Calgary

From World travel guide

Calgary, a city in Alberta, Canada, lies where the prairies end and the foothills begin. As such, it is the eastern gateway to the Rocky Mountains and an important centre of trade and tourism for the western prairies. It is your most likely point of access for Banff and Jasper, and a worthwhile destination in its own right. The city proper is the third largest in Canada, exceeded only by Toronto and Montreal. With a population of about 1.1 million, Calgary is also the hub of the country's fifth largest metropolitan area and the largest between Calgary and Vancouver.

Contents 1 Understand 1.1 City Layout and Navigation 2 Climate 3 Get in 3.1 By plane 3.2 By car 3.3 By bus 3.4 By train 4 Get around 4.1 Public Transit 4.2 Bicycle 5 See 5.1 Downtown Calgary 5.2 Inner City Neighbourhoods 5.3 Suburban Attractions 6 Do 6.1 Annual festivals 7 Learn 8 Work 9 Buy 10 Eat 10.1 Budget 10.2 Mid-range 10.3 Splurge 11 Drink 12 Sleep 13 Stay safe 14 Get out 15 Contact 16 External links

Understand

City Layout and Navigation

Calgary is divided into four quadrants, NE, NW, SE, SW. The dividing line between east and west is Centre Street in the north and roughly Macleod Trail in the south (although in a couple spots it deviates: through downtown and near Chinook Centre, where an actual Centre Street exists, albeit as a collector or local road). The dividing line between north and south is generally the Bow River in the west, and Memorial Drive in the east. Addresses proceed outwards from the center of the city; for example, 219 16th Avenue NE is located on 16th Avenue N, between 1st and 2nd Street E.

Deerfoot Trail (Highway 2) running north-south is the only true freeway in Calgary, although certain other roads have sections that alternate between being a true freeway and an at-grade expressway, with plans to become full freeways. Other major roads in the city are often given the street suffix Trail, such as Glenmore Trail, Crowchild Trail and Bow Trail; many of these roads are expressways for most or all of its length and planned to become freeways. Roads with the suffixes Boulevard or Drive are generally the next most major classification. Roads with the suffix Avenue run east-west, and roads with the suffix Street run north-south.

Calgary has a fairly dense downtown, ringed by inner city neighborhoods laid out on a grid pattern for roughly 30-40 blocks. These inner city districts often have unique characteristics and are worth wandering through, for the visitor with some time to spend in the city. The outer suburbs are a typical sprawl of uniform housing and, except for major shopping, parks and other facilities scattered around, have little interest for the typical visitor.

Climate

Calgary happens to be the sunniest place in the whole of Canada, but this does not mean that you won't experience extremes in weather. Summers tend to be sunny and often warm, usually accompanied by short, but heavy thunder storms. Winter doesn't tend to be as harsh in Calgary as in other parts of Canada, but -30c is a common temperature in January and February, and sometimes in the coldest part of the year for 1 or 2 weeks the temperature can get to -35 or lower. Although the temperatures seem low, the lack of humidity reduces the winter chill. In fact, the Winter in Calgary depends on the prevailing winds more than anything - sometimes a winter will be somewhat similar to Vancouver with constant winds blowing from the west, and other times one will have a full month of below -20. Recently however, Calgary has had a string of warmer than average winters. Spring and Autumn is a mixed bag. You can expect snow even as early as September and as late as May (in fact, there have been early May snowstorms several times in the last few years). Because of the sudden change in temperatures, the year seemingly only has two seasons: Winter and Summer. Calgary is blessed to receive relief from winter, in the shape of warm westerly winds called Chinooks. This can raise the temperature by 20-30 degrees Celsius (36-54 degrees Fahrenheit) in the space of a few hours.

Get in

By plane

• Calgary International Airport, [1]. Pretty much the only airport, and it has only one terminal. It is well laid out and easy to find your way around.
  • WestJet, [2]. Canada's main discount airline makes its hub here.
  • Air Canada, [3]. The national carrier serves the airport well.

In addition there are numerous American and International carriers that serve Calgary's airport.

The easiest way to leave the airport is by cab or car rental. Cab rides to the city center are about $27.00 Canadian. A cheaper alternative is using the door-to-door shuttle service that is available. The airport is not well served by public transit.

