Top Rated Attractions in Calgary

Dynamic, metropolitan Calgary lies on the banks of the Bow River and just east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. One of the largest cities in Canada, and the largest in Province of Alberta, Calgary offers the best of city attractions and easy access to outdoor recreation. An oil boom that began in the 1940s turned the city from an agricultural and ranching hub into a metropolis that hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1988. Remnants of the ranch culture remain, especially with the annual Calgary Stampede Festival, a world-class rodeo, and parade founded by wealthy agriculturalists in 1912. Other cultural attractions include the Glenbow Museum–the largest museum in western Canada–the Chinese Cultural Centre, and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum. The mild weather and proximity to the Rockies and resort towns such as Banff and lovely Lake Louise make Calgary a great launching point for excursions into the Canadian wilderness.

The Langevin Bridge stretches across the Bow River and was raised in 1909. This old bridge joins the downtown area of the city to the communities in North Central region.

Bow Valley College is nestled in the downtown region of Calgary, and also has branches in Banff, Drumheller, Medicine Hat and other cities. For courses offered and admissions schedule, check website.

The sandstone buildings along downtown's Stephen Avenue Walk were constructed after a fire destroyed much of the neighborhood. Several of those historic buildings fell victim to developers wrecking balls, but the few that remain are worthy of an afternoon stroll during which you can revel in their architecture. Along the way, you can indulge in the diversions offered by many popular shops and restaurants.

Calgary Central Library, founded in 1920s is a re-developed library in its new location at Downtown East Village, working parallelly along with 20 other branches, under its Calgary Public Library flagship library system. Located in an oval-shaped building, uniquely designed resembling a kaleidoscope. With shiny pieces of glass placed together beautifully in geometric shapes, the library is one beautiful sight. The library runs on public funds and offers free membership to local residents and free access to their books. The place is visited by thousands of visitors per day and is one of the largest libraries in Canada.

At the turn of the century, this Renaissance Revival building began as the Calgary Normal School. However after a century's gap, government opponents would most commonly refer to this place as anything but normal. The refurbished old school block in downtown Calgary is now the Southern Alberta government center, an office for the premier and his ministers when they do business away from the provincial capital. The structure also serves as a conference center for the provincial government and office space for some Calgary-based civil servants. The building was made a historic site in 1982, a rare heritage monument in a downtown forested with modern office towers. Tours of the center are available and are free of charge.