Experience Calgary

Calgary is located at the confluence of the Elbow and Bow Rivers. With a metro population of 1.37 million, it’s the largest city in Alberta and the 5th largest city in Canada.

The North West Mounted Police found the ideal place to build a fort in 1875. Colonel James McLeod came up with the name “Fort Calgary”, after his home in the Scottish Highlands.

Located just east of downtown, Fort Calgary trumpets the rich scarlet history of the North West Mounted Police and also the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. However, this site and stories being told here, are changing. A plan was launched in 2006 based upon the decision to expand the narrative to include previously untold Indigenous stories. Members of Treaty 7 and also the Metis Nation were invited to join an advisory committee to help guide decisions related to the project.

Fort Calgary

Photo Courtesy of Ian Holmes @irrationalcarny

In 2017, “Markings” was installed as an exhibit that reimagines the symbolic beginnings of Calgary. A year later, the gardens, surrounding park, and the Deane House (yes, the building with ghosts!) were all upgraded. Hunt House and Metis Cabin are restored and the 1888 Barracks are being renovated.

However, the biggest change was the decision made in 2018 to build a new 12,750 sq. ft. museum, one that would better showcase the site as both a cultural and historic gathering place. But fear not! Fort Calgary remains open and welcomes visitors to discover the rich history found here. Open daily 9am - 5pm, except July 2, Dec 24 - Jan 1, and Good Friday. Admission: $12 for Adults, $11 for Students & Seniors, $7 for Youths 7-17, $5 for Children 3-6, Free if Under 3.

Calgary is also home to several other major attractions. This includes The Calgary Zoo, Calgary Tower, Heritage Park, TELUS Spark, Canada Olympic Park, the Glenbow Museum, Spruce Meadows and the Military Museum.

With the advent of DNA testing, Boomers retiring, and access to an ever-growing database of personal records, people are flocking to explore their ancestry. This, combined with the fact that 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII, has created a perfect storm for The Military Museum which now hosts more than 50,000 visitors each year.

This world class facility is home of four regimental museums: Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Lord Strathcona’s Horse, The Calgary Highlanders, and King’s Own Calgary Regiment. It also houses a new Library and Archives and space dedicated to temporary art and heritage exhibits called The Founders’ Gallery.

Western Canada’s only tri-service museum and military history education centre is open 9am - 5pm daily, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Admission: $15 for Adults, $5 for Seniors & Students, Free for Veterans and also Children Under 7, $30 Family Rate.

The Calgary Zoo (Canada’s most visited) is another “mustsee”. It is open from 9am to 5pm each day, 364 days each year and is home to 800 animals from around the world.

Calgary Zoo

Photo Courtesy of Tourism Calgary

After many years of planning, and $100 million in upgrades, the Calgary Zoo opened the doors to its state-of-the-art Panda Passage in 2018. When visiting, watch out for the dinosaurs!

The landscaping within the Prehistoric Park was designed to recreate an environment reminiscent of the Mesozoic Era from 225 to 65 million years ago. Dinosaurs lived towards the end of that era, in what is now Alberta. To learn more, pick up a copy of our sister magazine, Experience the Dinosaur Trails or download it at ExperienceTravelGuides.com/Library.

Dinny the Dinosaur is a 118-ton replica of a brontosaurus. It was one of 56 sculptures that were installed in the park. Fossils found in Southern Alberta inspired these models and the artist added several mystery contents to its stomach to add bulk.

Dinny’s Green is located at the heart of the zoo. A food services and a new children’s play area, as well as the replacement of the suspension bridge from the North Shore, makes this an exciting gathering place. Please note that the Prehistoric Park at the Calgary Zoo is only open from Mar 22 - Oct 31. To find out more information, call (403) 232-9300. calgaryzoo.com

Every year, this vibrant community hosts numerous events, such as: the Alberta Beer Festival, Calgary International Film Festival, Calgary Folk Music Festival, Beakerhead, FunnyFest, Shakespeare by the Bow, GlobalFest, Sled Island Music & Arts Festival, the Calgary Fringe Festival, Calgary Pride, and many more. visitcalgary.com/things-to-do#/1701/festivals

However, the granddaddy of all of the events in the city is the Calgary Stampede. The first Friday of July, marks the launch of a remarkable 10-day celebration of our authentic western heritage. Every year, more than one million attend the greatest outdoor show on earth. To learn more, pick up a copy of our sister publication Experience the Cowboy Trails.