Exploring the best of Toronto and Southern Ontario.

Happy Wednesday, all! I hope you’re having a great week, and thanks to all of you who’ve been following along with my recent Bahamas trip. This week, I’m taking y’all back north to my beautiful home country of Canada – not to my home province of Ontario but rather, out west to Alberta! You may remember that back in February, I was in Vancouver for work, as my boss was speaking at the BC Home + Garden Show. Well, he was also booked to speak at the Calgary and Edmonton shows, so more recently, I found myself in both of these cities for the first time. As always, I tried to get in as much sightseeing as I could with the limited time I had, even hanging around an extra day post-show to maximize my exploring time. As a first-time visitor to Calgary, I was impressed by everything Stampede City has to offer, and I’m excited to share those finds with you today! First things first…

Where I Stayed In Calgary

I stayed at The Dorian Hotel in downtown Calgary, and I have to say it’s one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever stayed in! The hotel is named after the fictional Dorian Gray, and there are several playful nods to him throughout: from the copy of the novel located in every guest room, to Oscar Wilde quotes sprinkled everywhere, to the portrait in the lobby that changes from handsome to grotesque, depending on the day. I stayed in their classic king room, which is 323 square feet and beautifully decorated. The maximalist in me was obsessed with the intricately patterned wallpaper, which was also mirrored on the chaise (I love a good layered pattern!) The bathroom is contemporary and spacious, with a sleek white vanity, matte black fixtures, and a huge honeycomb-tiled shower stocked with Aesop toiletries. The scheme of rich royal blues and graphic wallpapers is carried throughout the hotel, from the hallways to the lobby. The Dorian has two restaurants onsite: The Wilde on 27 and the lobby-level Prologue (more on that in my next post!)

Things To See & Do In Calgary

Get a birds-eye view of the city at Calgary Tower. As iconic as Toronto’s CN Tower or New York’s Empire State Building, no visit to Calgary would be complete without a trip to this famous tower. Honestly, I almost skipped it and I’m so glad I didn’t! The 626-foot-tall tower was built in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s centennial. At just $19 a person, I was pleasantly surprised at how affordable admission is compared to other similar attractions. Your ticket gets you access to the 360° observation deck, which provides some incredible panoramic views of the city. There’s also a glass floor for those who aren’t afraid of heights (I am, but I braved it anyways!) And – provided your stroll across the glass floor hasn’t left you queasy – you can end your visit with a meal at the revolving Sky 360 Restaurant which is open for brunch, lunch and dinner.

Climb Scotsman’s Hill for another great (and free!) view of Calgary’s skyline. Located in Calgary’s residential Ramsey neighbourhood, this scenic lookout point is located about 2 km southeast of the downtown core, closer to the Calgary Stampede grounds. I use the word “climb” loosely: the hill isn’t too steep and it only takes about ten minutes to walk up. Even though it was a snowy, overcast day when I visited, the views were still gorgeous. I can only imagine how stunning they must be on a sunny summer’s day – or better yet, at sunrise or sunset!

Check out the historic Rundle Ruins. These large sandstone ruins are all that remains of Calgary’s Second General Hospital, which was built in 1894 and demolished in 1971. You all know I love historic architecture, so I had to stop and see these on my walk from Stampede Park (where the Home + Garden Show took place) to Scotsman’s Hill – the ruins and the hill are only about a 15-minute walk from one another. The ruins are located in a rather industrial area, so they’re easy to miss if you’re not specifically looking for them. But if you’re headed to Scotsman’s Hill, you should definitely check them out! The Rundle Ruins are located at the intersection of of 12 Avenue SE and 6 Street SE.

View an impressive collection of artwork – no gallery ticket required! I was hoping to visit the Glenbow – Calgary’s premier art museum – but unfortunately it’s closed due to an extensive renovation project, and won’t reopen until later this year. But that’s okay, because Calgary is absolutely brimming with beautiful public art that’s free for everyone to enjoy, from extraordinary sculptures to larger-than-life murals. Some of my favourite public artworks I saw throughout the city include…

• Jaume Plensa’s Wonderland, a 39-foot-tall bent wire sculpture in the shape of a giant head. Located in front of The Bow building at 110 6 Ave SE.
• The colourful eagle mural by eccentric masked artist Jerry Rugg (aka birdO), located at 441 5 Ave SW.
• The magical Mother Nature mural by Elena Bushan, which takes up an entire building wall at 1521 4 St SW.
• The ᓲᐦᑳᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ / Sôhkâtisiwin portrait of Cree artist Angela Gladue (Sôhkâtisiwin means “strength/power” in Cree) by Kevin Ledo, located at 340 10 Ave SW.
• The Mechanical Horse sculpture by Russell Zeid at the corner of Centre St and 8 Ave SW.
• The Do Re Me Fa Sol La Si Do sculpture by Joe Fafard in Harley Hotchkiss Park, depicting eight steel horses “running” through the park. Calgary sure loves their horse sculptures!

