Explore downtown Calgary
There is no better introduction to Calgary than to explore its vibrant downtown core. Sandstone buildings created from local stone still grace the pedestrian-focused Stephen Avenue Walk, the most intact turn-of-the-century commercial streetscape west of Montreal. But peek inside those elegantly faced buildings, and it’s all about the energy of the present — from glassblowing in a local art studio to cuisine based on the freshest of local ingredients and cooked to perfection.
Dining, music, theatre, shopping and sightseeing, it’s all in downtown Calgary — in walking distance along pedestrian friendly sidewalks. In case of inclement weather (the city is one of the sunniest in Canada, but it does happen), Plus 15 overhead skywalks thread through the downtown core in a network that keeps pedestrians warm and dry. And the light rail transit, known as the CTrain, is free of charge in the downtown core, making it convenient to hop on board.
Start with a stroll
Eighth Avenue, also known as Stephen Avenue Walk, offers fashion-forward shopping, dining (from bistros to patios), art galleries galore and marvelous museums — in short, more than 1,000 shops and facilities. But it’s also a National Historic District, so be sure to look up at the second and third stories of the buildings to see the architectural details that make this area so unique.
Using sandstone as a building material became popular after a devastating fire in 1886 wiped out most of the wooden structures on the city’s main street. Today, many efforts have been made to preserve the original structures with some interiors revealing exposed brick and sandstone.
To see what’s shaped Calgary through the years, start with its landscape. Our iconic Calgary Tower provides a 360-degree view of the city and its setting, from the prairies that roll out in fields of grain to the foothills that rise up to become the Eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The Tower, which celebrated its 40th birthday in 2008, reveals the two rivers that run through the city: the Elbow and the Bow (home to some of the world’s best fly fishing), along with key locations such as Fort Calgary on the banks of the Bow near downtown, where the North West Mounted Police built their fort and founded Calgary.
Right across from the Calgary Tower is the Glenbow Museum — one of the largest museums in Canada. A visit to the Glenbow offers a glimpse into how different cultures have put Calgary’s geography to work, from the Aboriginal peoples whose presence here dates back some 10,000 years to the eras of exploration and settlement. It all leads to those individuals who’ve made Calgary and Alberta what it is today. These are our Mavericks, leading lights who did things their own way, and who are showcased in the museum’s newest permanent exhibition. One of the city’s premier meeting and convention sites is also located here: the TELUS Convention Centre, offering world-class meeting facilities with a distinctly environmentally friendly hue.
Further along Stephen Avenue Walk, shopping and dining opportunities abound. These include the upscale fashion finds of The Core at the Calgary Eaton Centre/TD Square. From Banker’s Hall to the six-floor Bay Downtown, many flagship stores can be found. Along the way, take time to indulge in people-watching from the restaurant patios, or duck into the buildings for a quick pick-me-up or a leisurely breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sports fans shouldn’t miss Flames Central, with its big-screen televisions and marquis lighting system, all in a recently restored historic building.
Culture central
At the eastern end of Stephen Avenue Walk, where the deep blue glass of Calgary’s Municipal Building reflects our skies to great effect, is Olympic Plaza. Here, where the athletes were presented with their medals during the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, a park features a pool and fountain in summer and a skating rink in winter. But that’s not all: it also anchors the Olympic Plaza Cultural District, home to theatres, art and more.
