Alex & Josh
Alex & Josh
Things to Do in Calgary
For family coming in from out of town, Calgary offers a mix of urban culture and easy access to nature, with great restaurants, museums, parks, and river pathways to explore without leaving the city. Popular spots include the Glenbow Museum, Prince’s Island Park, and the Calgary Tower, along with lively neighborhoods like Kensington and the Beltline. Just outside the city you’ll find large green spaces like Fish Creek and Glenbow Ranch Provincial Parks, while the nearby mountain towns of Banff and Canmore—about an hour away—offer stunning scenery, hiking, and charming main streets.
Inside the City
Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
Neighborhoods and Parks
Calgary has several iconic neighborhoods to explore. From the oldest neighborhood -- Inglewood-- to Kensington along the Bow River, there's lots of great walking in the city.
Tourism Calgary Visitor Information Booth @ Central Library
Check out Visit Calgary for the latest tourism guides and maps.
Outside the City - To the West
To the West of the city lie the Rocky Mountains. You can visit mountain towns like Canmore, Kananaskis, and Banff while taking in the fall foliage.
Canmore & Kananaskis
Just an hour west of Calgary, Canmore and nearby Kananaskis offer stunning mountain scenery, great hiking, and a relaxed small-town feel. Canmore is a vibrant base with beautiful views and plenty of shops and restaurants, while Kananaskis provides quieter trails and peaceful wilderness. Together, they’re an easy and scenic gateway to the Rockies.
Everwild Canmore - Nordic Spa & Hotel
Banff National Park
Canada’s first national park, Banff is a stunning stretch of the Rocky Mountains filled with turquoise lakes, dense evergreen forests, and dramatic alpine peaks. Established in 1885, it spans over 6,600 square kilometres of protected wilderness. Located just 1.5–2 hours west of Calgary, it’s an easy and beautiful drive into one of the country’s most iconic landscapes. Requires park pass.
Town of Banff
Banff is a small town in Banff National Park, about an hour from Calgary. It offers easy access to popular hikes, scenic viewpoints, the Banff Gondola, and the hot springs. The downtown area has plenty of restaurants, shops, and services, making it a convenient base for exploring the Rockies.
Outside of the City - To the East
To the East are the praries and the Alberta Badlands. Alberta is also home to world famous archelogical and palentological sites, with so many rare finds that our Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Badlands - Alberta Parks
Alberta’s badlands parks are striking landscapes shaped by wind and water, known for their hoodoos, layered rock formations, and rich fossil beds. Parks like Dinosaur Provincial Park and the Drumheller area protect both dramatic scenery and some of the most significant paleontological sites in the world.
Royal Tyrrell Museum
The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta is one of the world’s leading paleontology museums, renowned for its extensive collection of dinosaur fossils and immersive exhibits. Set in the heart of the badlands, it offers visitors a chance to explore Earth’s deep history through both scientific research and engaging public displays.
Rosebud Theatre & School of the Arts
The Rosebud Theatre is a professional live theatre located in the village of Rosebud, Alberta, known for pairing stage performances with a full-course dinner. It’s a popular cultural destination that offers a warm, intimate theatre experience in a rural setting.