By car

This is essentially the prairies; crossing the vast expanses in the comfort of your own vehicle is the main method of transportation. Calgary is just over an hour's drive East of Banff (on the Transcanada highway, #1), and about 3 hours South of Edmonton on highway #2. It is likely that you will want to rent a car to explore Calgary and its surroundings.

By bus

• Greyhound, [4]. The main terminal is located an unpleasant 1 km walk west of the edge of Downtown.
• Red Arrow, [5]. Provides service to several Alberta cities, including Edmonton, with a somewhat more accessible bus stop on 9th Ave at 1st St SE.

By train

There is no VIA RAIL service to Calgary.

Get around

Public Transit

Calgary's public transit system was first established in 1909 as the Calgary Municipal Railway. Since then, it has developed into an efficient, fast, and extensive transit system. In particular, it was significantly built up in preparation for the 1988 Winter Olympics. They have a light rail transit system called the C-Train (LRT) that runs faithfully and frequently. In the downtown core, you can ride the C-Train for 14 city blocks for free, along the length of 7th Avenue. There are three spurs of LRT track meeting in the downtown along 7th Avenue; line 201 starts in the far south (at Somerset-Bridlewood station), travels to the downtown, then exits the downtown to the northwest, travelling to Dalhousie Station. Line 202 starts in the northeast at Whitehorn Station, and travels into the downtown, ending at 10th Avenue Station within the downtown. Trains are marked with the end station they are travelling to; a 'Somerset' train leaves Dalhousie Station, travels south into the downtown, then south to Somerset station (where it turns around to become a 'Dalhousie' train).

Although buses come along somewhat less often, and tend to serve commuters more than tourists, it is still possible to get around to the main places without too much difficulty. Bus routes are numbered, and generally designed to connect with the downtown or with an LRT station. Trains run every 10 minutes (5 minutes or less in rush hour), serving from around 4 AM to 1 AM. Major bus routes may run as early as 5 AM and late as 1 AM, but many more only operate until 8 or 9 PM, or, worse, during rush hours only. Bus frequencies can be as low as one per hour, although 30 minutes is more common.

Transit tickets are $2 for adults, and permit 90 minutes of travel connecting to any transit line. The C-Train is on the honor system, although inspectors do occasionally check riders for valid tickets, with expensive fines ($150 or more) being charged. Travel on the C-Train in the downtown free fare zone is obviously free of charge.

Information about the Transit System is available on the Calgary Transit Web Page, or by phoning their information line (403)262-1000 from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, local time.

Bicycle

Calgary has a good network of off-street bike paths, although motorists are sometimes less-than-courteous. Weather is unpredictable, and snowy cycling conditions may occur anytime from September to May. Bike racks are fairly common, especially in shopping areas.

The most heavily travelled bike path (and one worth a recreational ride) are along the Bow and Elbow River, especially the path along the Bow from Crowchild Trail to the Zoo. Another major pathway extends north up the Nose Creek valley, including two places to cross Deerfoot Trail. While there is a pathway that leads to the airport, connecting to it requires crossing an industrial area, which is not recommended for novice cyclists. A pathway map is available online.

See

Downtown Calgary

Downtown Office Core: Calgary's dense business area is roughly bounded by 3rd Avenue S (on the north), 9th Avenue S (on the south), 2nd Street East and 9th St W. It is a core of modern, glassy skyscrapers, with perhaps less character and streetlife than many of the other downtown and inner city districts. Many of the buildings are connected via a 16 km (10 mile) long network of elevated walkways and bridges. The system, known as the "+15" is the largest of its kind in the world.

Eau Claire/Festival District: A mix of riverside condominiums, unique shopping, restaurants, hotels, and urban parkland make Eau Claire and the Festival District among Calgary's liveliest urban districts. The area, which was developed from reclaimed industrial land fronts the Bow River and sits immediately north of 3rd Avenue S. North of Eau Claire is the picturesque, Prince's Island Park. In the summer, the Festival District can be found crowded with people enjoying the sights and sounds of Eau Claire Festival Market, one of the areas many pubs and restaurants, or a weekend festival. It is also the perfect starting off point for a stroll along one of the many scenic paths along the Bow River or Prince's Island.

