72hrs in Calgary - Mountains, Dinosaurs, Canyoning and More
72hrs in Calgary - Mountains, Dinosaurs, Canyoning and More
Lisa Berryman
Available for hire
Picture this: You've booked last minute flights to Calgary for a long weekend but are now overwhelmed by the options of what to do. This guide will provide you with the ULTIMATE trip to Calgary to ensure you see all the touristy spots, with options for those with extra time and with or without cars, and also some bonus unique excursions.
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Getting to Calgary
Calgary
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Chances are, you're flying into here. Without a car, you're going to want to take the number 300 bus from the airport which will take you to the downtown area, click on the link below for more info.
Day 1 - Calgary
I would suggest spending your first day in Calgary, getting your bearings. The options on what to do really depend on the weather, most of the options require nice(ish) weather and in the 'Blue Sky City' you should be fine. The plus of being within the mountains is that if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it'll be something different.
Things to do
Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo
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Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Walk through the zoo, see the penguins hopping around and hippos getting their teeth brushed!
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Heritage Park
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A living museum where you can learn about Canada's heritage, try some rock candy and see how they made newspapers originally.
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Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre
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Take a tour of Studio Bell and learn about Canadian music history
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Prince's Island Park
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Walk along the river, take a small detour to see Prince's Island Park and enjoy some live music. Often, during the summer, there are markets or events along the riverfront so keep an eye out for these.
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Activate Calgary South West
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Great for a rainy day, bring a group here that's up for the challenge
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Places to Eat
Thai Thien Sub
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I do have an unhealthy obsession with this place, great food for such a great price - make sure you're not in a rush though as sometimes the food takes a little longer during peak times
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Ten Foot Henry
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Super cute, vegetable forward restaurant which has creative dishes that you never would've thought of possible before here
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Porch
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Very aesthetic restaurant, both inside and outside, great for their extensive list of cocktails and focaccia pizzas
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Stable Tenth Avenue Café and Cocktail Bar
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The vibe here is absolutely unmatched as the cafe is decorated with vinyls, guitars and cool prints and the staff are super friendly.
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Alumni Sandwiches
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Super cool diner style with quality sandwiches, so big you'll need a box to go!
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Simmons Building
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So many businesses in this old mattress warehouse, go for dinner or coffee or pastries!
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Places to stay
Le Germain Hotel Calgary
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Sandman Signature Calgary Downtown Hotel
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Executive Residency by Best Western
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Centro Motel
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Wicked Hostels - Calgary
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Day 2 - Drumheller
Drumheller
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On the second day we’re going to dinosaur land! Drumheller is around a 2hr drive from Calgary, and I would recommend playing the game ‘how many farms did we pass?’ on the way there to keep yourself busy.
Places to go
Royal Tyrrell Museum
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See real dinosaur skeletons, learn about the history of the badlands and how they were formed. And my favourite - find out which animal you are the same weight as!
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Willow Creek Hoodoos
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Okay, warning these are slightly underwhelming BUT they’re still pretty cool and interesting to learn about how these were formed and the mystery around them
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Horseshoe Canyon
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Walk within the canyon and check out the viewpoints for a look over the whole canyon (and some great photo ops!)
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Horsethief Canyon
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Check out Horsethief canyon for some easy hikes and try your hand at fossil hunting
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Badlands Amp Events
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If you can catch a concert here, you’re in for a treat. A super unique amphitheatre in the middle of Alberta
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Places to eat
Valley Brewing
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Not only do they have great beers and an incredible patio, there’s a food truck just outside perfect for a summer lunch or dinner
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Bernie & The Boys
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Craving a burger and milkshake? There really is no place better than here, with over 75 flavours of milkshake you can’t go wrong
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Places to stay
Heartwood Inn
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Ramada by Wyndham Drumheller Hotel & Suites
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Travelodge by Wyndham Drumheller
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Day 3 - Banff
Banff
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On the 3rd and final 24hrs in this guide, I’d recommend visiting Banff. Now, it is super touristy and as long as you’re ready for that you’ll enjoy it. There’s plenty to do there, if you drive you can visit many of the places listed below or there are also tours that leave from Calgary which show you some of the best spots in Banff National Park, I've listed some options below for you.
Again, the weather changes quickly here so pack for 4 seasons!
Places to go
Canmore
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Worth stopping at on the way to Banff, it still gives the mountain resort vibes but with slightly less toursits!
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Lake Louise
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If you're gonna be a tourist, may as well embrace it. Lake Louise is beautiful and I would recommend walking around the lake or to the tea houses to escape the crowds a little!
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Moraine Lake
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One of the most iconic places in Banff, so much so they've had to close the general public access to this lake so make sure you book a bus or tour to here as you can't get in otherwise.
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Peyto Lake
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My favourite place in Banff (so far!) with its stunningly blue waters and massive mountains surrounding it. Definitely worth a visit even if it is more out of the way.
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Icefields Parkway
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Listen, it's called one of the most scenic drives in the world for a reason. This road leads from Banff to Jasper and is definitely not one to be missed.
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Lake Minnewanka
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Gorgeous for a swim (if you're brave) in summer or go in winter to walk along the ice!
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Johnston Canyon
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You can cycle here from Banff in the summer which I would 100% recommend (we saw a bear while cycling!!). Johnston Canyon itself is super busy and touristy so be prepared to be lining up for photos and walking slow.
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- This is the tour that I did and I really cannot recommend it enough, such an incredible experience!
Places to eat
Rocky Mountain Bagel Company
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Stop here for lunch and fuel up on the best bagels there is
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Fairmont Banff Springs
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If you can afford to eat and stay here then you absolutely should for the iconic Banff experience
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Hello Sunshine Sushi & Karaoke
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If you're craving some sushi (and maybe karaoke?) this is definitely the place you need to go in Banff
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UNA pizza + wine - Banff
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Support local Alberta restaurants and try out UNA for some incredible pizzas
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BeaverTails Banff (West)
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Go all out tourist and try a beavertail, they're super sweet so perfect end to a dinner!
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Bluebird Wood-fired Steakhouse
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This high end restaurant is the perfect end to your trip in Banff
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Places to sta
Fairmont Banff Springs
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If you can afford to eat and stay here then you absolutely should for the iconic Banff experience
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Buffalo Mountain Lodge
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You will be fully embracing the mountain lodge/ski village atmosphere by staying here.
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Canalta Lodge
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This gorgeous lodge will not disappoint on your trip to Banff, with walking distance to the centre of Banff
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HI Banff Alpine Centre
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This hostel is perfect for all my fellow solo-travellers with the options of bunk rooms or private
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Get Planning Your Trip
If you're planning your next trip and don't know where to start with the planning, hire me to do all the background research so all you have to do is get on a plane, have a drink and enjoy your holiday!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Berryman
Available for hire
Hey everyone!
Having travelled 14 countries, and lived in 4, I discovered a love for planning trips for myself and others. I specialise in short trips for a weekend trip away, and multi-stop trips which ensure to explore some unique places and learn about the culture of the area being travelled. I understand wanting to go to the bucket-list places and get the classic photos as well as finding hidden gems to make your holiday special and ensure to make you the go-to person for secret holiday spots within your friends!
I am open to making personalised travel guides and also arranging consultation calls to better understand what you want to get out of your holiday.
Buon Viaggio!
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