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The Best Things to Do in Canada

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Calgary

26 FUN Things to Do in Calgary, Alberta 2020

By Matthew G. Bailey

things to do in calgary

Last updated: November 3rd, 2020

Although Calgary’s biggest draws might be the Calgary Stampede and its proximity to the Canadian Rockies, there’s actually a lot of things to do in Calgary that have nothing to do with those two things. In fact, Calgary is one of Canada’s most beautiful cities, surrounded by prairies, foothills, and mountains along with a dazzling city skyline and two beautiful rivers snaking their way through the city.

We’re actually based in Calgary and have experienced a lot of what this city has to offer. From cruising down a sheet of ice in an Olympic bobsleigh to enjoying a slow cruise down the river on a tube, Calgary is a wonderful city to explore. So, whether you’re looking for things to do in Calgary with kids, attractions for adults, or simply cheap things to do in Calgary, we’ve got you covered in this Calgary travel guide. [Read more…] about 26 FUN Things to Do in Calgary, Alberta 2020

The Best Things To Do In Alberta

By Matthew G. Bailey 3 Comments

Banff to Jasper on the Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada
The Spectacular Icefields Parkway, Alberta, Canada. Photo by Matthew G. Bailey.

Updated: June 1st, 2020

From boreal forests to vast prairies and high mountain peaks, Alberta is an incredible province to explore. Born and raised in Alberta, I certainly feel that I know Alberta better than most. I’ve been to each major city and almost every small town in the province, giving me great insight into the province that I call home.

Although Alberta is one of only two provinces that are landlocked, Alberta is about as diverse as it gets. From looking at Dinosaur skeletons in the badlands and hiking some of the tallest mountain peaks in the country to splashing around in North America’s largest indoor waterpark and driving one of the world’s most scenic highways, Alberta is an incredible place to explore.

Whether you’re planning to explore the cities, the mountains, or everything in-between, we’ve got you covered in this comprehensive travel guide to the wonderful province of Alberta.

[Read more…] about The Best Things To Do In Alberta

Your Guide to Calgary Skiing

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Calgary Skiing

Last updated: February 4th, 2020

Situated in the heart of the foothills, just an hour’s drive away from the majestic Canadian Rockies, Calgary is an epic destination for those seeking adventure. Due to its proximity to the mountains, it’s also become a winter mecca, often used as a base for exploring the mountains while also experiencing one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities.

For those seeking the snow, Calgary is a great location for skiers and snowboarders alike. Whether you want to learn how to ski within the city or head out to some of the best ski resorts in the entire world, Calgary is the place to be. [Read more…] about Your Guide to Calgary Skiing

Christmas in Calgary

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Winter in Lake Louise

Last updated: February 3rd, 2020

Canada is a country that is known for its winter. From cold weather to deep snow, Canada is one of the greatest places on Earth to experience a true winter. Because of this, it’s also a great place to experience Christmas, especially if you’re looking for a white Christmas. We’ve written articles about Christmas in Canada, as well as destinations to experience Christmas in Canada, but now we’d like to focus on our home city of Calgary, Alberta.

Nestled in the foothills just next to the wonderful Canadian Rockies, Calgary is an incredible place to spend the Christmas Holidays. Whether you’re looking for holiday cheer in the city or an epic ski vacation to Banff National Park, a Calgary Christmas is a wonderful place to spend your Christmas holidays. [Read more…] about Christmas in Calgary

Aspen Crossing – Scenic Train Excursions in the Alberta Prairies

By Matthew G. Bailey 2 Comments

Aspen Crossing Alberta

Last updated: March 20th, 2020

Located less than an hour southeast of Calgary in Mossleigh, Alberta, Aspen Crossing offers guests the chance to experience a train ride through the beautiful Alberta prairies while enjoying themed excursions, delicious food, music, and more. It’s become a very popular day-trip getaway for Calgarians and has quickly become a major tourist destination in Southern Alberta. [Read more…] about Aspen Crossing – Scenic Train Excursions in the Alberta Prairies

Ice Magic Festival at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Ice Magic Festival Lake Louise
First place winner for 2019 – Ice Queen Treasures

Skiing at Lake Louise is always an amazing experience but when the Ice Magic Festival is in town, the experience becomes, well, magical.

