Calgary is nestled where the Great Plains meet the Canadian Rockies, creating a beautiful mix of landscapes. It’s a place where big skies stretch above modern buildings, and a mix of nature and city life. Nicknamed “Cowtown” because of its cowboy and ranching history, Calgary today is much more than that. It’s a clean, vibrant, and highly livable place that blends its Western roots with a modern, forward-thinking vibe.

A Land Shaped by Rivers and History

Long before Calgary grew into the busy city it is now, the Blackfoot people lived in the area. They called it "Elbow" because of the way the Bow River curves, like a bent arm. Today, that same river still flows through the city, with scenic trails along its banks where people go jogging, biking, or just enjoy the view.

Clean, Green, and Surprisingly Sunny

Regularly ranked among the top five cities in the world for quality of life, Calgary boasts one of the highest standards of cleanliness on the planet. With low pollution, excellent recycling programs, pristine water, and fresh mountain air, it’s no surprise that it was voted the cleanest city in the world.

Adding to its appeal is the climate, despite long winters, Calgary is the sunniest city in Canada. Locals embrace the saying, “There’s no bad weather, just bad clothes,” and with countless opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports, cold weather can be embraced.

The TD Free Fare Zone is a special area in downtown Calgary where passengers can ride the city’s CTrain light rail for free. It covers a stretch along 7th Avenue SW, the main downtown transit corridor. This means you can hop on and off any CTrain station within this zone without needing a ticket or fare. It encourage public transit use within downtown, reducing car traffic and congestion. However I was surprised to see that the trains run above ground, especially given Calgary’s cold climate. They look like European trams with overhead wires. 

 

Big Sky, Big City

With a population of 1.3 million, Calgary is Canada’s fourth-largest city, just behind Vancouver. While it’s similar in size to Memphis, it more closely resembles Denver with its proximity to the mountains and an active, outdoorsy culture.

The city’s economy is strong, especially in the corporate and energy sectors, Calgary is the second-largest corporate hub in Canada. But it’s also a place that values learning and innovation, home to seven colleges and universities, and a rapidly growing tech scene.

But like many major cities, it faces challenges related to homelessness, addiction, and public safety, particularly in parts of the downtown core. They have been heavily impacted by the ongoing opioid crisis. While walking on Stephan Ave, a pedestrian only street right in the middle of Calgary.  I saw many unhoused individuals who looked to be struggling with mental health or addiction. Hence there was a heavy police presence in the area. 

Architecture and Attractions

Downtown Calgary features a visually eclectic skyline with 19 skyscrapers, including the iconic Bow Building, which houses the 12-meter-tall “Wonderland” sculpture, a wireframe head of a young girl that you can walk inside. They were painting her while I was there. She lights up at night.

 

• Calgary Tower – Standing 20 feet taller than Seattle’s Space Needle, your view from inside is eye to eye with the skyscrapers. It's 517 feet above street level and offers a full 360° panoramic view of Calgary and the Rocky Mountains. I didn't go because I know I can't walk on the glass floor at the Edge in NYC since the feeling is unnerving because it’s so clear. From its glass floor you can see directly down to the streets below which I think will give you a  heart‑pounding experience, I don't want to feel like I'm stepping on air! The Calgary Tower itself was built in 1967 and the glass floor was added as part of renovations completed in 2005. The floor panels were built to handle more weight than standard foot traffic, with multiple layers of laminated and tempered glass. The panels are so strong, the tower once demonstrated their durability by walking a horse across them. Tickets are $25.

   

• Studio Bell – A museum and performance space with striking modern architecture. This road takes you right to the Saddledome.

• The Peace Bridge – A bold, red pedestrian bridge over the Bow River, designed by the same architect who created NYC’s Oculus. I walked through here to get to Prince's Island Park. 

