Calgary is situated on an ancient and storied land that is steeped in ceremony and history that, until recently, was occupied exclusively by people indigenous to this place including the Siksika Nation, the Piikani Nation, the Kainai Nation, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nation (consisting of the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Goodstoney Nations), the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Métis. Indigenous Tourism Alberta, has some fantastic opportunities to explore the rich cultural heritage of this place.
You can find more information at https://indigenoustourismalberta.ca/
Exploring Calgary: Must-Do Activities and Hidden Gems:
- Exploring the city
- Discovering Beyond Calgary: Exploring to the South and East
- Discovering Banff and Canmore: Gateway to the Breathtaking Canadian Rockies
- Beyond Lake Louise-
Exploring the city
For general information about visiting Calgary, see https://www.visitcalgary.com/, there are lots of great ideas for exploring the city.
- Walk the Bow River Pathways. A walking tour near downtown, with the iconic Peace Bridge, and the beautiful Bow River. Bow River Downtown Calgary
- Glenbow Museum https://www.glenbow.org/
- Heritage Park Historical Village https://heritagepark.ca/
Discovering Beyond Calgary: Exploring to the South and East
Calgary is situated on the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers which flow from the Rocky Mountains in the West, onto the plains in the East. Outside Calgary to the south and east three UNESCO World Heritage sites, badlands, historical and cultural sites, museums and more.
- Dinosaur Provincial Park UNESCO World Heritage Site (2:30 from Calgary)
- Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site UNESCO World Heritage Site (2:00 from Calgary)
- Writing on Stone Provincial Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site (3:00 from Calgary)
- Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology displays one of the world’s largest collections of dinosaurs. Royal Tyrrell Museum (1:45 from Calgary)
- Blackfoot Crossing https://blackfootcrossing.ca/wordpress/about/ (1:30 from Calgary)
Discovering Banff and Canmore: Gateway to the Breathtaking Canadian Rockies
To the West are the iconic Canadian Rockies. The Rocky Mountain parks of Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and can be reached in an hour or so drive from Calgary. There are two towns that can be your base, Canmore, on the edge of the parks, and Banff in the heart of the park.
Canmore is a vibrant mountain town with a walkable downtown with galleries, shops and restaurants, all under the beautiful Three Sisters Mountain. There is general information available at https://www.explorecanmore.ca/. Some suggestions for visiting Canmore:
- Grassi Lakes Hike Grassi Lakes Hike Canmore
- Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary https://www.yamnuskawolfdogsanctuary.com/
- Ha Ling Hike. There is a more challenging hike that take you to the summit of Ha Ling Peak, directly above town. Ha Ling Peak Hike
Banff is a beautiful mountain town in the heart of Banff National Park. There is accommodation, restaurants, shopping in a stunning landscape. Some suggestions:
- General Information on Banff National Park Banff National Park, Banff Lake Louise, Banff
- The Sulphur Mountain Gondola Sulphur Mountain Gondola
- Upper Hot Springs Sources Springs
- Bow Falls Bow Falls
- Cave and Basin National Historic Site Cave and Basin
Getting to Banff from Calgary
A cost-effective option to get to Banff is using the OnIt regional transit
Beyond Lake Louise
- Take in the most famous view in the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise and Mt. Victoria from the Chateau Lake Louise Chateau Lake Louise Webcam
- Hike to a mountain tea hut. (Plain of the Six Glaciers or Lake Agnes) Plain of Six Glaciers Hike, Lake Agnes Tea House
- Visit Morraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks
- Icefields Parkway. One of the most scenic drives in the world. Over 200 km from Lake Louise to Jasper with mountains, water, and glaciers, including the Columbia Icefields. Glaciers and Icefields