Ice carvers from all around the world gather outside the beautiful Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise from Wednesday to Friday to create a stunning piece of ice art in approximately 34 hours (three days). When I say they come from around the world, I really mean it. I’ve seen ice carvers from Iraq, Mexico, Malaysia, Latvia, Russia, Canada, and the USA, just to name a few. They come all the way to Lake Louise, Alberta to show off their skills at turning blocks of ice into stunning masterpieces.

It’s a popular time to visit Lake Louise. Not only do you get the beauty of Lake Louise and the Rocky Mountains, but you get the additional beauty of the ice sculptures. The actual event where the carvers make their art takes place for only three days, but the festival continues for almost two weeks. If you can’t make it during the event though, they do leave the ice sculptures up until they are deemed unsafe. [Read more…] about Ice Magic Festival at Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Exploring Alberta’s History at the Turner Valley Gas Plant

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Turner Valley gas plant

If there’s anything that surprises me about tourism, it’s that there always seems to be something just around the corner. Such is the case of the Turner Valley Gas Plant. Located in Turner Valley, this place is only 25-minutes from where I live and I had never heard of it until recently.

While a gas plant wouldn’t be high on my list of places to visit, this one is special due to its history. The Turner Valley Gas Plant was the start of the oil and gas industry in Alberta, which has been one of the driving forces of the economy over the last few decades. This makes it both a national historical site and a great place to learn about the humble beginnings of the province of Alberta. In fact, without this gas plant, Calgary might not be what it is today. It’s due to the location of this plant that drove Calgary to be the place for all the head offices. [Read more…] about Exploring Alberta’s History at the Turner Valley Gas Plant

A Day in Castle Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada

By Matthew G. Bailey 2 Comments

things to do in alberta

2017 was an exciting year for Alberta. We got a new provincial park! Castle Provincial Park, located just 45-minutes South of Pincher Creek, is a 105,000-hectare treasure chest of rocky mountain scenery, lakes, and rivers. It’s also much less crowded than heavily established parks like Banff, Jasper, and Waterton national park.

We recently had the opportunity to spend a day there, and although we wish we had more time to explore the park a bit deeper, we were on a busy road trip throughout Southern Alberta and had already made plans to visit places such as Frank Slide. [Read more…] about A Day in Castle Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada

Calgary’s National Music Centre Offers Backstage Pass Tour

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Studio Bell Calgary
Looking up at Studio Bell, Calgary, Alberta.

Since opening its doors in 2016, the National Music Centre’s Studio Bell has been one of Calgary’s hottest attractions. Housed in one of the cities most stunning buildings, the NMC brings musical education to the masses, including Canada’s Music Hall of Fame, interactive educational programming, artist incubation, and over 2,000 rare instruments and artifacts such as the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio and one of Elton John’s pianos.

For those who want more, the National Music Centre also offers the Backstage Pass Tour, an incredible way to experience the studios where musicians record, a variety of musical instruments from this century and many before it, and even an up close and personal look at the Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Studio, a unique setup that was used by some of the worlds most famous bands and Canadian musicians, including Dire Straits, Deep Purple, Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, and Iron Maiden. [Read more…] about Calgary’s National Music Centre Offers Backstage Pass Tour

Seven Reasons to Visit Calgary (Besides the Stampede)

By Matthew G. Bailey 1 Comment

Situated in the foothills east of the Canadian Rockies, Calgary is home to beautiful scenery, festivals, and a variety of fun and interesting activities. The city is also famous for the Calgary Stampede, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors during the month of July but while the Calgary Stampede is a great time to visit, there’s plenty of other things to do in Calgary that aren’t the stampede.

Whether you’re looking for museums, parks, or excitement, here are seven reasons to visit Calgary (besides the Calgary Stampede); [Read more…] about Seven Reasons to Visit Calgary (Besides the Stampede)