Calgary, Alberta's largest city, is located at the junction of Trans-Canada Highway 1 and Alberta Highway 2, 190 miles south of Edmonton. Oil and gas discovered south of the city in 1914 contributed to Calgary's growth and remain a major industry today.
Some attractions include the Canada Olympic Park, site of the 1988 XV Olympic Winter Games, the Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden and Prehistoric Park, and Heritage Park Historical Village, Canada's largest living history park with more than 150 exhibits and 66 acres of parkland. Glenbow Museum traces the history of Canada's West and includes a hands-on art studio. At Fort Calgary Historic Park, you will find interactive exhibits, costumed interpreters, and hands-on activities. Visit Calaway Park, western Canada's largest outdoor family amusement park with over 30 rides. See the Aero Space Museum and then enjoy the view from the Calgary Tower observation deck and revolving restaurant.
Take a four hour bus tour of Calgary's attractions, a narrated rail tour between Canada's west and the Canadian Rockies, or a self-guided walking tour. Enjoy canoeing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, or golfing. There are also many major department stores and a wide variety of chain and specialty stores in the city's shopping centers.
Events include the Calgary Winter Festival in February, the Calgary International Children's Festival in May, the Calgary Folk Music Festival in late July, and the annual Calgary Stampede in July which is sometimes called "the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth."