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| Why Visit Calgary? |
If you get a different kind of high being one with nature then a visit to Calgary in Canada is the best decision you will ever make in your entire life. Calgary is located along the Rocky Mountains which encompasses more than three thousand miles from British Columbia, Mexico and the United States.
Calgary in Canada made its mark in the world map when it hosted the 15th Olympic Winter Games. The high elevation of the area is guaranteed to provide locals and visitors that breezy feeling the whole year round, making it a favorite destination for ecotourism and winter sports. But there is more to Calgary than snow and Rocky Mountains.
Visitors to Alberta, Canada’s largest city should make it a point to go to Calgary in July of every year to get a taste of Calgary’s most famous festival known as the Calgary Stampede. Even the whole of Canada could not resist the Stampede because it offers a variety of attractions for those who love rodeos, agricultural shows and contests, races and the famous breakfast meal of pancakes throughout the city. But there are other festivals that are equally worth watching depending on your interests.
Calgary used to be the seat of the country’s booming oil industry with the discovery of vast oil reserves in Alberta. This led to a huge rise in migration and may be the reason why Calgary is among the top three municipalities in Canada with a large population.
But like most cities all over the world, Calgary also had its share of economic problems leading to a rising unemployment rate in the 80’s. The slump was mostly attributed to the ultimate deterioration of the oil industry. With a huge population relying on an economy that has put so much importance on the role of oil in their economic growth, Calgary was bound to fall.
But then again realizing this mistake has made Calgary one of the fastest growing economies in Canada today. Calgary has since transformed from an oil industry reliant city to a more diverse and cosmopolitan city which earned for it the opportunity to host the Olympic Winter Games.
Thanks to Calgary’s tourism industry which attracts more than three million people every year, the city is back on the map not as an oil source but as a well-defined destination for ecotourism. Today, Calgary’s various mountain resorts are attracting tourists from all over the world and they keep on coming!
Calgary has turned out as a well-developed diverse economy with a lot of stake not only in tourism but also in light manufacturing and other industries. It has in fact been cited by the Economist Intelligence Unit as among the top ten best cities to live in.
But while Calgary has reinvented itself as an ecotourism and light industries destination, it was able to maintain a culture for which it was traditionally known. Thus, you can expect to see a mixture of traditional festivals and developed resorts along with western bars, country music and even hockey!
Don’t be surprised if you see Canada’s largest Chinatown right in the heart of Calgary. But you can always say “pronto!” when you see Bridgeland’s depiction of Italy. If you want an international taste of anything from food to souvenir shops then don’t forget to drop by Forest Lawn as it offers a plethora of the international community.
A glimpse of Calgary’s culture can also be experienced by visiting the various theaters, auditoriums and museums in the city. The Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium is one place that will truly impress lovers of the performing arts. It has been the venue of various musicals, ballet and other stage productions.
You may get excited with all the places to go and visit as well as the events to witness in Calgary but you will never know how it feels to be in the middle of this amazing city if you do not experience Calgary for yourself.
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