Discover Calgary: Culture, Trails and City Views

Calgary can be explored through several distinct themes: Heritage Park Historical Village focuses on portraying life from the 1860s to the 1930s. Studio Bell and The Confluence Cultural Centre offer different cultural perspectives, while the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway and Calgary’s multi-use pathways add another way to explore the city. From the Calgary Tower observation deck, you can see the city and the Rocky Mountains in a 360° panorama. If you’re looking for hotels in Calgary, first consider which of these themes matter most for your travel dates. This can help you shape your stay around culture, historical portrayals, trails or city views.

Culture, History and Performances

Heritage Park Historical Village portrays life from the 1860s to the 1930s. Costumed interpreters tell the story of the Canadian West. Guests can also take rides on a steam train. This brings two distinct aspects of a visit together: a historical portrayal covering a clearly defined period and a steam train ride. As schedules may vary, check them if you plan to take the train on a particular day. That way, you can coordinate this activity with the rest of your stay.

Studio Bell has five floors of performance, exhibition and collection spaces. Visitors can enjoy live performances there; the programme depends on the institution’s schedule. Visitors can also book the Greatest Hits Tour or the Backstage Pass Tour. Tour availability may change. If you’re choosing between a live performance and a tour, two different planning details matter: the performance schedule and the availability of your preferred tour.

The Confluence Cultural Centre presents stories about Indigenous culture and Treaty 7, as well as Calgary’s founding and early development. This gives it a different historical focus from Heritage Park: Treaty 7 and Calgary’s early history are presented alongside Heritage Park’s portrayal of the Canadian West from the 1860s to the 1930s.

Trails and City Views

Calgary’s multi-use pathways are available to all Calgary residents for walking, running, inline skating and cycling. Calgary has about 1,000 km of regional multi-use pathways and 96 km of hiking trails. These figures refer to different trail categories and provide an overview of the pathway network.

The Rotary/Mattamy Greenway is a 138 km trail that forms a loop around Calgary. Route details may change; check them before planning if you intend to include the Greenway in your itinerary. Its specific length and loop shape offer a different point of reference from the overall figures for regional multi-use pathways and hiking trails.

The Calgary Tower observation deck offers 360° views of the bustling city and the Rocky Mountains. Here, the focus is on the panorama; the trails, by contrast, offer a different focus on getting around and following routes. As you plan your trip, you can weigh up a view of the city from above, cultural experiences and the different descriptions of the pathway network.

Discover more destinations: Cremona, Okotoks, Sundre, High River, Turner Valley, Priddis, Lyalta, Chestermere

For the broader travel overview: Division No. 6.