Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta, Western Canada. Situated just 50 miles east of the Canadian Rockies, Calgary offers visitors all the trappings of urban life along with the enjoyment of the dramatic countryside that surrounds the city.

National parks are abundant, and therefore Calgary is a magnet for hikers, fishermen and those who simply adore the great outdoors. Calgary is often known as the gateway to the Rocky Mountain resorts, which attract skiers from all over the world.

The site on which Calgary sits was home to the Blackfoot Indians for over 10,000 years, until the first Europeans arrived in 1860. Colonel James MacLeod established a small trading post there and called it Fort Calgary, named after Calgary Bay on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. Eventually the Pacific railway reached the town in 1860, bringing in many workers to drill for new found oil in the Turner Valley. The population started to boom, and Calgary was born.

Wealth walks hand in hand with oil, and Calgary boomed. Over the years many buildings were erected and restaurants were opened, and tourists started to arrive, and they have been coming back ever since.

These days Downtown Calgary serves as a shopping, entertainment and cultural centre for both the locals and visitors alike. The city boasts dozens of top tourist attractions which include annual events such as the Calgary Stampede, a world-class cowboy carnival and rodeo show. This magnificent show attracts over a million people every year. When the Stetsons and spurs come out of the closet, one has to decide whether you are actually in Texas instead of Calgary

There are glorious parks and attractive open countryside to explore. Being in close proximity to the Canadian Rockies, sporting activities are offered in abundance. Set on the banks of the Bow River, Calgary offers visitors the opportunity to participate in skiing, fishing, hiking and white water rafting activities. If it’s an adrenaline rush you are after, Calgary is the place to stay.

There is a definite cowboy feel to Calgary though, as Country and Western music can be heard in bistros and bars all over, and locals strut the streets in their Stetson hats, on their way to the local steak saloon! Restaurants offer more than steaks these days though, and diners can eat in one of the many trendy bars or themed restaurants which serve high class food.

Although Calgary has a fairly dense downtown area, the inner City districts often have a uniqueness of character about them.

Even if you are only taking a short break in Calgary, its well worth the time to explore these inner areas.

Although Calgary happens to be one of the sunniest places in Canada, it does have its fair share of extreme weather conditions. Summer tends to be warm and sunny, but during winter, temperatures can drop to -30c or lower. But Calgary does not mind this extreme coldness, as it depends on the prevailing winds to make sure that the snow conditions are ideal for the skiing season. One can expect snow as early as September and as late as May! Because of these extreme weather conditions, Calgary only ever seems to have two seasons, Summer and Winter!

Stay in Canada can range from a weekend city break, to sight-seeing breaks to a fortnights skiing holiday, the choice is yours, but one thing is guaranteed in Calgary - you will be back for more! It’s like a magnet as it keeps adrenaline junkies and sports lovers coming back for more, year after year. Flights take just over 9 hours and arrive at Calgary International Airport (YYC) from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Glasgow and Manchester. The time zone on arrival is -7hrs GMT. Many airlines service Calgary International including British Airways, Air Canada, Zoom Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, FlyGlobespan and Air Transat.

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