Top 25 Fun & Original Things to Do in Calgary

Between the Bow River, the skyline and the Rockies on the horizon, Calgary is a natural playground for adventurers. Whether you're unlocking a family legacy from Studio Bell or untangling a dark family secret downtown, here are 25 ideas to keep the adventure going, from East Village all the way to the mountains.

Around The Jewels of Calgary Game

• Studio Bell: Home of the National Music Centre, with rare instruments and hands-on exhibits, right where your game begins.
• Calgary Central Library: Striking wood-and-glass architecture, free and open to everyone.
• St. Patrick's Island Park: A green island on the Bow River, linked to East Village by a footbridge.
• RiverWalk and the Simmons Building: A riverside stroll to a restored brick factory turned food stop.
• Calgary Tower: A glass floor and 360-degree views of the city and the Rockies.
• Stephen Avenue Walk: A pedestrian street lined with sandstone buildings, restaurants and patios, right where your game ends.

Around Bloody Mystery in Calgary Game

• Devonian Gardens: A free indoor garden perched above The CORE shopping centre, a green break even in mid-winter.
• Wonderland by Jaume Plensa: The giant white wire-mesh head in front of The Bow tower, a group-photo classic.
• The +15 Network: Glassed-in skywalks linking downtown towers, so you can cross the core without braving the cold.
• Werklund Centre (formerly Arts Commons): Theatre, concerts and the Calgary Philharmonic, steps from where the game ends.
• Chinatown: Dim sum, bakeries and the Chinese Cultural Centre's dome, inspired by Beijing's Temple of Heaven.
• Prince's Island Park and the Peace Bridge: A big island park on the Bow, with Santiago Calatrava's red helix footbridge nearby.

More Adventure in Calgary

For crews with energy to spare after the game.

• WinSport at Canada Olympic Park: The legacy of the 1988 Winter Games: skiing and snowboarding in winter, mountain biking in summer.
• Floating the Bow River: In summer, grab a raft and drift through the city with the current.
• Fish Creek Provincial Park: One of Canada's largest urban parks, with wild trails on the south side of the city.
• Nose Hill Park: Hilltop prairie with views of downtown and, on clear days, the Rockies.
• Banff National Park: Turquoise lakes and Rocky Mountain peaks, an easy day trip from Calgary.
• Kananaskis Country: Hikes, mountain lakes and wild scenery, another easy escape from the city.

Bonus Picks

Wherever you start or finish, these citywide gems are worth the detour.

• Calgary Stampede: Every July, rodeo, midway rides and cowboy hats take over the city.
• Heritage Park Historical Village: A living history village with a steam train and a paddlewheeler on the Glenmore Reservoir.
• Calgary Zoo: Gorillas, penguins and much more, on an island in the Bow River.
• TELUS Spark Science Centre: Calgary's science centre, with hands-on exhibits and a dome theatre.
• Kensington: Indie shops, cafés and pubs just across the river from downtown.
• Inglewood: Calgary's oldest neighborhood, with antique shops, record stores, craft breweries and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.
• 17th Avenue SW: Restaurants, bars and patios on the city's go-to street for a night out.