The city of Calgary and its environs offer many interesting ways for a visitor to spend a spare day or two. Indeed Calgary is the gateway to some of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Whether you are here for business or pleasure, it is well worthwhile setting some time aside to enjoy some of the wonderful destinations within or outside of the city, and to help you make the most of that time, below you will find five different ways to explore Calgary and the surrounding area.
Sightseeing Bus Tours
Brewster Sightseeing Excursions offer several scheduled tours on luxury motor coaches with large viewing windows which pick up at hotels in downtown Calgary. Their guided tours include a Calgary City Sights Tour, tours to Banff with a ride on the Banff Gondola, and a Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls tour which takes in the best of Banff, Lake Louise and Yoho National Park. It’s worth noting that the Banff tour can bring you back to Calgary or drop you off in Banff or Lake Louise, providing a convenient way to travel from Calgary for an extended trip to the Canadian Rockies.
For further details of Brewster tours from Calgary visit www.brewster.ca.
Explore Calgary and Southern Alberta
Hammerhead Scenic Tours offer an extensive range of personalized tours in comfortable vans which allow you to explore the best sights and attractions of Calgary, the Canadian Rockies, and Southern Alberta. Their Calgary City Tour just takes 3 hours, while their full day tours can take you to Drumheller & the Badlands (including entrance to the Royal Tyrrell Dinosaur Museum), Banff & Lake Louise, or the Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump as well as other popular Alberta destinations. If you have more time to explore the area, there are also more extensive 2 and 3 day tours on offer.
For a full list of available tours, schedules and rates, visit www.hammerheadtours.com.
Customized Sightseeing Tours
Blue Sky Tours offers Alberta’s only customized guided tours in private vehicles to all the most popular destinations in the Calgary area and beyond. Tours are completely personalized with pickups from anywhere in Calgary and times and itineraries are flexible to suit your own schedule and interests. Suggested tours within the city include a Calgary City Highlights tour, Antique Shopping in Calgary, and a tour of Calgary’s Olympic and sports venues. Further afield, the tour to Drumheller takes in the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the world famous museum of palaeontology, as well as the Canadian Badlands. Tours to the Canadian Rockies destinations of Kananaskis Country, Banff and Lake Louise are also offered.
For more information and for further suggestions, visit www.albertablueskytours.com.
Railway Excursions
Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions take you back to a time when the West was still Wild, with a one day adventure on a steam train or old diesel locomotive. The 5-6 hour excursions include entertainment and buffet meal and you may even witness an old fashioned train robbery! Choose to take in the beauty of the Alberta prairies from the Open Air Coach, or head for a drink in the licensed Lone Star Saloon on board. Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions are fun for the whole family and start out from Stettler Alberta, around 3 hours from Calgary.
To find out more about the different excursions on offer, visit www.absteamtrain.com.
Horseback Riding
A wide selection of horseback adventures are offered by Anchor D Guiding and Outfitting, based on a ranch west of Turner Valley, just an hour from Calgary. Their trips range from 2 hour, 3 hour or full day trail rides to multi-day backcountry horseback trips and ranch vacations. Regardless of which trip you take, you will be riding top quality horses and treated to the breathtaking scenery of the foothills of the Canadian Rockies and the prairies of Alberta.
For more information and to see some great photos of their tours, visit www.anchord.com.
White Water Rafting
Inside Out Experience offer several half or full day rafting adventures from beginner to advanced level either on the Elbow River starting near Bragg Creek, or on the Kananaskis River or through the Horseshoe Canyon, both starting near Seebe. They also offer a combined mountain biking and rafting experience in the beautiful Elbow Valley, as well as their unique Horses & River Courses tour. Starting summer 2010, this new tour will include an overnight stay at the Homeplace Ranch in Priddis, followed by a day of horseback riding and whitewater rafting in the beautiful foothills of the Canadian Rockies.
For more information about these and other tours, visit www.insideoutexperience.com.
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