"The best ten days in July Calgary is famous for the Calgary Stampede, ten days of cowboys, rodeo events, chuckwagon races, a midway (complete with deep fried Mars bars and corn dogs) and great music. No one’s kidding when they call it The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. By jennifer allford + jean roe"

"A green oasis in the heart of downtown A two minute walk from the bustle of downtown Calgary, Prince’s Island Park—which is surrounded by the Bow River—is home to festivals all summer long. The Calgary Folk Music Festival and 52,000 of its closest friends rock and/or folk out on the park the last weekend of July. By jennifer allford + jean roe"

"Discover Historic Inglewood Calgary’s Inglewood neighborhood has come a long way from its trading-post roots. Founded in 1875 as a commerce hub along the Bow and Elbow rivers, it emptied out as residents moved to the suburbs. Now it’s seeing a revival, with shops, galleries, and restaurants moving into the prime downtown location. Visitors can step into the past at Fort Calgary, explore the Nature Centre, shop at eco-friendly decor and apparel boutique Rivas, or soak up the atmosphere at Gravity Espresso and Wine Bar."

"A State-of-the-Art Science Center Little scientists can’t wait to get into this brand new science center, with its climbing playground, indoor water park (complete with plastic shirts to keep the little ones somewhat dry), and a giant atrium, with hula hoops just waiting for action. As well as the stuff for kids, there’s an adult night every month with beer, live music, and other super-cool science stuff. By jennifer allford + jean roe"

"The Pride of Canadian Sport The world often thinks of Canada as the land that hockey built, but the truth is, Canada has a rich, diverse sports heritage that extends well beyond the stick and puck. Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, established in 1955 and opened at its new location in Calgary's Olympic Park in 2011, has enshrined more than 500 members, including Olympic skiers, curlers, swimmers, Paralympians, triathletes, and, of course, hockey players. The new hall features a number of interactive exhibits and proudly showcases some of Canada's best sport achievements."

"Ride the Rails West Heritage Park's antique steam train thunders through the Living Historical Village, giving the park a sense of place in time that deepens the experience for visitors young and old. History comes alive on two wheels at Heritage Park, though numerous other attractions shed light on Canadian history from as far back as 1860. Many of the park's exhibits are interactive, while the guides and costumed interpreters are knowledgeable and approachable. Still, it's OK to admit that you came out West to put on your conductor's hat."

"Hit the Slopes in the Middle of the City One of the best things about Calgary is the winter playground in the center of town. Canada Olympic Park, on the western edge of the city, features a ski hill, snowboard park, cross-country trails, an Olympic luge track, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and a glass elevator that takes you to the 1988 Winter Olympic's biggest ski jump, as well as skating facilities and restaurants. It also offers private and group lessons, so you can brush up on your sport where World Cup and Olympic athletes train. Plan a day to hit the slopes, or forget the skis and come explore the park's less strenuous attractions that celebrate winter. By jennifer allford + jean roe"

"Award-Winning Fare with a View One of only two Canadian restaurants to ever make the S. Pellegrino Top 100 list, this Inglewood fine dining establishment has reopened post-flood with a revamped, local, seasonal menu. When the weather permits, take a seat on the garden patio overlooking trees, flowers, and much of the restaurant’s edible herb and vegetable garden instead of the restored early 20th Century home’s other options—the parlor, dining room, or atrium. Try the halibut and fennel tea with scallop crudo and fava bean bubbles, followed by the seared local duck breast with lentils, shiitake mushrooms and cherry gastrique. The restaurant now also has a more casual offshoot in the Signal Hill neighborhood."

"Jelly-Filled Treats Both a store and a food truck, this is the home of all things sweet, stuffed and iced. Jelly Modern makes its artisanal donuts fresh daily with local, organic ingredients whenever possible. There’s an online schedule to remind you that Madagascar vanilla-dipped donuts are available every day except Tuesday, but fear not because on that day the s’mores, salted caramel, and the elusive skor donuts appear (as well as the whoopie pies). And the gluten-sensitive donut with a surprise filling is available every day."

"Garden Gourmet at Boxwood Café This little sister of the award-winning River Café stands on its own two feet. The same philosophies abound, however (local ingredients, herbs and greens from the restaurant’s garden, slowly roasted meat, and lots of vegetarian options), and, like its sibling, it’s also hidden inside a city park. But this restaurant features a more casual-gourmet card, with rotisserie porchetta sandwiches with crunchy cracklings and peppery arugula on house-made ciabatta; crispy chickpea fritters with cilantro salsa verde; and candied wild coho salmon with new potato and cabbage salad and house-preserved lemon. Never, never skip the black cardamom cheesecake, made with farm-fresh goat’s milk cheese and a buttery graham cracker crust."

