Calgary-other than Stampede

Not everything we did in Calgary revolved around the stampede.  We had free time to explore the city, have evening get togethers at the stadium campground, the group visited Heritage Park in Calgary and had a day trip to the city of Banff in Banff National Park.  The Heritage Park began with a breakfast on the second floor of the museum.  We then had a guided walking tour of the museum’s first floor and the main park area behind the museum.

This park is committed to preserving the history and heritage of Alberta, and particularly Calgary.  It is like a living history experience.  The employees are in period costumes and there are buildings with historical significance that were moved to the property along with a steam locomotive train that operates continuously around the property.  The property is laid out like a town in the early twentieth century and has both old automotive vehicles and horse drawn vehicles that make the rounds in the town. 

Horse drawn wagon with updated wheels

Street scene with historic buildings

Modern transportation

Beautiful old house

The steam locomotive travels around the park property

The day trip to Banff was on a motorcoach.  We took a side trip to Bow Falls on the Bow River.  Since we had visited the area earlier before the tour began, we did not take a lot of pictures during this outing, but we had these taken by John so we could have some with both of us in the picture.  The area is beautiful.

Bow River with mountains in background

One last look at Bow River Falls

We were given time to explore Banff Avenue, a street blocked off for regular traffic.  Only the public buses could make stops on the street.  The area is loaded with little shops and restaurants.  We ate a delicious lunch at Melissa’s Missteak on the avenue.  It’s a second story steakhouse with an interesting name.  Spellcheck wants to correct it but this is the way it is spelled. 

After lunch, we stopped and purchased a Beaver Tail.  After watching several YouTube videos, we had to experience this pastry.  It is a fried pastry, like a donut but in the shape of a beaver’s tail, that can be customized with all sorts of toppings.  I went for the standard sugar and cinnamon, but Beverly opted for the Choco-Vanilli.  It was a drizzled chocolate and sugar delight and yes that is the correct spelling too.  Obviously, these Canadians want to confuse the spell checkers of the world.

We ate the Beaver Tails so there is not any photographic evidence of these culinary delights.  I personally could go for more steak in lieu of the sugary confection.  Back at the stadium campground that evening, there was a driver’s meeting about the trip the next day to Crooked Creek Campground just outside the Waterton Lakes National Park.  National to Canada that is; but more on that in the next post, see you there for information on that trip.

Panoramic shot of falls and Bow River that's John on right shooting a picture