Calgary - Cowboy Hat Optional

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 1 person | Log in to rate

Ranked #27,269 in Travel, #842,112 overall

Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They call it the "Heart Of The New West". It's a city just under 1 million people, so it's big... but not overwhlemingly big. As a result, it makes it a little harder to find out what's going on, culture and community wise.

Things To Know About Calgary 

  1. Cowboy Hat Optional The reputation (and official logo) says cowtown, but there's plenty of cultural events, minus the Yahoo's.

  2. Calgary is considered "oil-rich" and is home to many, many corporate headquarters for major oil companies. It's the primary business around these parts.

  3. Calgary has an above average parks system, with paved bike/walking paths linking the entire city. Much of the pathways are quite nice to travel, as the major routes travel along two intersecting rivers.

The Big Attractions 

The Calgary Stampede
Yee-Haw! They say it's "The Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth" and it literally transforms the entire city for two weeks in July. I suppose it's centered around the big ol' rodeo, but that's the least of the fun. It's an explosion of things to do and see... mostly off the fairgrounds.

Live Music Venues 

Ironwood Stage
Mostly folk, country, roots music on 9th Avenue in Inglewood.
Red Onion
Live Blues and a great menu! Along Macleod Trail South.
Beat Niq
Jazz and Social Club along 8th Avenue Downtown

Photos from Flickr 

trench run on Hoth by D'Arcy Norman

trench run on Hoth

The view out the front in the morning by jon_a_ross

The view out the fro...

The gate buried under the snow by jon_a_ross

The gate buried unde...

There are pots under the snow over here by jon_a_ross

There are pots under...

The view of our back yard by jon_a_ross

The view of our back...

Our neighbours across the way cannot use their gate by jon_a_ross

Our neighbours acros...

Strange snow drift piles across the land by jon_a_ross

Strange snow drift p...

The snow is at least 16 inches deep at points by jon_a_ross

The snow is at least...

The snow deep inside the enclosed space by jon_a_ross

The snow deep inside...

automatically generated by Flickr

More Culture 

CKUA - World's Greatest Radio Station
Alberta is the proud home of CKUA, which is the reason behind much of the live music scene in Calgary. Musicians from around the world rave about it when they tour through the province. Tune to 93.7 FM in Calgary. They offer online listening as well.

Calgary via Amazon 

CKUA: Radio Worth Fighting For

Amazon Price: $37.44 (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Day Trips from Calgary (Best of Alberta Series)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

Calgary Stampede: An Altitude Superguide (Altitude Superguides)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/07/2009) Buy Now

by RyanPilling

I've lived in Calgary for 15 years. (more)

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