• Attractions:
  • Eau Claire Market[6]: A unique market-style mall chock full of interesting shops, restaurants, and cinemas.
  • Prince's Island Park: Calgary's largest inner city park is located immediately north of Eau Claire in the Bow River. In the summer, it plays host to "Shakespeare in the Park" and is also the site of two of the city's largest annual festivals: the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Carifest (Calgary's annual festival celebrating the city's large West Indian population).
  • Barclay Parade: Barclay Mall is a pedestrian mall that runs from Eau Claire on the north to Stephen Avenue in the south. It is home to a number of high end shops and encompasses the Penny Lane Entertainment District.

Stephen Avenue Walk: This area, which includes the Stephen Avenue pedestrian mall is located south of the Office Core along 8th Avenue S (between 5th Street W and 1st Street E). Stephen Avenue itself forms the heart of downtown Calgary's shopping and retail zone. Immediately adjacent to the outdoor portion of Stephen Avenue is an indoor complex of three shopping malls. The malls, TD Square, Eaton Centre, and Scotia Centre span a number of city blocks. Everything from the Gap to high-end retailers and boutiques such as Holt Renfrew and Bang and Olufsen can be found here. The street is also home to a number of galleries, restaurants, pubs, off-beat cinemas, and nightclubs.

• Attractions:
  • Devonian Gardens: The Devonian Gardens is a large indoor urban park located on the 4th floor of TD Square (above the shopping).
  • The Calgary Tower[7]: The tower may not be quite as impressive as the CN Tower in Toronto, but it still commands a great view over the city and the surroundings. On a clear day you can see the Rockies to the west. It features a revolving gourmet restaurant, a bar, and an observation deck. http://www.calgarytower.com/
  • Stephen Avenue Walk: As one of Calgary's most famous streets, Stephen Avenue (8th Avenue S between Barclay Mall and 2nd Street E) was declared a National Historic District by the Canadian Government. It is a major venue for boutique shopping, bars, pubs and restaurants. The mall is free of traffic throughout most of the day.

Chinatown: Canada's third largest Chinatown is located in the northeast portion of downtown Calgary. It is the heart of Calgary's Asian diaspora, although much of north and east Calgary has a Pacific Rim influence. The area of about a half-dozen blocks is located along Centre Street S, from 4 Ave S (on the south) to the Bow River (on the north). Calgary's Chinatown packs in a dense network of Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and other Asian restaurants, shops, housing and cultural facilities. The area along Centre Street on the north side of the river almost functions as a loosely organized "second Chinatown" with Chinese-oriented businesses stretching for 20 or more blocks.

• Attractions:
  • Chinese Cultural Centre: Calgary's Chinese Cultural Centre is the largest of its kind on the continent. It features an impressive domed ceiling patterned from the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. http://www.culturalcentre.ca/

Olympic Plaza and the Arts District: The region immediately to the east of Stephen Avenue Walk contains a number of theatres, art galleries, and the Glenbw Museum. It is also home to Olympic Plaza, a large public square in front of city hall.

• Attractions:
  • Olympic Plaza
  • Glenbow Museum: The museum is Western Canada's largest museum, with over 93,000 square feet of exhibition space spreading over three floors. More than 20 galleries are filled with artifacts from Glenbow's collection of over a million objects, emphasizing local history. Regularly changing visiting exhibits focus on art or more distant cultures. [8]
  • The Art Gallery of Calgary [9]
  • EPCOR Centre for Performing Arts [10]
  • The Telus Convention Centre [11]

Other Downtown Districts: Other districts in downtown Calgary include the West End, the East Village, and the Government District. The West End and the East Village are primarily residential and are the focus of a major effort by the City of Calgary to encourage more people to make downtown their home. The Government District houses the city's Federal Building (the Harry Hays Building), the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, and a number of other government offices, including a few international consulates.

• Attractions
  • Telus World of Science Calgary (formerly, The Calgary Science Centre): Located in the West End, Calgary's Science Centre has been a favorite of children and science-lovers alike since it opened 38 years ago. It contains a planetarium and telescope, a large domed theatre, and two exhibit halls. [12]

Inner City Neighbourhoods

The Beltline and 17th Avenue: 17th Avenue S is Calgary's premiere place to see and be seen. It boasts a large and eclectic variety of restaurants, unique shops, boutiques, and bars. This street is where Calgary parties, most notably becoming the "Red Mile" during the 2004 Stanley Cup (hockey) playoffs, where up to 100,000 cheering fans gathered to celebrate victories by the hometown Flames. While the entirety of the Beltline spans from the Stampede Grounds and Victoria Park on the east to Mount Royal on the west, the dense nightlife on 17th Avenue starts at about 2nd Street W and goes to 15th Street W.

