With a wide variety of terrain and weather conditions, there are many outdoor and family activities to enjoy in Calgary. For the adventurous and thrill-seeking, Canada Olympic Park offers some great downhill mountain bike courses as well as ice-skating and other fun activities. Take a trip to the Telus World of Science and the kids will be entertained for hours.

Cycling
Cycling is a great way to explore the city of Calgary and the surrounding wilderness. There are some fantastic, scenic trails through the mountains as well as more relaxed paths around the lakes. Canada Olympic Park has the best mountain bike courses and fastest downhill runs for all riding abilities and ages. Have fun exploring the city’s 402kms (250 miles) of paved pathways.

Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
The cool winters in Calgary bring much snow, which allows a plethora of great wintertime activities to be enjoyed, including skiing and snowboarding. Calgary is home to a wide variety of ski parks, villages and resorts that have lifts, restaurants and accommodation available. Rabbit Hill Snow Resort is not far from Calgary city and has great facilities. Phone: +1 780 955 2440.

Go-kart Racing
Go-karts are an adrenalin pumping, exciting activity for the whole family to enjoy. Kart World Family Fun Centre in the southwest district of Calgary has several tracks as well as different karts for children four-years-old and up. Phone: +1 403 253 8301.

Ice Skating
With the long, cold winters, the beautiful and graceful sport of ice-skating is popular in Calgary. There are a plethora of outdoor and indoor ice rinks throughout the city which can be enjoyed by the whole family. The Olympic Oval facility is one of the best in the world, located on University Drive, in the northwest district. Phone: +1 403 220 7890.

Telus World of Science
Telus World of Science is a fantastic attraction for kids with a host of educational exhibits shows and hands on programmes. This creative children’s museum will keep children occupied for a few hours, and their artistic creations are put on display for all to see. Phone: +1 780 451 3344; website: www.calgaryscience.ca  

With an interesting history, Calgary offers an array of cultural activities and attractions to enjoy. The popular Heritage Park Historical Village is a fascinating look into the early pioneering days of Calgary, with a re-created living city complete with charactersfrom the past. The city is also blessed with a wide range of performing arts events from operas to musicals and plays throughout the year.

Fort Calgary
This museum is a walk back in time, showing the environment, lifestyle and challenges faced by the early pioneer settlers. With exhibits, characters and interactive activities, the fort provides families with the opportunity to enjoy a history lesson on Calgary. With so much to see and do, Fort Calgary is a must-see when visiting the city. Phone: +1 403 290 1875; website: www.fortcalgary.com/index.htm

Glenbow Museum
For a look into the past of Calgary and the surrounding areas, Glenbow Museum has a vast collection of art, artefacts and historical documents showcased among fantastic displays. There are Native Indian history lessons and great hands-on activities for small children. Phone: +1 403 2684 100; website: www.glenbow.org/index.cfm

Heritage Park Historical Village
This amazing cultural park has perfect recreations of how the area of Calgary looked in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There are living towns with real life characters to immerse you into the era. Little ones will love the steam train, sternwheeler boat and horse-drawn carriages that take you around the beautiful grounds. Website: www.heritagepark.ca/index.htm

Military Museums
Located only a short drive from the centre of Calgary, the Military Museums combines seven museums into one large area. Over 13 acres the fascinating history and heritage of the Canadian armed forces can be explored alone or by guided tour. Impressive naval displays of ships and submarines as well as early tanks are found throughout the museum. Website: www.themilitarymuseums.com

Performing Arts
The large city of Calgary has a variety of performing arts to enjoy from ballet to opera, to symphony orchestras and musicals. There are some world-class venues including: the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, the Performing Arts Centre, Jack Singer Hall and numerous theatres in the Calgary University grounds. During the summer months, Shakespeare in the Park is held, which can be enjoyed with deckchairs and a picnic. Tickets for all shows can be booked through TicketMaster. Phone: +1 403 299 8888

Throughout the charming streets of downtown Calgary, there are a plethora of fantastic restaurants, cafés and local eateries. You will find flavours and cuisines from all over the globe including: Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian, Moroccan, Italian, French, Lebanese, Mexican, Cuban, British and South American. With the inland location, finding a fresh seafood dinner is not particularly easy.

The city does not have a particular speciality, but locals are proud of Alberta beef, which can be sampled at one of the numerous steakhouse restaurants. If you are looking for a special night out, there are some top-class restaurants with excellent and varied menus including the Belvedere, which has won numerous awards.

Shopping in Calgary is an exciting and enjoyable experience with some great farmers’ markets, boutique shops and vast malls. Situated in the downtown area, the city’s largest indoor shopping complex contains four separate malls with every brand name and retail outlet available. An entire day can be spent wandering through the numerous shops and market stalls.

Positioned in the southeast of the city, Crossroads Flea Market is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The historic 100,000 square foot building is filled with an array of stalls selling everything from antiques to clothes and even fresh produce. Be sure to visit one of the many fresh farmers’ markets, as the atmosphere is electric.