DESTINATIONS ALBERTA | CANADA
exper expert ASK THE
Denise Parkhouse, managing director of online agency Tripse
“I’ve been really pleasantly surprised about how vibrant Calgary is and how it has embraced food. And there are several local distilleries
run by young entrepreneurs in the area. Lots of people use Calgary as a hub airport and move straight on, but I would recommend your customers spend a few days exploring the city and the surrounding
area. There are some fantastic museums, and a highlight was seeing the Kimball Theatre
Organ being played at Studio Bell. I would also recommend clients drive out for a day to the Badlands and experience the Dinosaur Provincial
Park – it’s like a canyon just appears out of nowhere!”
Dinosaur Provincial Park
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Calgary Stampede; Calgary Public Library; fish scale art class at Moonstone Creation; Calgary sunset PICTURES: Travel Alberta/Youn Park/Cakewalk; Shutterstock/Sopotnicki, Jeff Whyte, SL Photography; Natalie Marsh
Our fish scale art class, which begins with a taste of some tea infused with plants picked from the land, plus small bites of smoked white fish, is one of several classes available here. I’ve managed to arrange my fish scales in wonky concentric circles, giving the finished work a flower-like appearance. The accuracy and patience involved from professionals to create fish scale art, as well as the delicate beading, weaving and other products found around the shop, is to be admired. “There is growing interest in Indigenous tourism experiences as travellers are looking to find local connections and a sense of place,” says Cindy Ady, chief executive of Tourism Calgary. “They’re looking for immersive, experiential and educational opportunities. Indigenous experiences in and around Calgary are providing these opportunities for learning and connection, and Indigenous communities are sharing more of their history, culture and stories.” And with this increased focus on Indigenous tourism,
more and more escorted tours to Canada now include Indigenous experiences alongside itineraries that take in the destination’s main attractions.
CITY LIFE One of Calgary’s big tourist draws is the Calgary Tower. Standing at the top, 160 metres above the city centre, among its skyscrapers, it’s possible to see the city’s
travelweekly.co.uk
§§Standing by the chuckwagon race track, it’s not hard to imagine the electric atmosphere at the Calgary Stampede
fast-growing neighbourhoods in all directions. I squint down and see a train track, where seemingly miles of freight are slowly being pulled between buildings on their journey into the Albertan plains. But my eyes keep being drawn to the Rocky Mountains on the horizon. This snow-topped ragged mountain range steals the show from multiple vantage points across the city. Many international visitors use Calgary as a gateway
to the Rockies, but you’ll find there’s plenty going on in the city to stick around for. Calgary has a strong brewing scene – the industry has seen rapid growth and there are around 50 breweries in the city alone. There are now also 1,000 kilometres of paved
pathways across Calgary, a milestone reached in 2020, making it more walkable than ever. And Stampede Park is also undergoing a huge expansion and renovation. Home to the famous Calgary Stampede, the park attracts more than one million visitors across the 10-day
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