Shop and sightsee on Stephen Avenue. This pedestrian-friendly area is Calgary’s most famous shopping street. The stretch of 8 Ave SW between 4 St SW and 1 St SE is closed to vehicles from 6am-6pm, so it’s a great spot for strolling, sightseeing and perhaps a little retail therapy. In addition to major retailers like Simons and Hudson’s Bay, you’ll find small independent boutiques and souvenir shops. (Check out Lammle’s Western Wear for a truly Calgarian souvenir!) There’s also the Core Shopping Centre with over 120 stores. Grab a bite at one of the many restaurants and cafés lining the street, admire the historic buildings, and snap a pic of the Novus Textura art installation, designed by local artists Gordon Skilling and Jolie Bird.

Escape to an indoor nature oasis at the Devonian Gardens. If you end up at the Core Shopping Centre during your visit to Stephen Avenue, be sure and take the elevator up to the fourth floor and experience the Devonian Gardens! This 2.5 acre indoor garden is open to the public and free to visit. It has over 500 trees, 50 different species of plants, a 900-square-foot living wall, a fish pond, and several water features and art installations. Such a great example of how biophilic design can enrich and enliven public spaces!

Admire Calgary’s beautiful buildings. If you’re a fan of architecture – whether historic, contemporary or both – you will love Calgary. It really feels like there’s a stunning or noteworthy building around every corner! The history buff in me particularly loved the the circa-1921 Palace Theatre (Calgary’s oldest surviving movie theatre), the circa-1907 McDougall Centre, and the cupola in James Short Park: the final remains of the circa-1887 school that once stood there. If contemporary architecture is more your thing, don’t miss The Bow skyscraper (home to the Wonderland sculpture mentioned above), Bjarke Ingels’ Telus Sky (the third tallest building in Calgary) and Bankers Hall (a stunning juxtaposition of the old and the new.) Other notable buildings to bookmark include Studio Bell, the Calgary Central Library and City Hall.

Take a nature walk through Prince’s Island Park. Located on an actual island on the Bow River, this 20-hectare urban park is one of Calgary’s prettiest spots for a stroll. To get there, cross any one of the river’s three footbridges, the most famous of which is the Peace Bridge (more on that below!) The Bow River Pathway winds around the park and provides picturesque views of the river and downtown skyline. In the summer months, be sure to check out the park’s flower gardens, picnic areas, and the various festivals and events it hosts, such as the Calgary Folk Music Festival and the city’s annual Canada Day celebrations.

Capture a snapshot of the iconic Peace Bridge. With its eye-catching helix structure and cherry red hue, this showstopping bridge is one of Calgary’s most recognizable landmarks. Built by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava in 2012, the bridge crosses the Bow River, connecting the downtown core with the communities on the north side of the river. The Peace Bridge has won several architectural awards and is used by as many as 6000 people on a daily basis. Cross it to get some beautiful views of the river!

Travel back in time at Heritage Park. “Canada’s largest living history museum” is located about 15 km from downtown Calgary, so I had to Uber my way there – but it was well worth the fare! This historical village offers visitors a glimpse of what life was like in Western Canada from the 1860s to the 1950s. Situated on 127 acres of parkland, Heritage Park has more than 200 exhibits and attractions. The village – which first opened in 1964 – contains a mix of original historic structures that were transported to the site, and recreations of actual historic buildings that once existed. The village is only open from May to October, but its Gasoline Alley Museum is open year-round, and that alone was worth the trip for me! This three-storey museum celebrates the golden age of the automobile, and has one of the world’s largest public collections of antique vehicles and related artifacts, from vintage gas pumps to old neon signs. Gasoline Alley Museum is open every day (except Monday) from 10am-4pm and admission is $14.95.

Try your luck at Cowboys Casino. Y’all know I love a casino! It actually became a running joke between my colleague and I that, at every single home show we worked, there was a casino close by: whether right beside the show venue (Calgary), a block away from the hotel (Edmonton) or in the hotel itself (Vancouver). This casino is located right by the Calgary Stampede Grounds and is on the smaller side, but it’s a ton of fun! The staff are super nice, the drinks are reasonably priced, and I loved the kitschy cowboy-themed decor.

Well, that’s all folks… I hope you enjoyed my travel guide to Calgary! I had a great time, and would love to come back in the summer when the weather’s more amenable to outdoor exploring – and of course, to attend the famous Calgary Stampede. Next week, I’ll be back sharing my favourite restaurants and cafés in the city. Until then, thanks for reading and I hope you have a great rest of your week!