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Calgary presents an interesting pot-pourrie of attractions - historical places, natural wonders, museums, science centers and even an Olympic Park. All of these add up to an interesting sightseeing experience.
Immerse yourself in the past at the exquisitely recreated frontier atmosphere of the Heritage Park Historical Village - there is fort, a church from 1896, a working grain mill, a tepee, a trapper's cabin, horse-drawn buggies, steam engines, a chemist store -in short all aspects of life in the pioneer days. And if that isn't enough of history for you, go for a stroll in the Fort Calgary Park, which boasts of remains of Calgary's oldest fort and homes, the Hunt House and the Deane House. There is an excellent interpretative center here and you can learn all about the Northwest Mounted Police here.
Calgary's bounty of natural attractions makes for a refreshing change from all those high-rises and modern skyscrapers. Get lost in the fascinating, incredibly popular Calgary Zoo on the northern bank of Bow River and St. George's Island and you will enter a kingdom of over 1200 animal species. Amazing as that is, be further entranced by the Botanical Garden and Prehistoric Dinosaur Park here, with their interesting displays.
South-east of downtown, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary on the Bow River flats awaits you with its varied feathered denizens! The largest urban park in Canada, the Fish Creek Provincial Park is also home to several bird and animal species. The best place to picnic in is the Prince’s Island Park by the Bow River - just lie back and enjoy the cool breeze and the rippling noise of the river flowing by.
Gardens cannot get more astounding than the Devonian Garden -- this stunning indoor garden with over 20,000 plants is located on the 4th floor of a building and boasts of fountains, pools, sculptures and even a small stage.
Care to spend a couple of hours increasing your knowledge base? Do not miss the displays at the Energeum devoted to Alberta's energy resources and at the Grain Academy, which highlights Alberta's grain story, its cultivation, handling and use. For a more colorful afternoon, visit the Museum of the Regiments which proudly presents the different regiments from Calgary and the wars they fought . For mooing cattle and a peek into the exciting livestock trade, visit the Calgary Stockyards.
Science fiends will find plenty to smile about in Calgary - the entertaining Calgary Science Centre is spell-binding and the Aero Space Museum is simply irresistible with its fantastic collection of flying machines. At the Science Centre, cling to your seat at the Planetarium for some great shows and freak out at the Discovery Dome.
Get high on art and culture at the plethora of cultural centres in Calgary -you can choose from the Chinese Cultural Centre Museum, the Glenbow Museum & Art Gallery and the Sarcee Indian Nation's Tsuu T'ina Museum & Reserve.
Tread on the grounds where Olympic champions once walked at the Canada Olympic Park, the location of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. Check out the Olympic Hall of Fame and see for yourself the incredibly high ski jumps. Take a ride on the Bobsleigh Bullet and get close to feeling like an Olympic champ yourself.
For an all-out fun experience, spend a day at Calaway Park, an amusement park with plenty of rides, restaurants and activities to satisfy everyone.
A short ride (45 kms) away from Calgary, towards the northwest is the Western Heritage Centre highlighting the cowboy culture of southern Alberta. You can see how the cowboys lived and there are some interesting interactive displays that highlight aspects of their lives.
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