• Attractions
  • The Stampede Grounds: The site of Calgary's world-famous, Calgary Stampede is located on the east end of the Beltline in Victoria Park. Obviously the grounds come alive every July for the Stampede, but they also house a conference and exhibition centre (the Round-Up Centre) and a casino. The grounds can be accessed with Calgary's C-Train via both "Victoria Park Stampede" Station and "Erlton Stampede" Station.
  • The Pengrowth Saddledome[13]: Located on the Stampede Grounds, Calgary's largest hockey arena plays host to the Calgary Flames (hockey), the Calgary Hitmen (junior hockey), the Calgary Roughnecks (lacrosse), and many concerts.

Mission: In many ways, Mission acts as an extension of 17th Avenue. Like the Beltline, it is packed full of interesting restaurants and shops. It does not share 17th Avenue's "late night" reputation, however and it generally lacks the bars and nightclubs. It runs along 4th Street SW from 17th Avenue to 26th Avenue.

Inglewood: Inglewood is Calgary's oldest neighbourhood and the site of the city's original downtown. It is also one of Calgary's most culturally influenced and eclectic areas. Inglewood contains everything from stores targeted at bikers, to unique boutiques, antique stores, galleries, and restaurants. It is not as developed as some of the city's downtown districts, but it is quickly becoming one of the city's most popular "urban chic" neighbourhoods. It lies immediately east of downtown (east of 1st Street E) and is concentrated along 9th Avenue S. Just to the north is the Bow River and the world-famous Calgary Zoo.

• Attractions:
  

  

  The African Savannah Building at the Calgary Zoo
  • The Calgary Zoo: (LRT 202 - Zoo station) The world-class zoo is home to over 1,000 animals from all over the world, as well as to the Botanical Garden and a Prehistoric Park for dinosaur lovers. It is the second largest zoo in Canada. http://www.calgaryzoo.org/
  • Fort Calgary Historic Park: Before becoming a city in 1894, the Calgary area was home to Fort Calgary. The Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP) fort was built in 1875. Today, Fort Calgary, located in Inglewood at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers is the city's oldest historic monument. http://www.fortcalgary.ab.ca/+

Kensington[14]: Kensington is located along the Bow River on the north side of downtown. It is another one of Calgary's notable shopping neighbourhoods, with a somewhat more bohemian feel than 17th Avenue (one particular store specializes Birkenstocks and Futons). It offers a good variety of restaurants, with more of an emphasis on coffee shops than on bars. Kensington runs along Kensington Road NW from 14th St W to 10th St W, and also north along 10th St W to 4 Ave N.

Other interesting inner city neighbourhoods and districts include Bridgeland (1 Ave NE from 7 St to 9 St), a neighborhood with a strong Italian influence; Mount Royal (south of 17th Avenue, from about 20th Avenue to 30th Avenue), originally built for Canadian Pacific Railway executives and still housing many of Calgary's elite; Marda Loop (east of Crowchild Trail along 33rd Avenue S), which contains a large number of quaint shops, restaurants, and services; and Crescent Heights / Rosedale (Centre St to 9 St W, Crescent Rd to 13 Ave N), combining historic houses with an amazing view of the Downtown from Crescent Rd.

Suburban Attractions

Many attractions are LRT accessible, and the stops have been noted. A rental car is recommended for the less accessible attractions, although buses are usually still possible.

• Canada Olympic Park. Take a tour of the site of the 1988 Winter Olympics, which includes going to the top of the ski jump for a fantastic view. There is also an on-site museum and the Canadian Olympic Hall Of Fame. http://www.canadaolympicpark.ca/

• Heritage Park. One of the largest living historical villages in North America, on 66 acres of land near the Glenmore Reservoir. Attractions include a working Steam Engine, 155 historical exhibits, a candy store and bakery, old fashioned amusement park and ride on the S. S. Moyie, a paddlewheel boat. http://www.heritagepark.ca/

• Calaway Park. Western Canada's largest amusement park is located just west of Calgary's city limits in the Greater Calgary Area on highway 1. http://www.calawaypark.com/

• Spruce Meadows. Located just south of the city proper on Highway 22X, Spruce Meadows is a world-renowned show jumping and equestrian facility. http://www.sprucemeadows.com/

Do

• Calgary Stampede, [15]. Yearly, July. For ten days the whole city goes western! Billed as "the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", the festival has events all around the city. The Stampede grounds have a daily rodeo and show events, a fairground and trading stands.

