Posts Tagged ‘fort calgary’
Calgary Alberta a cross roads city
Calgary Alberta, Cross Roads City
By Bobbie Green 
Nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, at the cross roads of two major Highway systems, The Trans Canada Highway and the Canamex Corridor sits the tourist destination city of Calgary. Best know for its Stampede, the largest outdoor rodeo in the world, the Stampede attracts 12 million visitors per year for ten day in July. Visitors wishing to avoid the crowds will find plenty of attractions, off the Stampede path, at a less congested time of the year.
Visitors will find the downtown area a convenient location to stay, with hotels like the Palliser Fairmont, where I stayed, the Calgary Marriott, Hyatt Regency and others all within walking distance to many attractions as well as the rail station and the free c-train, I counted seven live performance theaters as I strolled around the area including Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts. The famous Stephens Ave Walk shopping area is only a block away. 
Fort Calgary, where the city was born, also in walking distance, proved to be quite an informational source of Canadian and Calgary history. There is not much left of the fort but a few barrack buildings still in place. The interpretive center is small but informative with interesting displays of the historic North West Mounted Police, as they were known when first formed in 1873. Later they became know as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In May of 2009 they celebrated their 136th birthday at Fort Calgary. The center describes the hardships of the men who brought law and order to the North West Territory. They seem to be as tough as the men in America’s Lewis and Clark expedition. The Deane’s House was located on the fort grounds and was built for Captain Richard Deane in 1906. In 1929 it was privately purchased and moved across the Elbow River on skids and pilings and pulled by a tractor to its present day site just a short walk from the Fort Museum. It is possibly the only all original building from the fort and was designated a Registered Historic Resource. Today, it is operated by the Fort Calgary Preservation Society as a Restaurant, generating revenue for operating cost of the fort. When in Calgary do not miss the opportunity to eat there. I can still taste that wonderful hamburger with the homemade bun and tomato jam. The dinning room overlooks the river and is very pleasant, but that hamburger would taste delicious eating it in a ditch.
The next attraction visitors should not miss is the Glenbow Museum. It is a huge four story museum just 2 short blocks away from the Fairmont and Marriott hotels. Allow yourself a minimum of three hours to enjoy this masterpiece museum. Beautiful exhibits are on display of the Blackfoot people, the history of Western Canada, the men and their stories, the Aboriginal people and world class Asian Sculptures. I loved the way they presented the First Nation people stories with the original story cloths, usually painted on a hide, and a film with a tribe member telling the stories and a printed hand out of the stories for visitors to take home. It drew one’s interest much more than just viewing the story cloth. They did similar presentations with the Western Canadian history section. There is even a little local owned snack shop on the first floor where one can take a break from their long day and get home made soup and sandwiches on homemade bread.
The Calgary Tower is located next to the train station, it is a bit pricey to go up and if you want to eat in the restaurant you must make a reservation, but you will get a 360 degree view of the city. One may even walk on the glass floor if you stomach can take it.
All in all Calgary is a destination city for vacationers. It is clean and surrounded by scenic landscapes and rivers. It has many attractions and fun things to do in and around the city. I have only mentioned a few of the less publicized therefore least crowded tourist attractions. When the Stampede is over the rest of Calgary is waiting to be explored.
IF YOU GO
Calgary visitors Bureau
1-800-661-1678
Fort Calgary Interpretive Center
403-290-1875
Fairmont Palliser Hotel
1-800-231-0644
Glenbow Museum
403-268-4100