Summer memories you will never forget with 10 must do experiences in Calgary.
Experience The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth
Check the Calgary Stampede off your bucket list and experience the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth in Calgary. For 10 days each July, the Calgary Stampede entertains visitors from around the world with rodeo action, midway games, and live music. Plan to spend a day or two in Calgary to experience everything the Calgary Stampede has to offer.
Location: 650 25 Ave SE (Stampede Park)
The Calgary Stampede Parade (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Colin Way).
Bring your blanket for a summer music festival
There is nothing like live music during Calgary’s long, sunny days summer. Spread out a picnic blanket in Prince’s Island Park and experience the Calgary Folk Music Festival, right in the heart of the city, for the best in folk, rock, indie, and alternative bands from across the country and around the world. With single concert tickets, day passes, and festival passes, summer music festivals like Sled Island, Chasing Summer, and Country Thunder are a great addition to any Rockies getaway no matter how much time you have in the city.
Location: 698 Eau Claire Ave SW (Prince’s Island Park)
The Calgary Folk Music Festival (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Mike Seehagel).
Float down the Bow from Edworthy Park to Prince’s Island Park
The beautiful Bow River runs right through downtown Calgary and is a popular spot for kayakers, river surfers, and rafters each summer. Start your journey at Edworthy Park and float the Bow to Prince’s Island Park for a two hour river experience with epic downtown views. Lazy Day Raft Rentals and The Paddle Station have all the gear you need to get into the water and safely travel this memorable stretch of Alberta waterway.
Location: 5050 Spruce Dr SW (Edworthy Park)
The Paddle Station.
Grab patio pints on 17th Avenue SW
Make 17th Avenue SW your first or last stop on your Rockies getaway for the ultimate neighbourhood experience in the city. This unique collection of shops, pubs, and restaurants is the perfect place to share a pint with friends, people watch from the patio, or shop for local gifts you can only find in Calgary. Experience some of Canada’s top restaurants, like Pigeonhole and Model Milk and keep the party going at popular local spots like the Ship & Anchor and National on 17th.
Location: 550 17 Ave SW (National on 17th)
National on 17th Avenue SW (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Roth and Ramberg).
Fly down the Monster Zipline at WinSport
Calgary is home to the fastest zipline in North America. The WinSport zipline course consists of three lines that will get your soaring through the air with great views of Calgary and the Canadian Rockies. The Monster Zipline launches from the top of the 90 metre ski jump tower, the highest vantage point in Calgary, before a thrilling ride that reaches more than 100 kilometres per hour. The complete zipline experience at WinSport takes approximately one hour to complete.
Location: 88 Canada Olympic Rd SW
The Monster Zipline at WinSport (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Chris Amat).
Take a self-guided food tour in Kensington
Food is the key to really knowing a city. Alberta Food Tours has a self-guided food tour you can do almost anytime. It sets you up on an adventure in Calgary’s cozy Kensington neighbourhood, just North of downtown. You’ll spend two to four hours solving clues that will lead you through the area with some free samples, great discounts, and the discovery of hidden games. Check out the Alberta Food Finder game. All you need is a GPS-enabled mobile phone and your appetite.
Location: Kensington Road NW
Alberta Food Finder Game in Kensington.
Bike the Bow River Pathway
Calgary is home to the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway system in North America with over 1000 kilometres of regional pathways and 96 kilometres of trails. It’s the best way to discover the city and see it in new ways you just can’t from the car or on foot. Take a spin around the Glenmore Reservoir, escape the city in Nose Hill Park, explore Fish Creek Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America, or let the Bow River Pathway be your guide for your ultimate summer ride.
You can rent bikes along the Bow River with Eau Claire Rapid Rent, Pedego Electric Bikes, Bow Cycle E-Bikes, and Joe’s Garage Bicycle Rental and Repair. Ready to ride? Checkout ten epic bike pathways in Calgary.
Biking in Calgary (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Chris Amat).
Travel back in time at Heritage Park
Add a visit to Heritage Park, the largest living history museum in Canada, to your summer vacation. Tour historic homes, hop on the vintage midway, or take a ride around the park on the steam train. Hungry? Classic snacks are around every corner at Heritage Park with old fashioned candy floss, cinnamon buns, tarts, or ice cold root beer. Make a stop at the Club Café for a traditional Cantonese pot sticker or fish and chips at the Wainwright Hotel.
Location: 1900 Heritage Dr SW
Heritage Park Historical Village.
Catch the sunset over downtown from Scotsman’s Hill
Take in panoramic views of the city at Scotsman’s Hill, the perfect spot to catch the sunset after a day exploring Calgary. Walk the ridge to find the best vantage point for your next Instagram worthy shot, and with just the right light, you can even see the Canadian Rockies. Locals know this is a great spot to catch the nightly fireworks after the Grandstand Show each night of the Calgary Stampede in July.
Location: T2G 2Y3 (Scotsman’s Hill)
