Do a Three-Sixty and Take it In

Now I’m going to take you away from the busy hustle and bustle of city life, to no place other than the great outdoors, the Canadian Rockies. And the first thing you need to do when you get there is take in a deep breath, let it out slowly and do a three-sixty… just take it all in.

The drive out to the Rockies is jaw dropping in itself. The moment you crest the foothills and get your first real view of those rocky giants, you will be able to understand why this has been called one of the most beautiful places in the world. Your breath will literally be swept away.

At this point, all the things you want to do/see are probably running through your head. What about hiking? Or biking? Or even whitewater rafting? Or if it is winter… downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, dog sledding? The possibilities are endless! You will be like a kid on Christmas morning.

But forget all that business! It can wait. If it is your first time in the Rockies the first thing you need to do is find a patio, grab a beer or pop, and admire that awe-inspiring view. If the weather doesn’t permit, just grab a cup of hot cocoa, cozy up to a wood burning fire, and look out the window at those snow capped peaks.  Just take a deep breath, appreciate where you are, and relax. That’s what the great outdoors is all about… getting back to it all!

Where Your First Stop Should Be

When you take it all in, you have to be in the right place; and the first place on your drive out from Calgary (and the most perfect place) is Canmore, Alberta.

Whenever you hear about the Canadian Rockies you will hear of places such as Banff and Jasper, small towns located directly in the Rockies’ national parks. Banff and Jasper are advertised left, right, and center on tourism sites, which consequently results in these places being the ultimate tourist magnets. You will see tour buses loaded with people from every part of the world. Shops that line the main streets of these towns are identical, all containing the same, pointless knickknacks and souvenirs. Unfortunately they epitomize the typical tourist trap.

To truly get a taste of the Rockies, you need to go somewhere real that will allow you to take it all in. Canmore is that place. It is a small town located only an hour away from Calgary, nestled between two ranges of rocky giants. The people there are sincere, down-to-earth, and fun loving (unlike those found in tourist towns who try to squeeze every nickel and dime out of you). Canmore is filled with people who are friendly and outgoing; almost everyone owns a dog and the average fitness level is impressive. The community is vibrant and the opportunities for activities, restaurants, and just plain wandering around are endless. Main Street in Canmore will take you back, with an old-fashioned candy store and homemade fudge and ice cream shops. Top rated restaurants are sprinkled all over town, some of which hold the best view to the Rockies I have ever seen!

(Photo courtesy of: http://www.photosot.com/albert)

Canmore is THE place to grab that warm cup of hot cocoa or that chilled glass of beer, or pop if you’re a minor (and coincidentally the legal drinking age in Alberta is only 18) AND TAKE IT ALL IN! 

"The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth": The Calgary Stampede

(Photo courtesy of: http://www.executiveofficespace.net)

The Calgary Stampede is a ten-day event during the month of July that hosts the world’s largest rodeo. Yes, the world’s largest rodeo! Sorry Texas, I guess the saying that “everything is bigger in Texas” just isn’t entirely true.

But the Stampede isn’t just a rodeo. It includes everything: a midway with stomach turning rides, stage shows and concerts, agricultural shows, beer gardens, you name it! The Stampede literally has something for everyone; it is coined as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.”

To make the best out of your Calgary Stampede experience, just follow these helpful tips:

Helpful Tip #1: No Boots, No Wranglers, No Service

Now to start, there is a huge build-up to the Stampede. Calgary transforms from a business hub for oil and gas, to a virtual western saloon. Flags for the event are posted on lampposts and streetlights. Stacks of hay make their way into the parking lots and into the lobbies of hotels and skyscrapers. And the glass surfaces of downtown are filled with window paintings of cowboys, bulls, and horses. But best of all, people begin to dawn their cowboy boots and Wrangler jeans. It has become a common rule of Calgary: during the ten days of the Calgary Stampede western wear is the required apparel. Wear a business tie and it will be cut off… seriously! You will walk the streets of downtown and only a sparse few of those uptight business men will remained in their suits (usually visitors), the rest are all in their chic western wear. Now this helpful hint has turned out to be more of a rule. So Rule #1: western apparel is mandatory (it is not an option).

Helpful Tip #2: Free Pancake Breakfasts!!!

For each day of the Stampede, there are at least 20 pancake breakfasts put on by communities, shopping centers, businesses, or even down town office buildings. So take advantage of this… it’s FREE! Who wouldn’t want to start off their morning with a warm and fluffy flapjack with maple syrup? And it comes with orange juice and sausages too! Just check the local newspaper or online for a schedule of all the public pancake breakfasts in Calgary and their location.

Helpful Tip #3: Free Concerts!

Now I know what you may be thinking… all free concerts are just local bands trying to make it to the big time. But, at the Calgary Stampede it is a little different. At the Stampede all you have to do is pay an entrance fee to the fairgrounds to hear some great artists and bands. In the past the Coca Cola Stage (that’s where the free concerts take place) has been host to big names such as Reba McEntire (and for those of you who are less inclined to the twang, there are numerous non-country bands booked on the stage too). So check out the Coca Cola Stage lineup at the Calgary Stampede to make sure you don’t miss out!

Helpful Tip #4: The Mind-Bending Midway

Like all festival-like events, the Calgary Stampede is host to a midway filled with stomach turning rides and carnival games. If you are one of those people that can’t get enough of those machines that toss and turn you, and those games that tempt you with super-size-me plush toys, this is the place to be. Just remember… know your limit. Nothing hurts more than a regurgitated lunch from way too many rides, or an empty wallet from going a little bit over board on the games.

Helpful Tip #5: The One Must Do of the Stampede

The Rodeo! Put on that cowboy hat and those fancy boots and get ready for the biggest “yahoo” of the entire event. The Stampede hosts the best of the best in the sport of rodeo. People come from all around to compete for the million-dollar prize. Yeah that’s right folks, the biggest prize money in rodeo. If there is one thing you have to do during the Stampede, this is it!

(Photo courtesy of: http://www.halfmileofhell.com)

And don’t forget the chucks! A unique rodeo event in Canada; the chuckwagon races are a true remnant of the old west cattle drive days.  The last to leave camp was the cook, but he had to be the first to set up at the next camp.  At the Stampede, the “stove” is loaded in the back and then the race is on, the wagons careen around barrels with the outriders close behind. It’s a race to the finish! 

Getting to Know Calgary

Nestled into the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and bordered by a vast expanse of golden plains to its east, Calgary, Alberta has grown from a mere RCMP post in 1875, into a thriving city. And for those of you who don’t know about the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) just think of Dudley Do-Right.

(Photo courtesy of: http://travelontheworld.com/calgary-alberta-canada.html)

Some call Calgary “the heart of the New West.” It’s nickname is Cowtown, which makes sense since during the year you will see people riding horseback in the streets of downtown (a downtown that was the backdrop for the first Superman movie with its glass skyscrapers). The country feel of Calgary is unprecedented, despite its population of over a million. You have not seen the rodeo until you have visited Calgary… not even if you’re from Texas. 

This is it...

Here it is ladies and gentleman; this is THE blog for the ultimate ins and outs of Calgary, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies that lie to its west. Prepare yourself to be amazed and discover how to make the best out of your stay here in Southern Alberta.