Calgary is a busy city filled with busy people. With the constant hustle and bustle, it can be easy to overlook taking some time to relax and treat yourself. While some people are able to jet off to exotic locations, staycations have become a popular alternative for those who need an escape but want to keep the trip economical and simple.
I was lucky enough to have been offered the opportunity to take my first ever staycation by InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), and I fell even more in love with Calgary than I already was. The weekend I chose to go happened to be my 26th birthday, so I wanted to be a tourist of my own city like I would if I treated myself to a birthday trip anywhere else. We’re lucky to live in such a vibrant city with lots of interesting things to see and do, so it wasn’t hard to fill my weekend with touristy adventures before returning to my hotel room each night. Go do those things you pass off as things that only tourists do, that’s the whole point of a staycation! Look at the city with fresh eyes and remind yourself why Calgary is consistently voted one of the best cities in Canada and the world.
Here are some things you can do while having your very own staycation weekend:
1) Hit up the Calgary Tower:
When is the last time you’ve visited our signature tower? If you’re like me, you probably haven’t visited in years. Well, it’s time to head back on up to the top. While it is no longer the tallest building in Calgary (and hasn’t been in years), it does happen to be to the highest 360° observation deck in the world. After taking a free award-winning multimedia tour, be sure to check out the glass-floored section and get a bird’s-eye view of the busy streets below. Have a meal at the Sky 360 restaurant, which revolves every 45 minutes at lunchtime and every 60 minutes for dinner.
The Calgary Tower has upped its game with the addition of beautiful lights that change colour.
2) Get your fill at one of Calgary’s best restaurants:
For 12 years, Avenue Magazine has been rating Calgary’s restaurants and compiling lists of the best of the best. Long gone are the days of Calgary being a steak and potatoes kind of city; we are quickly becoming a Canadian hot spot for foodies. We are spoiled with diverse cuisines from award-winning chefs. Many of these great restaurants are downtown or surrounding communities, so they are easily accessible using Calgary Transit. Doing that could save you enough money for another cocktail or two!
The Laurier Lounge has always been a favourite restaurant of mine, and is definitely a neighbourhood gem!
3) Gaze at art in the Glenbow:
The Glenbow Museum boasts the largest art collection in Western Canada with its carefully curated travelling and permanent exhibitions. It has a constantly changing events list as well, so every time you go there will be something new to see. One of my favourite things about the Glenbow is that it is filled with not only Calgarian and Albertan historical artifacts, but also items from around Western Canada. Our country may not have as long of a history as others, but what we do have is absolutely fascinating. I also really enjoy that there are some days I can go to the museum and find quite a good bit of solitude depending on the time of day I go. Browsing art in a quiet museum is one of my favourite ways to spend time.
4) Play in a park:
Calgary is home to a ton of green space. 8,000 hectares, to be exact. It also has 800 kilometres of pathways to enjoy. From Fishcreek to Nose Hill to Prince’s Island, there are spots across the city to meander through grassy meadows, play a game of frisbee, have a picnic, and enjoy beautiful works of art. St. Patrick’s Island recently opened, offering Calgarians a huge new space to explore. Sandy beaches, a young growth forest, a boardwalk over naturalized wetland, and tons more can be found on this highly anticipated island in the middle of the Bow River.
Prince’s Island Park offers beautiful views of some of Calgary’s prettiest high rises.
5) Find out what the fuss is about in Calgary’s favourite neighbourhoods:
Our city is filled with amazing neighbourhoods full of family-owned businesses with locally produced goods. A few areas are consistently touted as Calgary gems, including Sunnyside-Hillhurst, Kensington, Inglewood, Bridgeland and the Beltline/17th Avenue area. They are all accessible via Calgary Transit, so leave your car at home and hop on the train or bus and avoid the parking headache. Explore the gems that aren’t so hidden anymore, like Higher Ground and Vendome Cafe, or find your own favourites. Find a neighbourhood pub and drink with the locals in Bowness, explore some specialty stores in Inglewood, sip coffee with hipsters while you people-watch in Mission, and enjoy beautiful views of Calgary’s skyline in Bridgeland.
Walking through Kensington, I found a billboard filled with notes that people have left. Take the time to find the little things that make a neighbourhood unique!
6) Feel like a kid again at Calgary’s family-friendly attractions:
What kind of list would this be without mentioning some of the great things that provide year-round fun for families and visitors? The Calgary Zoo, Fort Calgary, Telus Spark and Heritage Park Historical Village are all classic attractions that provide a full day of fun for patrons, and are uniquely Calgarian. The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Spruce Meadows and Calaway Park are all exciting excursions as well.
The penguins are one of the most popular attractions at the Calgary Zoo.
After a fun-filled day of Calgarian adventures, it’s fun to be able to go back to a hotel room like you would on a vacation outside of Calgary. I really enjoyed my time at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites downtown at 1020 8 Ave SW. It’s a block from the c-train line, which made it really easy to get around when I didn’t want to take my car (the hotel offers free parking!), and since it’s downtown, I was within walking distance to a multitude of restaurants, retail stores and things to do. It also offers a complimentary hot breakfast every morning, and has beautiful rooms.
I felt like a total baller during my stay. There were huge flat screen TVs in the living area and the bedroom, the suite was impeccably cleaned, and my favourite part was the massive king-sized bed. What is it about hotel beds that make them so much comfier than regular beds? There were even different pillows you could choose depending on if you like yours firm or soft. That was a nice little touch.
As someone who sleeps diagonally in bed, having a king-sized mattress all to myself was such a treat.
I’m all about those firm pillows, and I love that I got the choice!
Admit it, your favourite part of a hotel stay is the mini bottles of toiletries.
Sunny days, air conditioning, a big couch and a 42-inch TV? This is my kind of staycation!
I’d highly recommend the hotel due to its proximity to transit, beautiful suites, and location location location. Thanks for giving me a birthday and staycation to remember, IHG!
Wherever you choose to lay your weary head at the end of the day, Calgary is filled with amazing attractions and things to see and do. Take transit (save the money you’d spend on parking to use for something better, like cocktails or artisanal coffee!) to reduce your stress levels, stay in a hotel so you don’t have to worry about cleaning or making your bed, and remind yourself of all the quirks and gems that make Calgary such an amazing place to live. Even if it’s just for a weekend, worry about the bills, your boss, and whatever other stressors you have in your life. Enjoy Calgary like a tourist and fall in love all over again.