things to do in calgary

[aem123]

I am new to Calgary and a friend of mine is coming to visit this weekend. Other than bars and pubs what is there to do in Calgary? I have to keep my friend entertained for two and a half days. Somebody mentioned the zoo and somebody else mentioned Devonian Gardens. Any other suggestions out there? What about restaurants? Are there any must see activities in Calgary?

[Wronskian]

Don't plan your day around the Devonian gardens, nothing more than a weekday lunch spot in my opinion

[TurnedTheCorner]

Head out to the mountains for an afternoon. There are also bars in pubs in Banff, Canmore and Waterton.

[aem123]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Head out to the mountains for an afternoon. There are also bars in pubs in Banff, Canmore and Waterton.

yeah, a trip to the mountains might be in our plans - are there any mountain destinations close to calgary other than the ones mentioned - any glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, etc

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by aem123

yeah, a trip to the mountains might be in our plans - are there any mountain destinations close to calgary other than the ones mentioned - any glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, etc

Yes but they're all frozen.

[aem123]

hey, a frozen waterfall would be cool

[GGG]

For frozen waterfalls Johnsons canyon is not bad in the winter. Cooler than that is grotto canyon which is a walk up a frozen creek to an ice fall at the end. For grotto canyon you need some sort of ice cleet.

[Minnie]

Buy some Yak Trax and go out to Johnston Canyon on the Bow Valley Parkway and you can see some frozen waterfalls. Continue on up to Chateau Lake Louise - lake's frozen but it's a pretty spot and you can wander around the Chateau. Do a horse drawn sleigh ride around the lake and back. Rent skates - figure skates, hockey skates, sticks, skis, snow shoes. Go into Banff and wander around the Banff Springs. They rent skates there too and there's a rink below the hotel. You can drive down to Bow Falls and see them (they'll be mostly frozen or frozen). Take a ride up the Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, and walk on the boardwalk over to Sanson's Peak. Go to the hot springs in Banff.

Devonian Gardens sucks ass since the redo. Boring as hell.

[Canada 02]

Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller

this coming Monday is free admission as well

[Temporary_User]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Head out to the mountains for an afternoon. There are also bars in pubs in Banff, Canmore and Waterton.

Originally Posted by GGG

For frozen waterfalls Johnsons canyon is not bad in the winter. Cooler than that is grotto canyon which is a walk up a frozen creek to an ice fall at the end. For grotto canyon you need some sort of ice cleet.

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller

this coming Monday is free admission as well

Is Calgary that bad that none of the suggestions are actually things to do in Calgary?

[Red John]

Do Sunday brunch at the Delta in Kananaskis. You get a free swim if you do - they have an indoor/outdoor hot tub, steam room, etc. Nice relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

Banff is boring as hell unless you like tourists and tacky stores. Hike Johnston canyon if you like but continue on to the Ink pots - not as many people and a nice hike (not too difficult).

Dinner at the Calgary Tower is cool - make a reservation and get elevation for free.

Drumheller is alright if its warm enough to hang out at the badlands a bit - the museum itself won't occupy enough time.

Maybe a comedy club? It's not unique to Calgary by any means but a nice change of pace from bars/pubs. Yuk yuks at the elbow river casino...and once it's over you can play some poker. If you're lucky Doug Lee will be there playing - he's awful and you can take a few hundred bucks of his money to top off your evening.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Is Calgary that bad that none of the suggestions are actually things to do in Calgary?

Yes.

[aem123]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Is Calgary that bad that none of the suggestions are actually things to do in Calgary?

Yeah, a few more local suggestions would be great but I like the mountains idea.

[surferguy]

Check out downtown, new plensa sculpture at the bow, the peace bridge and Devonian gardens make for a couple of hours of chillin.

Nose hill park for a ultra view of the city

Any sbarros for lunch/dinner

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Is Calgary that bad that none of the suggestions are actually things to do in Calgary?

I was going to come in here and suggest all sorts of fun things to do outside of Calgary but have clearly been beaten to the punch.

You could probably busy yourself for a couple days in Calgary but the best things are definitely a few hours away.

[NSFL]

If you and your friend are sports fans, give Canada's Sports Hall of Fame a go. We're on COP so still in Calgary.

I'm a little biased, since I work there, but the place is great, 22 000 sq ft of interactives and displays and the building is just awesome.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by aem123

I am new to Calgary and a friend of mine is coming to visit this weekend. Other than bars and pubs what is there to do in Calgary? I have to keep my friend entertained for two and a half days. Somebody mentioned the zoo and somebody else mentioned Devonian Gardens. Any other suggestions out there? What about restaurants? Are there any must see activities in Calgary?

What type of activities interest your friend? What age group?

Cowperson

[aem123]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

What type of activities interest your friend? What age group?

Cowperson

We are two mid 40's males.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

Is Calgary that bad that none of the suggestions are actually things to do in Calgary?

I would hope no one (besides TTC) is suggesting it's bad that within driving distance Calgary has some of the most beautiful scenes in the world to their west and one of the best museums in the world to their east.

Mid's 40's? Definitely check out Wild Rose Brewery & Taproom, The Military Museum might be up your alley as well. Canada Olympic Park/WinSport are musts as well. I'd check out the Canada Sports's hall of fame as well.

Calgary Zoo is a must for me, at any age I think the Zoo here is top notch facility and worth of a visit. Calgary's downtown can be fun as well, if not a little dead past a certain point at night. During a Saturday afternoon on a nice sunny day the walk starting in front of city hall heading West down Stephen Ave then up 3rd street towards Eau Claire and Prince Island Park is fun. Get lunch anywhere downtown you see, take it down to Prince Island Park and get into a fight with some Geese. Nice little saturday.

Of course, sports. Go see some hockey. Flames, Hitmen. Go see a Roughnecks lacrosse game, those are pretty fun cheap entertainment.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by aem123

We are two mid 40's males.

I was going to suggest the new science center, but I guess that's out. I haven't even been there yet.