• Calgary Flames Hockey Club, [16]. Yearly, October to June. Calgary's NHL team are much improved over recent years, and tickets may be hard to come by. Expect a great atmosphere and game if you're lucky enough to get tickets. Price range from $40-$200

• Calgary Stampeders Football Club, [17]. Yearly, June to November. Calgary's CFL football team is another city sports attraction. The CFL plays 3 down football, with only 20 seconds between plays, so watching a CFL game is quite different to watching an NFL game!

• Calgary Hitmen, [18]. Yearly, September to May. Calgary's Junior Hockey team play in the Western Hockey League and at the Saddledome when the Flames are not in town. Usually as fun as the Flames, but cheaper!! Prices range from $15-40.

• Calgary Roughnecks, [19]. Yearly, January to May. Calgary's National Lacrosse League team was Champions in 2004. The sport is fast, rough and tough. Features loud music throughout and a great experience. Prices range from $15-30.

Annual festivals

• Winter Festival (February)
• Rodeo Royal (March)
• International Children's Festival [20] (May)
• Carifest (June)
• International Jazz Festival [21] (June)
• Greek Festival [22] (June)
• Calgary Stampede [23] (July)
• Folk Music Festival [24] (July)
• Dragonboat Festival (August)
• Global Fest - One World Festival and International Fireworks Competition (August)
• Afrikadey! Festival (August)
• Festival on the Bow / Barbecue on the Bow (September)
• Artcity - Festival of Art, Design and Architecture (September)
• Calgary International Film Festival [25] (September / October)
• Banff Festival of Mountain Films (October)
• Twelve Days of Christmas (December)

Learn

• The University of Calgary, [26].
• Mount Royal College, [27].
• Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, [28].
• Alberta College of Art & Design, [29].
• DeVry Institue, [30].

Work

Calgary has a strong economy and generally low unemployment, with an economy driven primarily by the Canadian oil industry.

Busking is common in the summertime, along Stephen Avenue downtown at lunch time, near Eau Claire on weekends, and along 17th Avenue at night. Busking permits are available for Stephen Avenue; busking in Eau Claire Market proper is restricted to auditioned performers, ruling this option out. 17th Avenue has potential, if you can deal with drunken hecklers.

One common pick-up spot for day labour is Centre Street south, between 12th and 13th Avenues. Arrive early for black market jobs, especially in the summer (construction) season.

Buy

The city centre is not exactly a outdoor shopper's paradise. There are several shops scattered around the centre but the majority are centred on 8th Ave between 5th Street SW and Centre Street.

Calgary does have several large malls for shopping, most of which are easily reached via transit. Chinook Centre (SW) [31] and Market Mall (NW) [32] are the two largest. Calgary's largest indoor shopping complex is situated downtown, centred on 8th Avenue at 2nd and 3rd Streets SW, where Eaton Centre[33], TD Square, Scotia Centre and Bankers Hall are all connected by indoor pedestrian walkways. Eau Claire Market [34] is also situated downtown beside the Bow River.

Eat

Calgary offers a wide variety of dining options. While Calgary doesn't have a single signature dish, residents are very proud of Alberta Beef, and Calgarians are discerning clients of steakhouses. Speaking of beef, the popular Chinese-Canadian dish of ginger beef was invented in Calgary in the 1970s. Calgary is also home to a very culturally diverse population, with a very wide selection of international restaurants, especially from East and Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean from Italy through Lebanon. Calgary is, however, generally lacking in decent Mexican food, and the inland location means that a good meal of seafood is sometimes hard to find.

Restaurants in the downtown area are very busy between noon and 1 PM on weekdays due to the lunch crowd of office workers; if you can, try to stagger your lunch to start around 11:15 or 1:30. You'll face much shorter lineups. Buffets are often only prepared once for lunchtime, and visiting a buffet after 12:15 or so will typically be a depressing dining experience.