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• Prince’s Island Park - A 50-acre urban park developed on an island in the Bow River, just north of downtown Calgary. It has lots of scenic trails and a constructed wetland. It has a playground and lots of picnic space with plenty of grassy areas, picnic tables, shaded spots, and open lawns. You can go rafting or floating on the Bow River but not swimming.  River Café is located in the park. Hosts several major annual festivals, including: Calgary Folk Music Festival, Shakespeare by the Bow, Canada Day and Heritage Day celebrations, Expo Latino, Afrikadey, Carifest, Barbecue on the Bow. I loved walking through here!

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• The +15 Skywalk – At 9.9 miles long, it’s the world’s largest indoor walkway system, weather-protected and climate controlled  connecting over 130 downtown buildings. The name “Plus 15” comes from the fact that these walkways are built with their bottom 15 feet above the street below. Double-decker buses will never have a place in Calgary because they won’t fit underneath the Plus 15’s. A standard for nearly all new downtown construction projects whether that be residential or office is to have connectivity to the convenient Plus 15 Skywalk system. They are not open 24 hours.

  

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• New Central Library – One of the most used libraries in North America, with award-winning design is a stunning piece of modern architecture, blending bold design. The building has a unique, eye-catching elliptical shape.  The curved, faceted exterior contrasts with a dynamic interior layout. A giant oculus (circular skylight) in the roof floods the interior with natural light, creating a bright, uplifting atmosphere. I was disappointed that free wifi is only given to those with a library card.

  
  
  
  

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• Heritage Park Historical Village – Canada’s largest living history museum. 

  
  
  

• Saddledome & Calgary Stampede Grounds – The Saddledome was built for the 1988 Olympics and resembles a saddle. The roof floats on top which allows it to shrink and expand with the insane temperature changes here however a concave roof in a city that gets so much snow is questionable. Home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede, a 10-day rodeo and festival dubbed “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. Held annually in July imagine and entire crowd wearing cowboy hats. Big-name artists across genres perform nightly concerts. This year the festival had both a  free outdoor music hub and a ticketed one, artists included Shania Twain, Diplo, De La Soul, TLC, Khalid and Lil Jon amongst many others. 

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• Calgary Zoo - Home to penguins, polar bears, grizzly bears, black bears, moose, bighorn sheep, caribou, river otters, lemurs, gorillas, lions, giraffes, and hippos. There used to be two polar bears but last year one drowned the other.

  
  
  

• Downhill Karting at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park - imagine a go‑kart meets a toboggan, a gravity‑powered downhill kart ride, 1.8 km, 50+ turns, ~100 m drop. You go up on a chairlift.

  
  
  

Gateway to Adventure

Just 1.5 hours from Calgary is Banff National Park, one of the most iconic and picturesque destinations in North America. Whether you're road-tripping through the Icefields Parkway or soaking in the turquoise waters of Lake Louise, Calgary is the perfect base camp for mountain adventures. All American airlines fly there from various cities in the USA. United has a direct flight from DC to Calgary that is seasonal - summer only. It's a four hour direct flight. Air Canada went on strike and shut down all flights the weekend I flew out there. 

A Mix of Cultures

Calgary is one of Canada’s most diverse cities, with over 120 languages spoken. Immigration is high as 31.5% of Calgary's population are immigrants. Calgary's  population is a rich blend:

• White: 67.8%

• Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit): 6.8%

• South Asian: 7.1%

• Filipino: 5.2%

• Black: 4.3%

• Chinese: 4.8%

• Arab: 2.1%

• Latin American: 1.8%

Many African immigrants come from countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia, while Brits make up the largest European immigrant group as they are heavily represented in the hospitality industry; followed by Polish people. This mix of backgrounds enriches Calgary’s food and culture.

Shopping

In Conclusion

Whether you come to Calgary for the mountains, the clean and easy lifestyle, or the lively arts and culture scene, it’s clear the city has something special. It’s a place where exciting city life and beautiful nature go hand in hand and there’s always something new to see or do.

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