Next Luxury Vacation Rental? Calgary, if You Read This
April 9, 2007. There are people who know about Calgary, and people who don't know about Calgary. This former host of the Winter Olympics, self-titled "Capital of the New West," and somewhat-secret hotspot has been slowly gaining fans over the past decade. Cindy Loose's article in the Washington Post will probably generate quite a bit more interest.
Just read the opening paragraphs:
"I keep expecting drivers behind me to start blaring their horns as I try to exit the parking lot, but I can't get the payment machine to accept my bills. But I hear not a peep, except my own muttered curses. Just as I'm tempted to ram the gate, a man from several cars back gets out and, with a smile, drops several dollar coins into the machine for me."
"A fluke? All I know is that later, at a prepay lot, a woman walks to where I'm reading the instructions and hands me her prepaid card, which has hours' worth of parking on it."
Loose goes into the many reasons why the locals happen to be so friendly. She also details the many attractions that make this a worthy choice for a vacation.
To begin with, the town has everything a tourist could want, from shopping to eating to special events. True to its Western heritage, many of the art galleries feature Native Indian-influenced pieces. One can choose from many exceptional steakhouses, although the international restaurant scene will surprise many visitors. And the culture goes far beyond the Calgary Stampede, an annual cattle drive, with a world-class folk festival, philharmonic orchestra and art museum.
There's more to do outside of town, too. The Canadian Rockies tower over the skyline, offering stunning scenic drives, limitless hiking trails and epic skiing.
