Probably the biggest mistake many tourists make when visiting southern Alberta is devoting most of their time to Banff and only a day or two to Calgary. Canadian and international tourists and even visiting family and friends routinely underestimate the things to do in Calgary - from our museums to our parks, from our restaurants to our recreational activities.

FYI: Calgary was recently ranked the 3rd most liveable city in the world, tied with Zurich. Surely, a tourist would want to spend time exploring Calgary and learning why it is one of the most liveable cities in the world.

#1 Not Visiting A Calgary Park

While Banff and Kananaskis Parks are huge, Calgary has two of the largest urban parks in North America - Fish Creek and Nose Hill Parks. I recommend tourists at least visit Nose Hill Park, a unique grasslands park that offers great skyline and mountain views. A visit to the medicine wheel is a unique (even a sacred experience) for some.

Canada Olympic Park offers unique recreational experiences in summer and winter.

Calgary also has some amazing urban parks in its downtown – Memorial Park, St. Patrick’s Park, Prince’s Island, Riley Park, Bow River Promenade, East Village Riverwalk and Shaw Millennium Park. Just west of the City Centre is the Douglas Fir Trail (the easternmost place where the majestic Douglas Firs grow) where you could easily feel like you are walking along a mountain trail.

One of my favourite parks is River Park and its 1 km long promenade where you will be guaranteed to interact with dozens of dogs and their owners. It is a “must experience” for dog lovers. FYI: Did you know that Calgary has 100+ dog parks across the city?

No matter where you are staying in Calgary, you are probably only a few minutes away from a wonderful park experience.

Nose Hill Park is not only one of the largest urban parks in the world, but offers a spiritual experience for many.

#2 Underestimating Calgary’s City Centre As A Tourist Attraction

While Calgary’s downtown skyline is dominated by office towers, it is much more than just a place to work. It is literally an outdoor art park, with 150+ sculptures, statues and murals. There is even more art if you pop your head into the many office lobbies. For example, Eighth Avenue Place has several paintings by iconic Canadian artists including Jack Shadbolt, Jean-Paul Riopelle and Jean McEwan.

Downtown is a mecca for shoppers. The Core offers three levels of shopping under a 2-block long glass roof. It links to three department stores - The Bay, Holt Renfrew and Simons.

For culture vultures, the City Centre has Arts Commons (one of the largest performing art centres in Canada) National Music Centre, Central Library (architectural gem), Fort Calgary, Contemporary Calgary, Glenbow (temporary space), Esker Foundation Gallery - and dozens of commercial galleries and live music venues await.

History lovers shouldn’t miss Stephen Avenue Walk, a pedestrian mall, as well as a national historic site with its 30+ late 19th early 20th Century buildings. Other heritage gems include: Old City Hall (1911), McDougall Centre (1908, sandstone school), Mewata Armoury (1918) and Memorial Park/Library (1912). More heritage buildings can be found in Kensington Village and Inglewood whose heritage main streets have become homes to boutiques, cafes and restaurants along their lively pedestrian friendly streets.

The Downtown core also has some great restaurants including the Calgary Tower (revolving restaurant), Major Tom (40th floor, Stephen Avenue Place tower), The Guild on Stephen Avenue, Teatro (historic Dominion Bank, 1911) and River Café (next to the lagoon in Prince’s Island) to name a few.

If you are staying downtown, wander the Plus 15 indoor walkway where you will discover an indoor park, cafes, shops and lots of public art - including a herd of funky cows! FYI: The name “Plus 15” relates to the 86 bridges across the streets, all being 15 feet above the sidewalk. Yes, despite signage, you will probably get lost but isn’t that half the fun? Not to worry - Calgarians are friendly; just ask and someone will help you find your way.

#3 Not Getting Out Of The Car

While Calgary has a reputation as being a car-oriented city, in fact it is a mecca for walking and cycling. Calgary’s 1,000+ km pathway system is one of the most extensive in the world. Calgarians are never more than a few minutes from a pathway to walk and/or cycle.

Recently, Calgary was ranked the fifth best cycling city in North America (for cities with a population over 300,000 people). A growing network of bike lanes in the inner city allows cyclists to explore various City Centre neighbourhoods – East Village, Mission, Inglewood, Beltline, Kensington, Bridgeland.

The signature ride is the 145-km Rotary/Mattamy Greenway which encircles the entire city. And the popular family-friendly ride (or walk) is the 15-km Glenmore Reservoir/Weaselhead Flats.

Or from the downtown, it is a short ride or longish walk east to Harvie Passage (series of rapids popular with kayakers), or west to Edworthy Park, past The Wave, Shaw Millennium skate park and previously mentioned Douglas Fir Trail. Both are about 12-km return trip.

In the summer, why not join thousands of Calgarians and float, paddleboard, kayak or canoe down the Bow or Elbow Rivers!

