City Walk

A Day in Calgary Downtown We stopped in Calgary for a day on our way to Banff, and discovered the city is far more charming than we’d imagined. Compared to Vancouver—with its beaches and ocean views—Calgary feels drier, and even its busiest areas have a softer, less hyper-modern vibe. It’s a quieter kind of energy, but no less inviting 😊. 🗼 The Calgary Tower looms over the skyline, an unmissable landmark. For $20, you can ride to the top and take in a 360° panorama of the city. Part of the floor is glass, and standing over that transparent panel? Heart-pounding stuff if you’re afraid of heights 😱—looking straight down at the streets below never fails to make your knees wobbly. But the view? Worth it: sprawling neighborhoods, the curve of the Bow River, and distant peaks peeking over the horizon 🏞️. ⚪️ The Wonderland Sculpture—those giant white faces—is another must-see. It’s become a favorite photo spot, with people posing in front of the smooth, abstract features that seem to blend into the sky. There’s something almost surreal about them, like silent observers watching over the downtown buzz 📸. 🏬 Locals say winter here can plunge to -40°C, and the city’s adapted brilliantly: most downtown buildings are connected by elevated glass walkways (called "plus 15s," since they’re 15 feet above street level). It’s a genius system—you can wander from shops to cafes to offices without stepping foot in the cold ❄️, a lifesaver when the wind chills bite. 🚏 The C-Train is hard to miss, too—long red carriages gliding through the city, a stark contrast to Vancouver’s transit. It’s efficient, and riding it gives you a quick sense of how Calgary’s laid out: from the bustling core to the quieter edges, all tied together by those bright trains 🚇. If it’s your first time here, carve out a few hours to soak in that "Cowtown" charm. It’s not flashy, but there’s a warmth to it—whether you’re grabbing a coffee in a historic building, watching the C-Train rumble by, or pausing to snap a photo with those iconic white sculptures 📽️. #Calgary #CityWalk #BanffNationalPark