Going to Calgary

What to do in Calgary

by Steve Jermanok

Ever heard of a Canadian cowboy? Visit Calgary and you're sure to see some. This former oil boomtown lures visitors with its proximity to the Canadian Rockies, but vacationers pick up on its Wild West vibe. Men and women wear Stetsons and cowboy boots from the Alberta Boot Company as they strut to the Calgary Stampede, arguably the finest rodeo in North America. There, visitors can see chuck-wagon racing, participate in square dancing, and check out world-class riding and roping. Outdoors lovers use Calgary as a base to explore Banff National Park, 80 miles to the west, but soon discover that you don’t have to leave town to find adventure. Backed by mountains and lined by two glacier-fed rivers, the Elbow and the Bow, Calgary offers fly-fishing, paddling, tubing, and biking on 394 miles of paved pathways.

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