By YP Contributor
If you've got only two days to spend in the lively city of Calgary, then you want to make the most out of those 48 hours. Follow this two-day itinerary for visiting Calgary and you’ll get a taste of what Cowtown has to offer.
On day one, your time will be best spent in the downtown core and the surrounding places of interest. Let's break it down to what you should get up to in the morning, afternoon and evening. [Image credit: istockphoto.com/SolomonCrowe]
Morning
Start with a delicious homestyle breakfast or brunch in the area of Eau Claire at 1886 Buffalo Cafe. The restaurant occupies a historic building which used to house the Eau Claire and Bow River Lumber Company. After breakfast, take in the sights along the banks of the nearby Bow River.
Afternoon
Head south towards Stephen Avenue and make sure you check out Olympic Plaza, which always plays host to exciting and diverse events. A short hop away from the plaza you'll find the Glenbow Museum. While it's ideal to have a whole day to take in the Glenbow, it’s worth even a shorter visit.
Exit the Glenbow and you'll be mere minutes away from the iconic Calgary Tower, where you can have lunch at the Sky 360 restaurant.
Night
Head further south to the 17th Avenue Retail and Entertainment District. You'll find some fantastic local boutique shops, a great nightlife and numerous restaurants. While here, don't pass up on the chance for very reasonably priced all-you-can-eat Japanese and Thai cuisine at Fusion Sushi.
Your second day in Calgary can be a bit more free-flowing depending on the part of the city you'd like to spend time in.
Morning
A great place to start day two is with breakfast in the popular Kensington area at Vendome Café or Vero Bistro Moderne. When you're finished, take a stroll around the area to look for souvenirs. Make sure you stop by Gummi Boutique for some unique treats and confectionaries to bring back home.
Afternoon
Head near the middle of the city with a trip to the East Village, where you can pay a visit to the recently constructed National Music Centre (NMC). After lunch and coffee at the NMC-housed Rosso Coffee Roasters, head to one of Calgary's two largest parks to take in nature in the big city. There's Fish Creek Provincial Park in the south and Nose Hill Park in the north.
Evening
Finish your night off with dinner at Charbar, which offers a blend of ingredients from the west coast and the surrounding prairies. Close out the night by taking in a movie at the Globe Cinema.
While the above itinerary will take you to some of the most important spots in the city, you can make it your own by swapping an activity for a visit to the Calgary Zoo, the Telus Spark science museum or Heritage Park Historical Village.
There's so much to do and see in Calgary that it’s sometimes hard to know what to make time for – but follow these steps and you’ll get a taste of the culture and lifestyle of this beautiful Canadian city.
