Travel

A brief overview of the city of Calgary for our out-of-town guests

Calgary is Canada's fourth biggest city, with a population of 1.4 million. The weather in Calgary can be unpredictable, particularly in the late spring. Be sure to check the weather forecast when you pack for your visit. Due to Calgary's arid climate and high elevation, nights can be much cooler than days so packing an extra layer will keep you comfortable in the evenings.

Calgary is divided into four geographic quadrants; north-west (NW), north-east (NE), south-east (SE) and south-west (SW). Quadrants are listed on any city address and are important to note when booking accommodations or giving an address to a taxi driver. All of our wedding events are located in the SW.

Calgary's downtown business sector is centre-point of the city, and is located to the south of the Bow River and west of the Elbow River. Along both rivers is an extensive paved pathway system which is great for walking, running and cycling.

Mission (west of the Elbow) and Kensington (north of the Bow) are two vibrant central neighbourhoods with endless restaurant choices, unique coffee spots, boutique shopping and people watching. Both neighbourhoods are also close to the pathway system.

Where to Eat: Some of our favourite places to eat in these neighbourhoods include

Aida's Bistro in Mission (Lebanese)
Anejo in Mission (Mexican)
Earl's in Mission
Globefish in Kensington (sushi)
The Joyce on 4th in Mission (pub)
Mercato in Mission (Italian)
Modern Steak in Kensington (Alberta's famous beef)
OEB Breakfast Co. in Mission
Oriental Phoenix downtown (Vietnamese)
The Vin Room in Mission (wine and tapas)

To See and Do:

Prince's Island Park is a beautiful park stretching along the south bank of the Bow River. The park offers playgrounds, gardens, picnic areas and the pathway system for walking, running and cycling. Bikes can be rented at a few locations downtown, including Eau Claire Rapid Rent.
The Glenbow Museum is an art and history museum located downtown near the Calgary Tower and the Olympic Plaza, both of which are also worth checking out.
The National Music Centre at Studio Bell is an architectural standout as well as a museum showcasing of some of Canada's best and brightest musical talent. The NMC is located in the East Village, which offers a number of restaurants and coffee shops and is located on the south side of the Bow River, east of the downtown core.
Heritage Park Historical Village is a "living history museum" stretching over 127 acres of land next to the Glenmore Reservoir, south of downtown (and is also where Laura held summer jobs during high school). Heritage Park tells the story of the European settlement of western Canada from the 1880-1950s and is accessible via the C-Train (see 'Getting Around', below).
Shopping centres include Chinook Centre, 10 minutes south of Mission, and The Core downtown.
Lookout Point hosts one of the best city views along with a walking pathway on Crescent Road NW just north of downtown. Another viewpoint is found at Scotsman's Hill east of the Elbow, with a view including the Saddledome and the Stampede Grounds.

Of course, no visit to Calgary is complete without a drive west to the Rocky Mountains and the famous mountain town of Banff, just over an hour's drive from Calgary. The turquoise waters of Lake Louise will have some ice cover in June but are still worth visiting (1hr:45mins from Calgary; 40mins from Banff). Feel free to email us at wedding@riar.ca for suggestions of what to see and do during a visit to the Rockies.

Getting Around:

Car2Go is a car sharing service that runs throughout a wide section of the city of Calgary. Those from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal who already have a Car2Go membership can use the service in Calgary. New users can learn more and sign up by visiting the service's website.
Calgary's light rail transit system, known as the C-Train, has a free-fare zone that runs along 7th Avenue S.W. Travel outside of that zone is $3.15 for an adult ticket. Tickets can be purchased and validated at most C-Train stops.
The rest of Calgary's transit system consists of bus transport.
Calgary Transit runs a direct airport bus to and from the downtown core.

Feel free to email us at wedding@riar.ca with any questions or for other ideas of what to do while in and around Calgary!

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