Calgary: City of Adventure
Calgary is well known for being a winter sport destination, and for good reason. The city played host to the 1988 winter Olympics and many of the winter sport facilities that the residents and visitors enjoy to this day are a result of the city hosting the games that year.
The Canada Olympic Park and the Olympic Oval speed skating facility are two fabulous Olympic venues that remain in use in Calgary. The Canada Olympic Park is used in the winter for training athletes in winter sports and is also open to the public for skiing and snowboarding during the winter months and cycling during the summer. The Olympic Oval is open to the public for skating as well as being a training facility for speed skaters.
During the summer, Calgary plays host to over a million visitors every year in July for the Calgary Stampede. This huge cowboy festival includes the world's largest outdoor rodeo as well as concerts, stage shows, agricultural exhibitions, and chuck wagon races. The ten day long festival attracts spectators from all over the world. The annual event attracts a first-rate selection of rodeo competitors with its two million dollars in prize money!
If cowboy culture isn't your cup of tea, there are lots of other ways to keep entertained during the summer months in Calgary as well. The city pys host to a large Folk Music Festival every summer over four days with a staggering 60+ artists performing on seven stages. There is also a one day Caribbean music festival in June, called Carifest.
There are a variety of other types of amusements in and around the city as well. For the thrill seeking population Calgary also has western Canada's largest amusement park with 90 acres of rides and concessions at Calaway Park. The city and the surrounding area also have a number of natural and historical parks as well as the second largest zoo in Canada.
Heritage Park Historical Village stands out for those with a penchant for history as being an amazing facility for living history. It boasts 130 acres with construction representing four time periods, a working steam train, streetcar, paddle steamer, working shops, and costumed park staff to help you learn about Canadian history in a fun way.
First time buyers are discovering the value of buying a residence in Calgary. It is a quality investment that supports our modern active lifestyles for all age groups; and with such a fabulous array of activities in and around Calgary, it is no wonder that it has drawn a great range of people to the city.