The American’s Guide To Exploring Calgary

The American’s Guide To Exploring Calgary
The American’s Guide To Exploring Calgary
Visiting from USA

The American’s Guide To Exploring Calgary

Tips for exploring Calgary, Canada, from one American to another

I still remember the first time I saw them. I had just flown in from Florida a few days before to visit my girlfriend (who would later become my wife) and we were on the highway headed west.

The road reached a crescendo and the panorama caused me to inhale sharply. My eyes focused on the peaks of Banff for the first time and then slowly began to fill with tears. They were tears of sheer joy, and this is coming from a guy who grew up in the '90s with two older brothers. If you've got a trip on the verge of being booked in your other tab right now, understand that you're not just booking a flight. Know that you're booking the opportunity to stand in awe of something so grand that nothing mankind has built can even begin to compare - then pick the seats for your flight. 



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The city is right next to the Rocky Mountains

The city is right next to the Rocky Mountains

A few short turns into your drive, you'll look to your left and see the city shining in the distance.

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After taking in that architecture from a distance, it's time to get up close and personal. At this point, you definitely would have noticed some unique shapes highlighted throughout the skyline. Of course, you saw the tallest building – Brookfield Place - which stands at a staggering 810 feet high. The Bow, with its beautiful curved design, would have also caught your attention. And perhaps you noticed Eighth Avenue Place with its sloped tops that are reminiscent of the mountains you will soon be visiting. 

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Calgary’s New Central Library 

Calgary’s New Central Library 

If you only step foot into one building in Calgary, make sure you find yourself in the Library. As you approach the library, you'll immediately appreciate its layered design that integrates windows into the overall design motif of the building. Inside, you'll immediately find yourself staring up in awe at the braided multi-level interior in front of you. The library lends itself nicely to exploring, so just start walking and you'll find something exciting around the next turn. Of course, it has books. But it also has recording studios, meeting rooms, a children's play area, and even a teen zone with video game systems. It might sound unbelievable to imagine a library packed with teenagers, but this baby-faced 20-something-year-old couldn't even sneak in a quick game because so many teenagers were in there. If they aren't playing video games, you'll probably find them in the provided study halls. I really can't oversell this place. This library is sexy. If you spend too much time there, you might find yourself researching the real estate market so you can qualify for a free library card. Although you might not think a library is worth visiting on holiday, this one will change your mind forever!

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After all that, I hope you still have time to make it out to the mountains you almost rushed off to. But if you do run out of time before you get to try everything, remember we're only a flight away.

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By
Jonathan Jacobs

Jonathan is a dual-citizen content creator based in Calgary.