Lately I’ve been noticing quite a few people mentioning that they live in Calgary, Alberta or near it. I may only be noticing y’all because I’m planning on a trip to Calgary in July and thus it has relevance for me, but you’re out there, I know it.
Anyhow, the purpose of this thread is to let you Canadians weigh in and brag about your city. What do you like best about the place, what are some fun areas to check out, that sort of thing. I’m meeting a friend there who’s already taken the position of tour guide, but I’m interested in hearing what other people have to say.
Yes, I am planning on attending Stampede, it sounds like a hell of a lot of fun. Especially when I heard there’s a casino at Stampede Park, and the minimum age limit for gambling is 18. I’m 19, and the next two years until I can go blow my savings in Vegas are gonna be torture.
I do have a couple specific questions, regarding currencies:
Is there a currency exchange booth at YYC? I have a feeling there’s not, and I suppose it isn’t really necessary, but it’d be nice to swap out my money right away.
Does the exchange rate work with debit cards? In other words, if I use my debit card, will it automatically convert from Canadian money to US money before hitting my account? I saw an earlier thread that touched briefly on this, but it didn’t seem to say much.
Oh, and FTR, I’m flying up from Arizona, and it seems weird as heck to hear about rodeos that far north.
I’m not from Calgary, but I would expect there is an exchange booth at the airport. Simpler, though, just to use your debit card - it’ll come out in Canadian , but be converted and charged to your bank account in US . Just check with your bank in advance to make sure which ATM network will connect to your bank. The most common up here is Interac, but there’s also Cirrus, and a few others. The ATM usually has a sticker on it showing what networks it talks to.
Calgary in the summer is a great place to be.
I left Calgary in 1994 and haven’t spent a great deal of time there since; I have only recently moved back into the area. Canmore, Alberta, as a matter of fact. The website for it is http://www.canmorealberta.com - very much worth your time as a side trip. It’s beeeyooootiful here.
It depends on what sorts of things you are looking to do.
As for the debit card… I think it works for you. I know my bank card worked when I used it in the US, and it calculated the exchange rate for me.
As for it being silly that we would have a rodeo this far north… Heck, to us, it’s the ONLY rodeo!
If you haven’t booked a room at a hotel yet for your stay during the Stampede you may very well be SOL already. If your camping, same story.
Its a nice city. I go there about every 6 months or so. My wife lived there when we met (she went to University there). I almost moved there and would have been very happy. It has grown tremendously over the past 10 years, hence has many of the growing pains… like traffic.
Have a good time. The Stampede is a must. Maybe visit Heritage park too if you have the time. Its a restored, functioning frontier town. The city has one hell of a nightlife too if you want to go out on the town. Especially during the Stampede.
Thanks for the help with the debit cards. I’d hate to be caught up there without money. I’m sure it’s not as big a deal as I fear, but it’s my first trip out of the country by myself and one can’t be too careful.
Ginger, I wish I could visit Canmore, but I’m only going to be up in Calgary for three days or so, barely enough time to see one city, much less two.
bernse, I had a room booked a month ago. Good location, too, in the middle of everything as, far as I can tell.
I’m looking forward to Stampede. Everyone I talk to hasn’t had anything bad to say about it, and I suspect I haven’t heard half of what happens there.
I’m a native Calgarian, and only moved away a year ago; I lived here for 43 years.
The Stampede is definitely a big party. If you’re downtown, you can find at least one free pancake breakfast on almost every street, put on by the big companies or other groups. There are also free breakfasts at a lot of the shopping malls and other places, but you kind of have to watch the advertising to find out where.
The bars and clubs are always jumping, and even the ones who normally wouldn’t be caught dead playing country music tend to go country at least a little bit all week. Employees can dress in cowboy shirts and cowboy boots if they want, and the whole atmosphere is pretty relaxed.
The rodeo is a huge part of Stampede, of course, though many of us have never been to it. It’s not at all an anomaly “this far north,” because Alberta and Saskatchewan are heavily farmed provinces to much further north than Calgary. There’s more to the Stampede than just the rodeo, though. Of course there’s the amusement park, with rides. There are exhibits of all sorts, and usually concerts sometimes featuring pretty big names (you’d have to check the promotional information somewhere to find out those details).
Whoever said that if you haven’t already booked a hotel room you’re SOL, is right. I would contact the Calgary tourist board (I don’t know a link, or the #, sorry) because they often have lists of homes where you can rent a room during Stampede; our family did that one year.
I second the idea of going to Heritage Park, in southwest Calgary. It’s great for walking through the history of the area.
I don’t remember the exact dates you’re going, but if I remember correctly, the folk festival is often held the week after Stampede. You might want to look into that as well.
Yup, there are currency exchanges up the wazoo at YYC. There’s pretty much everything you’d ever require at an airport, it’s a fairly busy place, you know!
My own $ 0.02:
Best pub: The Ship and Anchor http://www.shipandanchor.com Everyhting you’d want in the beverage department, and the food is fantastic for a very reasonable price. On a sunny day, the patio is packed with all the cool kids (like me! :))
The whole 17th Avenue South West area generally has lots of cool stuff, bars, clubs, places to eat. (It’s my former neighbourhood, so I know it pretty well)
Grab a free copy of Fast Forward http://www.greatwest.ca/ffwd somewhere to find out what’s happening. It has all the listings for stuff that’s going on.
I’m not sure what your tastes are with regards to music, clubs, food, whatever, but I know where EVERYTHING can be found in this town, so feel free to ask me any questions. I’ll be happy to guide you to what ever you want to find here!
The weather is usually awesome at that time of year. Hot sunny days (although, seeing as how you’re from Arizona you’ll probably need a sweater!) with bigs ass thunderstorms in the late afternoon and early evening.
Pub? Right, right, the drinking age is 18, ain’t it? You Canadian sinners, you’re leading a US minor into temptation. I love ya for it, too.
And yeah, I laughed outright when my friend told me it’s gonna be a hot summer; it’s apparently already getting into the 30 C/85 F area. Compared with 38 C/100 F down here, it’ll be a welcome change. I miss wearing my jacket already. snf
Rent a room in a house? I hadn’t even thought of that. I have the money for a decent hotel room, though, and I snagged a reservation a while ago. Muaha. I can only imagine the city’s gonna be packed for Stampede, eh?
Thanks for the offer, too, Gretchen, but I already have a guide. She’s the real reason I’m visiting. The whole Calgary, Canada thing is just a bonus.
Stampede is a blast - you should go to the rodeo for sure - its great - pretty big scale too, although the prize $$ is less. (apparently that doesn’t matter too much to the competetors).
During stampede you should check out Desparado’s - its close to the grounds and its packed every night. Lots of pretty girls wearing skimpy tops and boots!
You’ll also be able to find a free pancake breakfast every morning - just troll around downtown.
Check out Prince’s Island Park and Eau Claire market - nice to relax at.
The Calgary Zoo is pretty good too, if you’re into that sort of thing.
For some good food, the Livingroom is super - cozy atmosphere, great service, and the food is sooooo Yummy! For brunch check out DD’s (Delectable Delights). They make a vegtable omlete that would curl your toes!
There’s tonnes to do here - you’ll have a great time - and yes, the drinking age is 18. We figure if you can choose the government, then you can probably have a beer - careful though - the Canadain stuff might knock you on your ass. American beer is like having sex in a canoe…
