Guide: 8 things you can ONLY do in Calgary

Hello Calgary! It’s a pretty nice city we live in, isn’t it? And guess what, even though we may think we’ve seen it all, there’s still a ton of ~exclusive~ stuff to do here. So, make the most of your time and become a true Calgarian with these unique activities and places to see.

Here are 8 unique things you can only do in Calgary.

Events and Activities

The ‘PEDE

Look– they don’t call it the greatest outdoor show on earth just for giggles. People from all over the world come for our Cowtown hoedown, so mark your calendars for July 5 to 14. It’s what upcoming acts Tim McGraw and The Sheepdogs would want you to do.

Banff, baby

Banff is one of those towns that people know. It’s kind of a big deal… and it’s only a scenic 1.5-hour drive away. Head on up to the mountains, hit the Grizzly House for fondue, and look for ghosts at the Banff Springs castle.

Food

Got beef?

Fun fact: Ginger Beef was developed in Calgs during the mid-1970s by chef George Wong! We can’t thank him enough for his contribution to our lives, but what we can do is scarf down an ungodly amount of Chinese food. Leo Fu’s is the perfect spot to do so (they’ve got the best lunch buffet in the city)!

Caesar time

Fact: the Caesar, in all its tomato, Worcestershire, and tasty garnish glory, was invented in Calgary. It all went down in 1969 when Walter Chell of the Calgary Inn was tasked to create a signature drink for the restaurant. Now, it’s been revamped into a gorgeous tower of waffles, wings, and sliders. You could say our city’s perfected this sip…

Shake it up

Peter’s Drive-In is one of those classic Calgary places that gives you warm fuzzies. It also gives you a heck of a cheek/jaw workout, since their shakes (in flavours like Watermelon, Lemon, Licorice, Oreo, Toasted Marshmallow, Mango, Mint, Root Beer, Grape, etc) are thicker than a Snicker. We wish you the best getting it out of that teeny tiny straw, but if you need a break we highly recommend diving into their onion rings. (They are the GOAT, don’t @ us.)

Ice cream dream

Would ya look at the time! Looks like it’s ice cream o’clock. You should def hit up Village Ice Cream for some Maple Pecan, Guides Mint, Earl Grey Tea or Cardamom. Orrr head to Made By Marcus for Lemon Curd Blueberry or Ube Passionfruit Marshmallow. Or just hit every place. Our small batch ice cream scene is poppin’.

Culture

Throw it on back

A legit steam train, antique midway rides, heritage buildings and homesteads… Heritage Park has it all. If you’re a history buff (or if you just like having a good time in the good old days), we strongly recommend hitting it up.

Crusin’ the avenue

17th Ave and Stephen Ave are must-sees. Snap a pic with the Galleria Trees, peruse Frank & Oak or Purr, or peep the Farmer’s Market on Tuesday aft. Oh, and hit the Poutinerie or forever hold your peace.

And that’s our guide to some of the things that make Calgary so special! We will keep our eyes peeled for stuff that we missed over the summer, and let us know if you think something should be on here!

Curiocity Staff

With a curated slate of what matters in your city, Curiocity presents you with the most relevant local food, experiences, news, deals, and adventures. We help you get the most out of your city and focus on the easy-to-miss details so that you’re always in the know.

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