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Key Attractions Calgary Tower At 190m (623ft), the Calgary Tower, opened in 1968, is not as tall as much of the promotional literature would have a visitor believe. Nevertheless, this attraction, standing among the gleaming skyscrapers of the city centre, is a must-see. The Observation Terrace offers a bird's-eye view of the city and the snow-capped Rocky Mountains to the west. A snack bar, cocktail bar and revolving restaurant, the Panorama Dining Room, provide a more relaxed environment to take in the view. 101 Ninth Avenue Southwest Tel: (403) 266 7171. Fax: (403) 266 7230. E-mail: calgary_tower@calgarytower.com Web site: www.calgarytower.com Transport: C-Train to Centre Street. Opening hours: Jun-Sep daily 0730-2300; Sep-Jun daily 0800-2200. Admission: C$7 (concessions available). Glenbow Museum The Glenbow Museum alone makes a trip to Calgary worthwhile. Built during the oil-rich 1960s, the museum spared few expenses, its three floors housing an excellent collection celebrating the Canadian west. The permanent collection follows the development of the west through Canadian indigenous art, early-European depictions of native Canadian peoples, native crafts, fur trade exhibits and much more. 130 Ninth Avenue Southeast Tel: (403) 268 4100. Fax: (403) 262 4045. E-mail: glenbow@glenbow.org Web site: www.glenbow.org Transport: C-Train to Seventh Avenue. Opening hours: Sat-Wed 0900-1700, Thurs and Fri 0900-2100. Admission: C$8 (concessions available); reduced rates Sun am, Thurs and Friday eve. Calgary Stampede For ten days each July, Calgary hosts one of the grandest celebrations of cowboy culture in the world. Over a quarter of a million visitors, most of them in cowboy hats and boots, descend on the city for a week and a half of wagon races, rodeos (the roughest in North America), parades, square dancing and free pancake breakfasts. By night, there is music, cabarets, dancing, fireworks and a lively bar scene. The main venue for the Calgary Stampede is Stampede Park, where visitors find an amusement park, concert halls, bars, restaurants and a range of stalls, but the festive atmosphere infects the entire city. 1410 Olympic Way Southwest Tel: (403) 261 0101 or (800) 661 1260. Fax: (403) 264 0299. Web site: www.calgary-stampede.com Opening Times: Daily 0800-2300. Admission: C$9 (Stampede Park); concessions available. Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park Scenic St George's Island is home to an attraction that houses more than 1200 animals - the Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden and Prehistoric Park. One of the city's most popular tourist attraction, the zoo was founded in 1920. Its 400 different species are left in their natural environments as much as possible. The Botanical Gardens, including a butterfly garden and a rainforest garden, are situated variously throughout the zoo. The Prehistoric Park features 19 life-size dinosaur models. 1300 Zoo Road Tel: (403) 232 9300. Fax: (403) 237 7582. E-mail: trishep@calgaryzoo.ab.ca Web site: www.calgaryzoo.ab.ca Transport: C-Train to Zoo. Opening hours: Daily 0900-1600; 26 Jun-4 Sep and weekends 21 Apr-25 Jun and 5 Sep-10 Oct open until 1800. Admission: C$8 (concessions available). Fort Calgary Fort Calgary dates from 1875 when the Canadian government despatched a troop of Northwest Mounted Police to cross the Bow River and build a fort. Although the Mounties' occupation of the fort ended in 1914, today, the fort is being reconstructed by local volunteers using period tools. The Interpretative Centre outlines Calgary's development with artefacts, audio-visual displays and guided walks along the river. The site also includes the Deane House Historic Site & Restaurant, a historic building that now houses a restaurant. 750 Ninth Avenue Southeast Tel: (403) 290 1875. Fax: (403) 265 6534. E-mail: fcalgary@telosplanet.net Web site: www.fortcalgary.ab.ca Transport: C-train to City Hall. Opening hours: May-Oct daily 0900-1700. Admission: C$5 (concessions available). Calgary Science Centre The Calgary Science Centre offers a variety of attractions and exhibitions that celebrate science. The Discovery Hall features a constantly changing menu of multimedia interactive exhibitions, covering topics such as nature, the atmosphere, the universe and physics. The Discovery Dome is North America's first multimedia theatre and features Alberta's largest indoor screen. The Centennial Planetarium offers the chance to gaze through its telescopes at the moon, planets and stars. 701 11th Street Southwest Tel: (403) 221 3700. Fax: (403) 265 6534. Web site: www.calgaryscience.ca Transport: C-Train to Tenth Street West. Opening hours: Daily 0930-1730. Admission: C$5.75. Calaway Park Calaway Park is Western Canada's largest amusement park. The park's 27 rides include the Corkscrew Rollercoaster, the Coca-Cola Spray bumper boats, the Mountain Scrambler and the Rocky Mountain Rail. There are also live musical and stage shows performed regularly. Other on-site attractions include mini-golf, a candy store and a souvenir store. RR#2, Site 25 (off Highway 1, outside Canada Olympic Park) Tel: (403) 240 3822. Fax: (403) 242 3885. Web site: www.calawaypark.com Transport: Highway 1. Opening hours: 26 Jun-4 Sep daily 1000-2000; spring and autumn weekends only. Admission: C$19.50 (concessions available). Bow Valley Ranch The Bow Valley Ranch was built in 1896 by Roger Hull, a Calgarian who made his fortune supplying beef to railway crews as they pushed west into British Columbia. In 1973, the building and its sprawling grounds were bought by the Alberta government. The grounds became Fish Creek Provincial Park, the largest urban park in Canada, popular for walking during the summer and cross-country skiing in winter. The ranch house was slowly restored and converted into a restaurant, with full period effects, such as wallcoverings, period furniture and full restoration of the stately veranda. Visitors can sample authentic western Canadian food such as caribou or buffalo. Fish Creek Provincial Park Tel: (403) 297 5293. Fax: (403) 297 5284. Web Site: www.fish-creek.org Transport: Bus 83 to Parkland. Opening hours: Daily dawn-dusk (park); Sun-Wed 1130-2200, Thurs-Sat 1130-2300 (restaurant). Admission: Free. |
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