One Day in CalgaryAAA editors suggest these activities for a great short vacation experience.
MorningAAA/Inspector 503
Start your day out and about in Calgary with breakfast at Diner Deluxe (804 Edmonton Tr. N.E.). This fun, 1950s retro-cool eatery serves classic eggs-and-toast breakfasts along with French toast stuffed with Gouda and Canadian bacon and a French-Canadian twist on hash browns involving cheese curds and hollandaise sauce.
AAA/Inspector 511
Diner Deluxe makes a good starting point not just for the hearty food or the mid-century modern ambience but also because it's just a few minutes from the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo (1300 Zoo Rd. N.E.).
You'll want to spend a few hours exploring the zoo's carefully designed animal enclosures and exhibits. Learn about grizzly bears and wolves in the zoo's Canadian Wilds section, check out the life-size dinosaur models in Prehistoric Park and witness four species of penguins waddling and shaking their tail feathers in an indoor-outdoor exhibit called Penguin Plunge.
Daily zoo activities offer plenty to keep you busy, with zookeeper talks, animal training sessions, nature walks and daily meet and greets with zoo residents. If you're traveling with kids in Calgary, don't miss the storytime presentations and the game-filled activity center.
AfternoonAAA/Katie Broome
Cross the river into Inglewood for an afternoon exploring one of Calgary’s oldest neighborhoods. Independent shops line both sides of Inglewood's main street (9th Avenue S.E.), with women’s clothing boutiques, spice and tea shops, a surplus store, a vinyl record shop and other unique places that are fun to browse. If you like art, pop into Esker Foundation (1011 9th Ave. S.E.) and check out their latest collection of thought-provoking contemporary art (admission is free).
For lunch, find the unassuming entrance to Without Papers Pizza (1216 9th Ave. S.E.), a local favorite for thin-crust pizzas and house-made ice cream. If you need to walk off your meal, consider taking the scenic route along the Bow River. The RiverWalk, a pedestrian- and bike-friendly urban trail, connects Inglewood with downtown and is protected from vehicle traffic.
AAA/Katie Broome
Make your way toward the Calgary Tower (it's hard to miss) and spend some time exploring the Stephen Avenue Walk, a portion of 8th Avenue S.W. that is closed to car traffic from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Towering steel tree sculptures serve both to beautify and reduce gusting winds, and bars, restaurants, boutiques and historic buildings line the pedestrian mall. On weekdays during warm weather months, street performers entertain the crowds.
AAA/Katie Broome
As you stroll along Stephen Avenue, you'll notice pedestrian bridges spanning the street. These are part of the Plus 15 pedestrian system, so-called because the walkways are generally 15 feet (4.6 metres) above street level. The network of enclosed walkways allows people to reach office buildings and shopping malls throughout a 50-block area in climate-controlled comfort, something Calgarians appreciate in the freezing cold of winter.
Evening After a long day of sightseeing, head to Prince's Island Park for dinner with a fantastic view of the city skyline. Park at the Eau Claire Market (200 Barclay Parade S.W.) and take the pedestrian bridge at 2nd Street S.W. across to the island. The River Café (25 Prince's Island Park) occupies a rustic wood-and-stone building that evokes a cabin deep in the woods, yet looking out over the river from its patio, you see downtown's office towers. Make reservations because the café's lovely setting and Canadian Rocky Mountain cuisine make it a popular dinner spot highly sought after by both locals and visitors.
Courtesy of Vero Bistro Moderne
There are plenty more dining options just north of the river in Kensington Village. The walkable district includes top spots like Vero Bistro Moderne (209 10th St. N.W.), serving contemporary Italian dishes, and Hayden Block Smoke & Whiskey (1136 Kensington Rd.), a lively barbecue joint with TVs and picnic-style seating.
Calgary, AB
AAA’s in-person hotel evaluations are unscheduled to ensure the inspector has an experience similar to that of members. To pass inspection, all hotels must meet the same rigorous standards for cleanliness, comfort and hospitality. These hotels receive a AAA Diamond designation that tells members what type of experience to expect.
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Best Western Plus Okotoks Inn & Suites100 Southbank Rd. Okotoks, AB T1S 0N3
Book NowCity Population
1,096,833
Elevation
1,048 m/3,440 ft.
Sales Tax
The federal Goods and Service Tax is 5 percent and applies to most goods, food/beverages and services, including lodgings. Alberta does not have a provincial sales tax but does impose a 3 percent Destination Marketing Fee (DMF) as well as a 4 percent Municipal and Regional District Tax (MRDT).
Emergency
911
Police (non-emergency)
(403) 266-1234
Fire (non-emergency)
311
Temperature
(403) 299-7878
Road Conditions
(877) 262-4997 or 511
Hospitals
Foothills Medical Centre, (403) 944-1110; Peter Lougheed Centre, (403) 943-4555; Rockyview General Hospital, (403) 943-3000.
Visitor Information
238 11th Ave. S.E. Calgary, AB T2G 0X8. Phone:(403)263-8510 or (800)661-1678
Air Travel
Calgary International Airport
Rental Cars
Hertz, with multiple downtown locations and one at Calgary International Airport, offers discounts to CAA and AAA members; phone (403) 221-1676 or (800) 654-3131.
Rail Service
The nearest VIA Rail stations are in Jasper and Edmonton; phone (888) 842-7245.
Buses
Red Arrow Express operates luxury motor coaches between Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton, Fort McMurray and Lethbridge; phone (403) 531-0350 or (800) 232-1958.
Taxis
Taxi companies include Associated Cab, (403) 299-1111; Checker Yellow Cab, (403) 299-9999; and Mayfair Taxi, (403) 255-6555. Allied Limousine provides town car and limo service; phone (403) 299-9555. Taxi rates begin at $3.80 for the first 120 metres (about .074 mi.) or portion thereof, plus 20c for each additional 120 metres (about .074 mi.) or portion thereof (unless departing from Calgary International Airport, where rates are $8.30 for the first 120 metres, then 20c for each additional 120 metres with a $4.50 surcharge). Cabs can be hailed on the street, but phoning ahead is recommended.
Public Transportation
Calgary has both bus and light-rail transit (LRT) service; the latter, known as the CTrain, is free in the downtown core between 3rd Street S.E. and 11th Street S.W. Calgary Transit's office, 125 7th Ave. S.E., has schedules and maps and sells transit passes. Fare is $3.40; $2.35 (ages 6-17). A 1-day pass is $10.75; $7.75 (ages 6-17). Phone (403) 262-1000.
As a AAA member, you'll save even more. Your AAA Travel Agent will check to see if AAA Vacations is combinable with other AAA member benefits, plus cruise and tour past passenger discounts and benefits.