"Live Blues Accompanied by Cajun Comfort Food This live blues bar in Inglewood is known for its great music and its Cajun menu. Come for dinner and stay for the show. But if you don’t want to pay the $15-25 cover fee, then it’s best to book a table early and enjoy the deep-fried pickles with chipotle aioli and the Cajun mac ‘n’ cheese (Sylvan Star green peppercorn and cayenne gouda with cave-aged gruyère, sautéed jalapeños, and andouille sausage) before the band hits the stage at 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. Saturday brunch jams (both musical and sweet) make for a relaxing start to the weekend."

"Contemporary Art and Design This home of modern design is part gallery and part store. It’s full of innovative abstract art and functional contemporary decor such as John Greg Ball’s subsonic chair with built-in subwoofers, Eveline Kolijn’s sculptural installations, and Lachlan Bell’s purpleheart spoon set, lauded by Surface Magazine . Whether you’re looking for design inspiration or a unique piece, DaDe is full of astonishing creations. http://www.dadegallery.com/"

"Browse the Shelves at Fair’s Fair With five locations and a well-organized in-store digital database, the friendly staff of family-run Fair’s Fair used bookstore can easily find what you’re looking for, and they have the best selection of popular and hard-to-find books in the city. The cavernous basement of the Ninth Avenue location is for anyone who’s more interested in the journey than destination. They also offer cash for books you want to sell, or twice as much as in-store credit."

"Where the Baristas Play Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters are the golden standard of well-made, high-quality coffee in Canada—two of its baristas placed first and second at the 2012 Canadian National Barista Championship. P&S has been roasting its own coffee since 2009, and now distribute their carefully sourced beans throughout the country. With multiple locations, including Marda Loop and the new wing of Chinook Centre, there’s always a great espresso nearby."

"Pop-Up Market You’ll have to check the calendar for the next pop-up event from this collective of over a hundred local artists and musicians. From upcycled, eye-popping necklaces by Tinged to the masculine characteristics of designer Rebecca King's elegant coats and dresses, you’ll need that carefully-sourced coffee from Caffe Rosso and gluten-free cinnamon-sugar donut from Gluten Free Foodgasm to make it to the last stall."

"Heated Suites and Warm Buns Located just off trendy 17 Ave SW, Hotel Elan combines stunning comfort and modern luxury in a boutique hotel. The suites are massive, with a bedroom, living room, and full kitchen, so you’ll feel right at home throughout your stay. Just don’t expect to use the kitchen much, as your private balcony will overlook 17th Ave SW, home to countless tempting restaurants, bars, and lounges that make up one Calgary’s funkiest neighborhoods. These rooms come with a few amenities that you will miss dearly once you check out. I’m talking not just about the heated tile flooring but also the heated toilet seats. Yep. From $199. Contact 1-403-229-2040."

"A Trio of Trendsetters Under One Roof While it isn’t uncommon for a hotel, a restaurant and a bar to live under the same roof, it's rather unprecedented that all three are both award winning and local favourites. Contemporary décor and chic styling define Hotel Arts, a designer boutique-style property just steps from the centre of the city. Each suite has a stunning view, whether it’s our across the city skyline or simply high above the outdoor swimming pool and bar. Yellowtail restaurant – known for Calgary’s Best Brunch Buffet - stunning décor matches the contemporary twist dished out on chef Duncan Ly’s bistro-inspired menu. And finally, Raw Bar, pulls in the trifecta, as it’s known for its delicious Vietmodern cuisine, tasty desserts by the resident pastry chef, and creative cocktails that flow until the early hours."

"Luxury Lodging in Downtown Calgary Located right downtown on Centre Street, The Hyatt Regency provides more than a luxurious place to sleep in Calgary. It’s more of a swank home base for exploring the entire city. The Olympic Plaza and Calgary Tower are both within a few minutes' walk of the hotel and, off to the west, the Canadian Rockies are within view. The Glenbow Museum is only five minutes away, and its collection of Western Canadian history is the perfect starting point for an Alberta adventure. If you are more interested in the sights and sounds of the city, just walk out the hotel’s side door onto the Stephen Avenue Pedestrian Mall. And, whenever you get tired, the comforts of the Hyatt Regency will help recharge your batteries."