knuk

We're a young active couple spending a long weekend in Calgary May 1 - May 5. We're looking for suggestions on what to see and do in this city. We enjoy local markets, live theatre or entertainment, restaurants with interesting menus and character, worthwhile tourist attractions, and beautiful scenery. We may have access to a vehicle for a day trip if there is something worthwhile in the area. All suggestions welcome...

Sam_Salmon

&quot;<i>All suggestions welcome...</i>&quot;

Get outta town!

Calgary is the deadest place ever.3

bob_brown

Well, as a foreigner who has enjoyed Calgary I think the above is extreme.

Heritage Park is quite interesting and I recommend it. The Devonian Gardens downtown are pleasant to visit.

Were you aware that Banff is only about 85 miles away??

rm_mn

Get the car, drive to Drumheller and spend at least half a day in the Royal Tyrell Museum of Paleontology. Drive back to Calgary for the night, then go to Banff the next day (or 2 or 3, it's beautiful).

SallyCanuck

Take your winter boots?

Cruiseryyc

I think you can ignore Sam's comments. Bob Brown suggested Heritage Park and while I would agree with him, it unfortunately will not be open yet when you are there (it opens the third weekend in May). Agree with the other posters both the Tyrell Museum in Drumheller is worth a look; but Banff and the mountains are a must. We have a world class zoo; the Glenbow Museum; a trip up the Calgary Tower is worth it (but don't eat in the restaurant - way too expensive). Restaurants downtown - Teatro's; Saltlic come to mind.

ShelliDawn

Hi!

Calgary (and southern Alberta) weather is really unpredictable this time of year, so make sure you pack clothing that can be layered. The April 12/13 weekend we had beautiful sunny days with highs of 20C. However, we've been in freezing temperatures with snow for the last few days. Later this week we're supposed to warm up again (13C high forecast for next Monday).

As cruisyyc suggested, Teatro's and Saltlik are both very good restaurants. I also enjoy the Ranche which is located in a provincial park inside the city (the city actually grew around the park). The building is an 1896 ranch house. The menu has items like bison, caribou, duck and pheasant. http://www.crmr.com/theranche/

Cruiseyyc had some good tourist attraction suggestions. If you only have a one day with a vehicle, the must-do day trip would be to Banff/Lake Louise.

For live theatre, there are a number of options. The two largest/main stream ones are:

Theatre Calgary: http://www.theatrecalgary.com/

Alberta Theatre Projects:
http://www.atplive.com/

For mystery, you can look at Vertigo Theatre: http://www.vertigotheatre.com/

Some other options:

Pumphouse Theatre: http://www.pumphousetheatres.ca/

One Yellow Rabbit:
http://www.oyr.org/index.html

Loose Moose (the birthplace of theatre sports)
http://www.loosemoose.com/

As for markets, not sure what type you're referring to. The largest one is Crossroads.
http://crossroadsmarket.ca/

There is an all year round farmer's market, but it isn't very large.
http://www.calgaryfarmersmarket.ca/

If the weather is nice, some nice shopping areas are 17th Ave SW and Kensington.
http://www.uptown17.ca/
http://www.visitkensington.com/

Cruiseryyc

The River Cafe is also a unique for a meal; located on an Island which in the downtown core.

knuk

Thanks for the suggestions, unfortunately, we've already been to Banff, Lake louise, Morraine Lake and Drumheller - and enjoyed them all immensely! Is there any other interesting places close by to visit? We will have wheels for our visit and will consider a day trip, or an overnight trip if there is a worthwhile destination.

Thanks much for the website links, i'll be checking them all out...

Seems you're enjoying some snow out there this week - lovely!

rm_mn

Dinosaur Provincial Park.

ShelliDawn

You might want to go south of Calgary and see Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and/or the Frank Slide in Crowsnest pass. If you do, make sure you take highway 22 as its much more scenic than the #2.

The Frank Slide interpretive center was closed over the winter for &quot;exhibit renewal&quot; and is supposed to re-open in spring 2008, but the website doesn't give any hard date (that I could see at a glance anyway). You should confirm that before (if) you go. You can of course see the actual rocks without the centre being open, and that's pretty impressive on its own, but it would be better to also see the exhibits etc. as well.

http://www.head-smashed-in.com/info.html
http://www.frankslide.com/

loru100

Go see a hockey game...oh wait, you can't, they lost last night!!

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

knuk

Well, seems we're almost out of luck. Can't see a hockey game, we've already been to Buffalo jump, Banff area and drumheller - Frank Slide sounds interesting, but i'm gonna go out on a limb here and predict they will not be re-opened by the time we get there!! Well - maybe we should just stay home... naaaah!

Bencito

Hi Knuk,

It seems like you have visited quite a few beautiful areas surrounding Calgary.

With regard to Calgary, all the above suggestions are great. In addition to Glenbow Museum, Devonian Gardens and Calgary zoo, which are all very nice, I would also suggest visiting Eau Claire Market, Chinatown with the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre and Stephen Avenue Mall. The Chinese Cultural Centre has a dome that is patterned after the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and it is very beautiful. Stephen Avenue is a pedestrian street lined with beautiful sandstone buildings. The Calgary Tower has glass floors that are interesting/ scary to get on.

I wonder if you have been to Canmore, which is right outside the Banff National Park. It is a nice excursion from Calgary if you want to see the mountains without going to Banff.

If you are interested in seeing another Alberta city, Edmonton, is around three hours away. Edmonton has the West Edmonton Mall, Alberta Legislature, Royal Alberta Museum, Government House and River Valley that are quite interesting.

Another long excursion I would suggest is Waterton Lakes National Park, which is around 267 km south of Calgary. Cardston can be visited en route and it has a spectacular Mormon Temple and Remington Carriage Museum.

Unfortunately many attractions are not open until middle to the end of May.

Have fun in Calgary!

NinaM

May 2-4 Spruce Meadows is having an outdoor horse jumping tournament - that may be something a little different to do.

Carmanah

knuk, where are you from? What brings you back to the Calgary area? As you can tell from the replies so far, the attraction of Calgary is not necessarily the city itself, but the attractions located immediately nearby. It doesn't meant that you can't find things to see and do in Calgary, but from your initial description, you may be better off flying to somewhere like San Francisco.

knuk

We're from the maritimes, I'm flying out to Calgay to meet hubby after he spends a week working in the area. Just taking advantage of an opportunity. Sounds like it's not the best time of year, seems we're just a little early for many attractions.

Thanks for the additional suggestions, Chinatown sounds interesting and we always enjoy pedestrian zones - I'm assuming there are shops, restaurants and the like in the people area...