A Day In Downtown Calgary

A Day in Downtown Calgary

When I think of what to do with my spare time here in Calgary more often than not my thoughts immediately turn towards downtown. There’s more than enough activities to do in our city’s core to keep any kind of visitor busy; whether you’re a long time resident like myself, new to Calgary or are visiting for a few days, a day in downtown Calgary is a day well spent.

Anyone visiting the downtown area will find only the best our city has to offer in terms of dining, shopping, entertainment and recreation.

Start the day off right!

If you’re an early bird like I am, it’s possible you’ll be looking for a delicious breakfast to start off the day. Now, there are many breakfast restaurants to choose from, but I highly recommend Thomsons Restaurant in the Hyatt Hotel (on Stephen Avenue and Centre Street) for one of the best all inclusive breakfast buffets in town. From omelettes’ and eggs Benedict to French toast and croissants, this buffet has it all and with endless Tropicana fruit beverages to boot, the experience is well worth the cost of $23 big ones.

Time to shop!

If you’re a shopping fanatic like I am, it’s possible you’re looking to for some of the best retail shops around. Stephen Avenue (8^th Avenue SW) is one of the best places to satisfy all your shopping urges. Access to TD Square, Scotia Bank Centre and Bankers Hall is found between 1^st and 4^th Street SW, where you will find the likes of Holt Renfrew, Harry Rosen, Michael Kors and plenty more of only the best upscale retailers.

An indoor oasis

If you like, after a long day at core shopping mall consider heading up to the 4^th floor of the core shopping mall to visit the magnificent Devonian Gardens. This recently renovated interior garden features an impressive array of plants, ponds and marine life all lit by skylights resulting in a very calm and collecting atmosphere, great for some r n r.

Past and Present

If you’re a history buff like I am and are looking for more of a cultural experience in downtown, I recommend heading over to the Glenbow Museum off of Stephen Avenue and 1^st Street SE. Four extensive collections categorized into archive, art, library and museum let visitors experience Aboriginal and Canadian history like nowhere else in town.

A city of many cultures

Another option would be to visit Chinatown and the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre. Since its establishment, the Chinese Cultural Centre has been an integral part of cultural activities, programs and events for the Chinese culture in our city and has much to see.

The beautiful outdoors

If you love outdoor recreation as much as I do and the weather permits, then a trip to the Bow River pathways is well worth it! These riverside pathways span the full distance of downtown from east to west and beyond and are a great way to experience some sights of Calgary without being completely engulfed by urban white noise. If you do choose to visit the river pathways, make a note to visit Prince’s Island Park! This island sits in the middle of the Bow River and is a very relaxing escape from the busy downtown core.

Why Downtown Calgary is the heart of Calgary

Downtown Calgary is filled with places to go, things to do and people to see. While my suggestions above are a great starting point for a day in downtown Calgary, in all reality, visitors will surely be wooed to spontaneity by the vibrant culture of downtown and try an assortment of activities and events they discover along the way.

This has been a guest post by Cody Battershill. He is the founder of Calgaryism and is a Calgary realtor. Check out his blog and say hi to him on twitter and instagram @Calgaryism

Tagged as: Calgary, calgaryism, Chinatown, devonian gardens, downtown, Glenbow Museum, Hyatt, The Core, Thomsons