#4 Missing Calgary’s “Under The Radar” Family Attractions

With Calgary being very family focused, it should come as no surprise the city offers lots of fun things for families to do. The Calgary Zoo is a must as it is one of North America’s best zoos with 1,000+ animals (100 unique species) and is located on an island in the Bow River. The African Pavilion (with its hippo pool) and the Penguins are just two of the many fun exhibits. Telus Spark (Science Centre), adjacent to the Zoo’s parking lot is also a huge hit with families.

Winsport (Canada Olympic Park) with its year-round outdoor recreation activities – downhill karting, mini golf, monster zipline, mountain biking, scenic chairlift, summer bobsleigh, winter skiing and snowboarding is “not to miss.”

In the summer, Heritage Park with is vintage midway rides, farmyard, main street of heritage buildings and the SS Moyie, a half size replica of the circa 1898 sternwheeler ride in the Glenmore Reservoir is a huge hit for those who love history. FYI: Heritage Park is Canada’s largest living history museum.

A hidden gem is the Bow Habitat Station & Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery, just east of downtown. It’s where kids can feed some of the 1.5 million trout, learn about rivers and fish and even try their hand at some fishing.

The Military Museums (TMM) of Calgary is home to several separate museums - the Naval, Army and Air Force Museums of Alberta, the Air Force Cold War Museum, Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), The King's Own Calgary Regiment and The Calgary Highlanders. It also includes The Founders' Gallery and the TMM Library & Archives making it the second largest military museum in Canada.

Calgary also has some amazing family recreation centers. There are indoor wave pools at Village Square, Southland and Westside Recreation Centers. Rocky Ridge is not only the world’s second largest YMCA, but also an architectural gem given its futuristic design. (FYI: Calgary also has the world’s largest YMCA – Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton.)

And don’t forget Shaw Millennium Park, one of the world’s largest public skateparks, featuring designated beginner, intermediate and expert areas.

For anyone interested in rock climbing, the Calgary Climbing Centre Rocky Mountain (near Canada Olympic Park) is a “must visit.” There is even a climbing wall on the outside of the building.

Just five minutes west of the city is Calaway Park, a popular summer amusement park. Nearby it is the busy Springbank Airport where you can park, picnic and watch planes and helicopters take off as it has several flight schools.

Calgary’s Heritage Park has fun vintage midway that includes the Bowness Park Carousel.

#5 Not Experiencing Calgary’s Café & Craft Beer Culture

Calgary flies under the radar too when it comes to coffee and craft beer cultures. In fact, Calgary has a long history of local roasteries. The smell of freshly roasted coffee beans near The Roasterie on 10th Street NW in Kensington Village dates back to 1985. Some of the newer “coffee kids on the block” are Rosso Coffee Roasters, Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters, Analog Coffee, Monogram Coffee, Calgary Heritage Roasting Company, Devil’s Head Coffee and Sought X Found Coffee Roasters.

Calgary has a history of award-winning baristas, including Jeremy Ho and Ben Put, the founders of Monogram Coffee who were Canada’s top baristas in 2012 and 2015 respectfully. Cole Torode of Rosso Coffee Roasters was Canada’s top barista in 2019. And in 2022, Calgary baristas were awarded 7 of the 12 qualifying spots for Canada’s top barista.

When it comes to craft beer, Calgary is on fire with 4O craft breweries currently in the city and new ones opening almost every month. For last two years, a Calgary craft brewery has won the “Brewery of the Year” title at the Canadian Brewery Awards – Common Crown Brewing Co. (2020) and The Establishment Brewing Company (2021).

Calgary has 100+ years of beer brewing history. The Brewery Flats was created back in 1892 when it was home of the mega Calgary Malting and Brewing campus that included an aquarium. Though the huge brewery site is now mothballed, the Brewery Flats district is home to six craft breweries, including Cold Garden Beverage Company - possibly one of the coolest places in Calgary, if not Canada (see photo). It is very canine-friendly too!

Another brewery district is in Manchester with eight craft breweries including The Establishment Brewing Company and Paddy’s Barbecue & Brewery (the BBQ food is thought by many to be the best in Canada and amongst the best in North America).

Link: Brewery Flats Tours

And Yes, Calgary has Party Bikes where you and your friends can pedal from brewery to brewery, while enjoying a beverage or two along the way.

Link: Pedal Pub Bike Tours

Cold Garden Beverage Company is just one of dozens of craft breweries in Calgary.

Last Word

While Banff, Lake Louise, Kananaskis are indeed special places, tourists and visiting family and friends shouldn’t underestimate Calgary as an urban playground for all ages. I suggest tourists to reserve at least three (and as many as seven) days to explore what Calgary has to offer.

If you like this blog, here are some blogs with more details on what to see and do in Calgary:

Calgary Tips: 22 City Centre things to see/do in the summer of ‘22

Calgary: 59+ Free Fun Things To See & Do

Calgary’s SoBow Trail: One of the best river banks in North America

Five Mistakes Tourists Make When Visiting Calgary