4 Reasons to Love Calgary
I’ve travelled to many places around the world, but there are a few things about Calgary that make it one of my favourite places to visit.
Canadian music has a home here
Being a musician myself, I was very excited to see Canadian music celebrated in a big way at Studio Bell, Home of the National Music Centre. From Céline Dion to Drake, there is no doubt that Canada has produced some of the biggest acts in the world, and now we finally have a place to learn about and showcase it.
And when you’re done there, pop on over to any one of Calgary’s historic music venues — like the Palomino or Ironwood — to hear from upcoming acts. Who knows, you might just might discover the next Arcade Fire or The Weeknd. (Feel free to name-drop me if you do...)
The food is impressively local
During my trips to Calgary, I learned what a great city it is for entrepreneurs: if you’ve got an idea, there’s a community ready to support you. The same can be said for its restaurant industry - you’ll find a whole host of local business owners who are committed to innovating and supporting Alberta-based food producers.
Whether it’s vegan pastries and a charred avocado spread at Sidewalk Citizen Bakery (I could spend an entire day by the river at the Simmons Building, by the way) or any of the yakitori or ramen dishes at Shokunin (and I mean the literal dishes upon which your food is served), you can be sure that you’re supporting local: artists, businesses, and ingredients, in many cases from farm-to-table.
It’s so close to the Rocky Mountains
Calgarians are active, and you’ll find a number of trails to bike or run along within the city. But, if you’re craving even more nature (and Instagram photos to make all of your friends jealous), drive 45 minutes out of the city and you’ll find yourself in beautiful Kananaskis. A bit further after that, you’re in Banff and Lake Louise, and before you know it, you could be in Jasper by the evening. Alberta makes for a great roadtrip if you’ve got the time, and Calgary is the perfect starting point.
Every time I’ve been to Calgary with a friend, I’ve made it mandatory to drive out to Banff. It works as a day trip, although if you want to experience the full spectrum of activities that are offered here, you’ll want to spend a couple days here.
Looking for a romantic getaway? Check out our video on date spots in Banff:
It really is a big small town
If I had to define the “vibe” of Calgary, I’d say that it’s a big small town. Despite the fact that it is one of the larger cities in Canada, it doesn’t have an attitude problem (at least in my experience — and trust me, I’ve been all over this country). People are generally friendly and helpful, and service staff, from hotels to shops to restaurants, have always left me feeling less like a tourist and more like a friend.
I truly love Calgary and these are just some of the reasons why I keep coming back! If you’re looking to get a sense of just how beautiful Canada is, if you want to eat great food and support local businesses, or if you just want to have a good time in a big city that doesn’t have any of the attitude of one, then Calgary is the city for you!
If that doesn’t convince you to book your next trip out to Calgary, check out the video below to see what we did in one weekend!