Budget

• Chicken On The Way, 1443 Kensington Road NW, 283-5545. One of the longest-running fast food institutions in Calgary (open 1958), Chicken On The Way delivers wonderful deep-fried chicken, french fries and corn fritters, at a fair price. This is an old-school joint; no frills, nothing fancy, and none of that new-fangled low-fat junk. The dining space is two picnic tables next to busy 14th St. But it's still hands-down the best fried chicken in the city. A meal runs in the $30-40 range.

• Falafel King, 803 1 St SW, 269-5464. The friendly service and top-quality Middle Eastern food means that there's a lineup out the door evey lunch hour. Falafel, chicken and beef shawarma on the menu, with a free piece of baklava with every order and fresh-squeezed juice on tap. Hail to the King, baby. $6-7.

• Peter's Drive-in, 219 16 Ave NE, 277-2747. Peter's Drive-In is a classic drive-through burger joint. Great fries, burgers and milkshakes at slightly high prices, but higher quality (and large portions -- watch out for the "large" = shoebox of fries). Well known throughout Alberta. Rather than waiting in the drive-through line, park in the adjacent lot and walk up to the front windows; you'll get faster service, and you can eat on one of the picnic tables. Burger, shake and onion rings will cost about $8. They serve the finest milkshake in the city; thick and made with real fruit (over 20 flavours!).

Note - You may hear about an E.Coli scare in 2005. This was the first and only incident in the existence of the restaurant, it was dealt with quickly and fully (the owner apologized publically and made all necessary concessions to the health department), and Calgarians have once again been enjoying their favourite burgers and milkshakes.

• Pho Pasteur Saigon, 207 1st SE, 233-0477. Pho Pasteur Saigon is a favourite Vietnamese noodle joint. Filling and tasty and all for around $6. If they're busy, try Little Vietnamese Village, at the south entrance to the mall (half a block south), or Pho Hoai, located inside the mall.

• Spolumbo's, 1308 9 Ave SE, 264-6452. Owned by former Calgary Stampeders players, Spolumbo's offers delicious Italian style deli foods; sandwiches, soups and salads. An in-house sausage plant makes some of Calgary's finest sausage. Try the Spolumbo's Special, a panini sandwich featuring mortadella, capicolla and genoa salami. Fresh and delicious, but a little pricey; $7-8 for a typical sandwich.

• Super Donair Kabab Restaurant, 1018 9 Ave SE, 262-2930. This is a restaurant even Calgarians don't really know about; located in a grimy hole-in-the-wall next to a bottle depot in an out-of-the-way part of Inglewood, billed as "a touch of excellence for classy people" (the excellence part is true) and decorated with a kitschy style all it's own. Kim, the charismatic owner/cook, makes some of the finest Donairs in the city, with wonderful beef and magnificent sauce; a donair and drink can be had for just $5.

• Wicked Wedge, 618 17th Ave SW, 228-1024. The Wedge offers pizza-by-the-slice, but a cut above all other such joints. Innovative pizzas, lots of toppings and hand made crusts have made the Wicked Wedge a local landmark. Located on 17th Avenue, they draw a heavy after-bar crowd, and are busiest at 2 AM on a Friday night! One of the best places to go for late-night food. $3.50 a slice.

Mid-range

• Earls, 315 8th Ave SW, 265-3275. One of many Earls in the Calgary area this is part of the North American chain offering good wholesome meals. A good menu range from steaks and chops to pizza, salads and fish dishes. Good quality at a moderate price.

• The Keg, 1101 5th Street SW, 266-1036. Just one of a national chain of steak houses, The Keg in Calgary is not much different to the rest. The menu mainly consists of steak with some chicken and fish. Great steaks, just what you expect from them. Good prices as well.

• Nick's Steakhouse, 2430 Crowchild Trail NW , 282-9278. If you are looking for great Alberta steaks or some tasty pizzas, this is one of Calgary's best. Prices are generally between $15 to $20 for an entree. This is a short walk from the Banff Trail Train Station, across from McMahon Stadium in the North West. Close to Motel Village, where many of the hotel chains can be found.

• Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant, 130 10 St NW, 283-6796. Marathon is Calgary's oldest and finest Ethiopian restaurant. They offer a lunch buffet on weekdays, but otherwise, often have slow service. The food makes up for it; it's very tasty and filling. Vegetarian options available; roughly $12-15 per person.

