Yoho and Takakaw Falls. 4) Stop in Banff for dinner on the way home.

[octothorp]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that the best way to see the city is by renting a bike and doing a loop around our friendly and beloved downtown cycle lanes. It's basically Amsterdam, but with cowboy window murals.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

Check out the wildrose brewery for sure. Great beer.

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I work nearby, so if you do this on a weekday (except Thursday) at lunch time, send me a message and I'll drop in for an awkward internet stranger meet-up and buy you a beer.

These two know what they are saying. Great beer, the Barracks Brown is an amazing beer.

Also, it is located on the old CFB Base which is Calgary History.

South of town is the Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, I think it is pretty cool, especially when you think people where doing this with sticks to protect themselves.

[Mango]

I love Banff, but it can be a tourist gongshow sometimes. I'm a big fan of Canmore as a second option. If you're looking for a nice, relaxing hike, try Grassi Lakes. If you want to something a bit more challenging, Ha Ling Peak is great. I've only been to Johnston Canyon once, but it's definitely worth a second view. As mentioned above, it gets crowded, so try to go earlier in the morning to beat the afternoon rush.

The views are incredible. Going to the mountains really makes you appreciate how beautiful Alberta is.

[OMG!WTF!]

Ok, here's the ultimate in and around Calgary tour...

http://www.findingbrokeback.com/

...the mountains sets are wicked. Some of the Calgary locations are gone though.

[octothorp]

I haven't done this myself (been wanting to for a while), but if your group is at all into hiking and science, getting a tour up to the Burgess Shale (only available by tour) Is an opportunity you won't get anywhere else.
http://www.burgess-shale.bc.ca/guided-hikes

[JiriHrdina]

Waterton is a less developed Banff. Go there instead

[keratosis]

Windier too.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by keratosis

Windier too.

Great views of Wind turbines in the Pincher Creek area

[Maritime Q-Scout]

I feel like I may have miscommunicated, when I said 30 somethings I meant my brother and I. For the most part I believe I'll have the days to myself (with tomorrow likely a nap to adjust, up at 3 for flight at 5:30).

Love the suggestions... one more question

Where's a good place to watch the Stanley Cup finals? Anyone up for a CP meet up?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Where's a good place to watch the Stanley Cup finals? Anyone up for a CP meet up?

What area of the city are you staying in?

[tvp2003]

If you're into the CFL, training camp for the defending Grey Cup champs just got started. Check out a practice, or go to the mock game/BBQ on Sunday. As another poster mentioned, first preseason game is on the 12th.