What to do in Calgary?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by SebC

Apparently. I just discovered this myself. I was actually gonna suggest the bobsled but I figured I'd check their website first it seems the summer rides don't run anymore.

http://www.ztrip.ca/Home.html

I was just at COP last week, and there doesn't seem to be any morezorbing there.

I did it in New Zealand a couple of years back, when they didn't strap you in... that was fun. And incredibly dangerous. I would so do it again.

Oh, and to the guy that says making $100,000 isn't a big deal these days... care to explain that?

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by _Q_

$100,000/year is nothing these days actually. Especially in Calgary.

Moneysense crunched the numbers last year and showed that six-figure salaries are still pretty special. Even here in "Rich" Alberta, only the upper 20% are earning six-figure paychecks. Heck, 60% of dual-income households don't even reach that level.

http://www.moneysense.ca/2009/11/01/...n-wealth-test/

[MJM]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Moneysense crunched the numbers last year and showed that six-figure salaries are still pretty special. Even here in "Rich" Alberta, only the upper 20% are earning six-figure paychecks. Heck, 60% of dual-income households don't even reach that level.

http://www.moneysense.ca/2009/11/01/...n-wealth-test/

Yup, I've had the conversation with people before here.

Just a little internet chest thumping. Anyone who thinks they just hand out $100,000 a year jobs, likely doesn't make that because they have no clue as to the skillset required to obtain that amount.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Even here in "Rich" Alberta, only the upper 20% are earning six-figure paycheck

Sucks that everything in the city seems to be priced for that 20%!

[MJM]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Sucks that everything in the city seems to be priced for that 20%!

Outside of the cost of housing, most things are no more expensive in Alberta than they are anything else.

Factor in the no Provincial Sales Tax, and you are miles ahead living in Calgary compared to most other major centres in Canada.

I've lived on the East Coast, and trust me, the tax is ridiculous and prices things through the roof (especially big ticket items).

[Table 5]

You're probably right, but I was a little amazed how expensive restaurants and bars were in town compared to even a couple of years ago. $6.75 for a domestic draft? Seriously?

[Bigtime]

All the obvious ones have been said, so I'll add this:

Make some phone calls or drive out to Springbank airport and find a flight school or flying club that can take you up for a tour of the city or the mountains from a plane or helicopter.

It may be a little more pricey than other activities, but I can promise the views will be incredible, especially of downtown or flying into the mountains.

Most places call these flights "discovery flights", I did a bunch for people when I was a flight instructor back in 2002-2004. Quite a few were for tourists or visitors that wanted to see the sights from the air. Average flight was about an hour long.

Edit: Here are some links:

http://www.springbankair.com/index.asp?view=sightseeing

http://www.mvheli.com/tours/index.aspx

http://www.flyright.ca/contactus.html

[Table 5]

Great idea Bigtime, a tour in a helicopter would be absolutely awesome. Plus if you pay for it, she'll probably think you're making those 100 g's!

[Bigtime]

Plus, it always worked for me with the girlfriends at the time. If you know what I'm saying...giggity.

Edit: The ONE downside, and it could be a big one. Is that if either you or your friend lose your lunch onboard it could make things awkward.

[username]

As for the 100 grand per year comment - Stats Can recently released some statistics regarding the average amount of income/debt across Canada.

Calgary had the highest average yearly household income - 119,000 per year. The next highest city was Edmonton at 99. So if you're household isn't making 119 per year, then you're not an average Calgarian, scary I know. With that said, Calgarians also had the highest debt levels of any city in Canada so our disposable incomes are not really that much higher than most cities, if at all.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by username

So if you're household isn't making 119 per year, then you're not an average Calgarian, scary I know.

The thing is that a few really rich guys can skew that average. Chances are there are a lot more "poorer" average Calgarians out there than 119k per household. Looking at the median is probably more reflective of reality.

And yeah, I can believe the high debt load. Just because a lot of people bought 600-700k houses, doesn't necessarily mean that they can afford them. A lot of people over extended.

[Kybosh]

I didn't really mean to get into a debate with my comment about the 100k salary.

What you really should do to impress this girl is give her the grand tour of your kitchen then ask for a sandwich.

[CaptainCrunch]

Or you gently put your foot on her foot so she can't run, look down her clevage, grin and ask her is she wants to learn how cookies are made.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I didn't really mean to get into a debate with my comment about the 100k salary.

What you really should do to impress this girl is give her the grand tour of your kitchen then ask for a sandwich.

[CaptainCrunch]

Why should she need a tour of your kitchen, woman should instinctively know where all of the sannwich making stuff is.

[Traditional_Ale]

Camping and Hiking in Kananaskis is an absolute must. If you have a 4X4 even better, you can find some old logging roads and rip it up to the middle of nowhere for extra privacy.

Stamps game would be good.

There are loads of festivals in Calgary.

Check out FFWD and such to find out what concerts are going on.

Glacier tour by helicopter from Three Valley Gap.

[CaptainCrunch]

Banff . . . for some reason chicks love Banff, all the candy shops, and the bars and the gondola ride to the top of the mountain.

I took a girl up there and we did the walk.climb to that radio outpost which is a good walk.

[North East Goon]

Canmore is also a nice stop and you dont have to pay park fee. Take her to cross iron mills, I hear girls love shopping.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

Canmore is also a nice stop and you dont have to pay park fee. Take her to cross iron mills, I hear girls love shopping.

I love that schwarma place in Cross Iron Mills.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I love that schwarma place in Cross Iron Mills.

Argh. Lame comment for the top of the page.