Being a proud citizen of this vibrant city was the first reason that I made sure my parents had a glimpse of the place we call home. The next reason is my fondness for travel which continually inspires me to feature my downtown home for the past 13 years. My husband & I recently had a “couples weekend” downtown vacation and experienced a re-discovery of the city through the eyes of local tourists. But now I firmIy believe it was the recent flooding that temporarily paralyzed this resilient city that compelled me to showcase this remarkable place that the world can envy because of the magnificent people who dwell within it.
Here are my 10 unique reasons why everyone should visit Calgary:
- Calgary Stampede - Hailed as “ The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” for 101 years. This is a 10-day extravaganza of western traditions, costumes and festivities at its finest. Even the flood that tried to destroy the Stampede Grounds failed miserably to dampen the western spirit. It literally kicked off having less than two weeks to re-cooperate from the flood, with most of the scheduled events going on as usual. It is truly the resilient spirit of city mayor Nenshi, the organizers, volunteers and spectators that made it happen. Calgary Stampede went ahead, as the slogan goes “Come Hell or High Water”, along with the extravaganza that comes with it. It is one of the top 20 events international visitors want to see and experience.
- Gateway to the Rockies - within 1.5 hours you will be mesmerized by the majestic mountains, pristine lakes, beautiful landscapes and variety of wildlife. It is very close to some of the most visited natural scenery in the world - Banff National Park.
- GlobalFest- Praised as the most explosive show in Alberta! It is one of the biggest pyro-musical competitions both within in Canada and internationally. This seven-day celebration comes with ethno-cultural performances, cultural displays and pavilions, and of course ethnic food kiosks.
- Chinook Winds - The phenomenon unique to Calgary comes from the mountain foothills which are described as warm, dry winds which bring an instant temporary spring in the middle of winter.
- Calgary Olympic Park - Venue of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, continues to offer year round activities for adventure seekers and sports enthusiasts here and abroad.
- Heritage Park - A step back in time showing how the West used to be, this 127 acre historical park is Canada’s largest living history museum. Here you can tour Alberta in a day with combinations of antiques, preserved or replica buildings, homesteads and activities.
- Spruce Meadows - All year show jumping at its finest. This equestrian paradise is considered a prestigious summer sport but tournaments are held all year long . This place is not exclusive for equestrian aficionados, it is also a well rounded family outdoor attraction, a shopping fair and international food and dining venue.
- Parks - Calgary boasts several public parks within the city and vicinity. There are hundreds of parks within the city of Calgary, but here are the major parks within the city and vicinity: Fish Creek Provincial Park, Nose Hill Park, Bowness Park, Edworthy Park, Glenmore Park, Ingelwood Bird Sanctuary, Prince’s Island Park, Prairie Winds Park, Battalion Park and Confederation Park.
- Food - Calgary is not only home to the finest Alberta beef, it is also the cuisine’s scene for both local and international appetites.
- Shopping - The proliferation of shops in the city’s central neighborhood, within the belt line and outskirts is proof of a strong and thriving city. Calgary has a wide range of shops, boutiques and malls. The shopping centres range from outlet malls that fit to every budget to exclusive boutiques that meet every high fashion style money can afford.
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