One Last Canadian Stop: Exploring Calgary
Calgary was the final stop on our Canadian adventure, and while our visit was short, we managed to pack plenty into our time there. We explored downtown, took in the views from the Calgary Tower, wandered through Prince’s Island Park, and ventured outside the city for Sunday brunch at Azuridge Estate before making our way to Spruce Meadows. It was a little bit city, a little bit country, and a fitting way to wrap up our travels through Canada.
If you have just a couple of days in Calgary here are a few things to be sure not to miss. If you have access to a car, there are a couple of more sites, just 20 minutes outside of the downtown center.
Calgary Skyline from Prince’s Island
We stayed downtown, which gave us easy access to plenty of great spots within walking distance. We arrived around lunchtime on a Saturday, so we headed to lively Stephen Avenue to find something to eat. There are plenty of choices for brunch and lunch on the weekends, and we opted for something quick and easy before setting out to explore.
Our first stop was the Calgary Tower. Getting to one of the highest points in a city is always a great way to get your bearings, and this visit was especially fun for me since I had been to the tower once before when I was 12. We did not have a reservation, but luckily, we were able to walk right in and head up.
From the observation deck, one of the first landmarks that caught our attention was The Bow, with its distinctive curved design standing out among Calgary’s downtown skyline.
Our next view was down toward the train tracks. After spending so much time traveling across Canada by rail, there was something a little nostalgic about seeing the tracks winding through the city from above.
The Calgary Tower has been part of the city’s skyline since 1968. Originally called the Husky Tower, it was built to celebrate Canada’s centennial and stands 190.8 meters (626 feet) tall. It was renamed the Calgary Tower in 1971 as a tribute to the city’s citizens.
The glass floor was not part of the original tower—it was added in 2005 to celebrate Alberta’s centennial.
Nothing but glass—and Calgary—beneath our feet.
A fun stop for your first visit to Calgary capturing the feel of the city from high above.
With our feet back firmly on the ground, we continued our walk around downtown. We were curious about The Bow building so we headed there. A closer look revealed “Wonderland”, a 39-foot-tall wire sculpture of a young girl’s head by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. The transparent design gives it an almost dreamlike quality, and you can actually walk inside the sculpture and look out at the city through its mesh framework.
After The Bow, we made our way back to the hotel to rest up and change before dinner. Since one of our goals in Calgary was to explore downtown on foot, we set out again that evening. In August, the sun was still high in the sky, giving us plenty of daylight for our walk. Our route took us across the Prince’s Island Park Bridge and into the park, with the downtown skyline behind us.
Even though it was early evening, people were out enjoying the last of the day in and around Prince’s Island.
Our reason for walking to Prince’s Island Park was dinner at River Café, one of Calgary’s best-known restaurants. We had a delicious dinner with wonderful service, and when we arrived, we were asked if we wanted to sit outside. We had noticed what looked like storms rolling in, so we decided to play it safe and dine indoors.
Good decision. About halfway through dinner, a Texas-size storm blew through, bringing heavy rain with it. So, what did we do? We ordered dessert and happily stayed put until the storm passed. There are definitely worse ways to wait out a storm!
We would highly recommend River Cafe as a special dining spot!
On our walk back to the hotel, the streets had pretty much cleared out. With the rain gone, it was a nice walk and end to a great first day in Calgary!
We are fortunate to have good friends in Calgary, and when we told them we were coming, they immediately offered to show us around. They had a few stops in mind that we probably would not have discovered on our own.
Our first stop was Azuridge Estate for Sunday brunch. Just 20 minutes outside downtown Calgary, this beautiful hotel is tucked into a lovely, peaceful setting that feels much farther from the city.
Of course we had to climb to the top of that tower! The views were lovely of the rolling hills and surrounding area.
From the tower, we could really appreciate the beautiful 13-acre estate below us. Originally built as a private residence in 1997, its design was inspired by the grand railway stations of the Canadian Pacific Railway—a fun connection considering how much of our Canadian adventure had been spent traveling by train.
We explored the property a bit before settling in for a wonderful buffet brunch. It was the perfect start to our day of adventures with friends.
Next, our friends took us to Spruce Meadows, an internationally renowned equestrian facility just south of Calgary and home to some of the world’s top show-jumping competitions. Its premier event is the ‘Masters’ Tournament, held each September and featuring elite horses and riders from around the world.
Spruce Meadows was founded in 1975 by the Southern family and has grown from a former cattle feedlot into one of the world’s best-known equestrian venues. Hard to imagine this quiet arena filled with thousands of spectators watching some of the world’s best horses and riders compete!
We were a little early for the ‘Masters,’ but we still got a taste of the action. While exploring the beautiful grounds, we were able to watch some younger equestrians make their way around a jumping course. We may not have seen the world’s top riders compete, but it was still impressive to watch the horses and riders up close—and a fun stop we probably would not have discovered without our Calgary friends.
Our last stop of the day was a walk through Fish Creek Provincial Park, a beautiful natural escape right within the city. Stretching across southern Calgary, it is one of Canada’s largest urban parks, with more than 100 kilometres of trails winding through forests, grasslands and along Fish Creek. It was the perfect final stop on a day that showed us a side of Calgary we never would have experienced on our own.
Where We Stayed and Saying Goodbye to Canada
Thanks to our travel professional, we stayed at a fabulous—and very unique—hotel in downtown Calgary, The Dorian. It is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection (gotta earn those points!), but it was distinctly unlike any Marriott—or really any hotel—we had stayed in before.
The Dorian takes its inspiration from Oscar Wilde and his famous novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. That influence is everywhere, from the bold décor and touches of British whimsy to literary references tucked throughout the hotel.
It was stylish, a little quirky and definitely memorable—the kind of hotel where exploring the property is part of the experience. Our only regret was we did not make it up to The View, their rooftop restaurant and bar. (Note they are closed on Sunday’s and Monday’s) I guess we will have to come back!
Photo: Courtesy of The Dorian
A Perfect Ending
And with that, our time in Calgary—and our Canadian adventure—came to an end. Calgary may have been a short stop, but we packed a lot into our time there: city views, great food, beautiful parks, a day exploring with good friends and even a Texas-size storm. It turned out to be a wonderful final chapter in our journey across Canada.
A short but memorable stay in Calgary filled with city views, great food, beautiful parks, and adventures with good friends.