Calgary

By moofd

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Calgary can be summed up in two words: cowboys and oil.

Now let me back up. Calgary is the biggest city in Alberta, but inside it's got a small town feel (a good thing). As you drive in from Hwy 1 you can see the bales of hay on all sides of the city. Inside the city, there's a flurry of construction as it transforms into a cosmopolitan center of the world. But as of now, it's got a small localized Chinatown, a well defined tourist/hotel district along the waterfront, and a nice walkable downtown with western flair. One of the main attractions is the Calgary Tower, which is unfortunately going to be obscured by new condo developments.

As an American, it's odd to think of our northern neighbors as having any similarity to Texas in the south, but it's true. Calgary historically depended on the petroleum industry, and even today the oil companies still have offices there. The restaurants focus on a western (cowboy) saloon type of theme, and steak is still in fashion. Calgary feels smaller and less diverse than Vancouver or Toronto, but at the same time it feels more accessible, like you could just exit the touristy area and see real locals.


Off Hwy 1 (trans canada hwy) in Alberta.




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