calgary 101 - Seasonal weather and activities

deanna rachel photography

WHAT TO PACK

Calgary’s weather is often unpredictable, so it’s important to be prepared for a little bit of every season. Sometimes, a visitor can experience all seasons in one day! Of course it’s important to pack for the season that you’re visiting in, but there are additional one-off items that you might want to think about bringing. If you’re venturing to Calgary in the summer, it’s recommended that you bring a windbreaker, a good pair of sunglasses and a pair of hiking boots, especially if you’re spending any time in the great outdoors! If you’re visiting in the winter, you want to bundle up in case of frigid temperatures - think layers: a base, an insulator, a shell, a toque and a warm pair of snow boots.

ACTIVITIES

Calgary is a sunny city with no shortage of fun activities, unique events or trendy restaurants. Spend a bit of time in the city to experience all that it has to offer. Check out Studio Bell, the National Music Centre of Canada, with its alluring architecture, interesting exhibits and wonderful Rosso coffee shop. Just down the street is the Central Library, which gives energy to the East Village. Spend a couple of hours here and grab a London Fog, birthday cake or fruity pebbles flavoured donut from Luke’s Coffee Shop. Once you’re done, rent a bike and scoot around the riverwalk for some sightseeing.

Down the way is Inglewood, Calgary’s oldest neighbourbood. Ol’ Beautiful is a brewery in the area with a sophisticated charm. Grab a flight of beer and then move on to Cold Garden for more, with the addition of snacks and puppies! You won’t be disappointed. Want to explore more pockets of Calgary? Head down to 17th Ave, where you can taste one of Made by Marcus’s inventive ice cream flavours, or Kensington where Hexagon board game cafe resides. Mission, the Beltline, 17th Ave and Kensington are all areas that are worth seeing during your time in Cowtown.