Splurge

• Saltlik, 101 8 Ave SW, 537-1160. Billing itself as a "rare steakhouse", Saltlik offers a funky, contemporary twist on the traditional steakhouse. The menu emphasizes beef, but also features a variety of chicken and seafood. Entrees $15-20.

Drink

• Ship and Anchor Pub, 534 17th Ave SW, 245-3333, An excellent place for live music, a lively young crowd, and cheap eats.

• Melrose Cafe and Bar, 730 17th Ave SW, 228 3566, A place to sit in the sun on the patio and people watch, and a great bar to watch hookers.

• The Back Alley, 4630 Macleod Trail South, 287-2500, www.backalleycalgary.com, Upbeat nightclub featuring rock and hip-hop music, must do for a partyer.

• Coyotes, 1088 Olympic Way SE, 770-2200, Typical nightclub which features all current music. Notable locally for having girls that are 'easy'

• Outlaws, #24 7400 Mcleod Trail, 255-4646, Western themed club which plays a veriety of music, usually different every night. Upbeat atmosphere but mostly full of drunk cowboys.

• Cowboys, 826 5th Street SW, 265-0699, Typical nightclub. "The most fun you can have with your boots on!"

• Brewbrothers[35], 607 11th Ave SW 258.2739, Good live tunes!

• HiFi Club [36] for those who aren't cowboys/cowgirls and want some different, alternative music.

Calgary features other bars and clubs such as Tequila Nightclub, Tantra, Ranchman's and much more.

Sleep

• Hampton Inn & Suites Calgary-University 2231 Banff Trail NW Calgary, AB T2M 4L2 (403) 289-9800 FAX: (403) 289-9560 YYCHS_Hampton_Suites@hilton.com How to get there: From Vancouver: Go East on the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) stay on it when you get to Calgary then turn left (Northwest on Banff Trail) and it will be the 2nd or 3rd building on the left.

From the East: same as Vancouver except go west.

• Hampton Inn & Suites Calgary-Airport 2420 37th Ave NE Calgary, AB T2E 8S6 (403) 250-4667 FAX: (403) 255-5788 YYCAL_Hampton_SAuites@hilton.com How to get there: Follow the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) then turn on to Barlow Trail and head North till you get to 37th Avenue then take a left and it will be about the last building on the right.

Stay safe

Although Calgary is generally a very safe place, walking at night should be avoided in Acadia, Bowness, Shawnessy, Southwood, East Calgary (Forest Lawn, Dover, Penbrooke and vicinity), and Downtown east of 3rd St E. East Calgary has what passes for gangs in Calgary, which tend to fight more with words and spray paint than knives or guns, although the homicide rate is fairly high considering population. The east part of Downtown is the center of Calgary's homeless population, drug use, drunkenness and panhandling are very common. Though other parts of the city such as the upper south east, lower north east and some communities in the south west have notable drug and crime rates.

Take care when crossing LRT tracks, as the trains are large, silent, fast and deadly. There are no electrified rails.

Boaters on the Bow River should note the Weir, located downstream of the Calgary Zoo; heed the warning signs.

Driving within Calgary can be extremely frustrating during the winter months. This is because despite its lack of heavy snow, temperatures still remain below freezing and thus allow ice to form on many roads. The most dangerous times are when the ice is a clear sheet which resembles the road, and is rightly called "Black Ice".

Get out

Nearby Banff and Jasper are both well-known winter ski areas, and are mountain summer escapes. Kananaskis Country and Canmore are other mountain destinations about an hour car travel away. Edmonton is the nearest urban, metropolitan centre to the North and host to the world's largest mall and many summer festivals.

Located south and east of Calgary are 2 of Alberta's 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump is a 90 minute drive south of Calgary - it's excellent interpretive centre is open year round. Dinosaur Provincial Park, 2 hours east of Calgary, is a 73 sq km park boasting one of the best dinosaur fossil beds in the world. Additionally the world famous Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, located in Drumheller (90 minutes east of Calgary), houses many palaeontological specimens. South of Calgary (a 45 minute drive) is the Turner Valley Gas Plant National and Provincial Historic Site where you can tour a pioneering gas plant and see how natural gas from Canada's largest gas field was processed prior to WWII.

Contact

The area code in Calgary is 403.

External links

• Tourism Calgary
• Calgary Community wiki
• City of Calgary Homepage
• Travel Alberta Attractions Search

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