Calgary is a modern, cosmopolitan city that has succeeded in maintaining some of its old world charm while blending contemporary architecture and amenities to its urban vocabulary. Ranked as the third largest municipality in Canada, it is also home to the second highest number of corporate headquarters of the country’s 800 largest companies. Among its many distinctions, the Elbow River and the Bow River join together downtown at the site of Fort Calgary, forming an integral part of the city’s history and character.
No stranger to the outdoor life, Calgary was the first Canadian city to host the Winter Olympic Games, an honor achieved in 1988. An affinity for outdoor sports and living may possibly be attributed to the fact that the city rests in a transition zone between the Canadian Rockies foothills and the Canadian Prairies. The city itself actually lies within the foothills of the Alberta Parkland Natural Region and the Grasslands Natural Region, habitat areas protected by the government.
Eco-friendly, the city prides itself in a large number of urban parks such as Fish Creek Provincial Park, Nose Hill Park, Bowness Park, Edworthy Park, Prince Island Park and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Nose Hill Park is the largest municipal park in Canada. The parks are inter-connected by a citywide network of walking, biking, and skate paths.
Like any sophisticated city, Calgary is host to many live theaters, active music venues, art museums and other cultural endeavors. It has also become a darling of the American film industry with many recognizable film credits including Brokeback Mountain, Doctor Zhivago, Unforgiven and The Revenant. A city this size has a full complement of lodging choices as well as a large selection of restaurants. Should anyone lose interest in fishing, there are many other things to see and do in Calgary.
The most efficient way to get to Calgary is to fly into Calgary International Airport.