Wild + Free in Calgary
Bronco’s Maiden Voyage
Our Bronco has been prepped for this day for over 40 days and finally took its first voyage behind our Class A motorhome on the journey from Banff to Calgary. Initially, a few parts and installation mishaps delayed us until we reached Bakersfield, CA, where we were able to finish adding the tow package. After Bakersfield, our route took us on windy, narrow, and steep mountain roads, as well as serene but curvy coastal highways. Since Drew was still getting the hang of driving our 38-foot beauty, we decided to hold off on flat-towing the Bronco—until today. It felt AMAZING to finally sit in the passenger seat, enjoying the ride alongside my family.
Exploring the heart of Calgary
After two fun-filled weeks exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Western Canada, we decided to slow down during our time in Calgary. Initially, I had planned a full itinerary for our 3 days here. However, with uncertainty surrounding the Canada/USA border crossing and the desire to break up our drive to Coeur d’Alene, we opted to shorten our stay in Calgary and spend our last night in Kimberley, AB, to wrap up our Canadian adventure.
While Calgary doesn’t have the tourism fame of a city like Toronto, when it comes to beautiful scenery and quality of life, it has been titled as “one of the best in the world”. Our campsite neighbor who downsized from a house to a 5th-wheel explained Calgary this way: “One of the special things about Calgary is that it offers all the energy of a large metropolitan city with the warm and welcoming spirit of a connected community. It’s large on the outside but feels kinda small on the inside.”
One of my mom’s close friends, a Canadian politician and Member of Parliament for Alberta, was an incredible resource, sharing her favorite hikes, must-visit restaurants, and top activities in Western Canada. Her recommendations for Calgary included Telus Spark, Big Sky BBQ Pit, Calgary Zoo, Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant, and Heritage Park Historical Village.
I decided to stay back at the RV to catch up on homeschool lesson plans, finalize our fall trip route, respond to emails, update the blog and Facebook posts, do laundry, and reorganize our clothing for the warmer weather as we head back down south. Despite taking a year off as a Physician Assistant, I still have to maintain my certification, which means taking a test every quarter. I have to be distraction-free to tackle this task. Thus, I sent the kids and Drew off to explore a few selected spots in Calgary. Here’s where they ventured!
Big Sky BBQ Pit
With nearly 3,000 Google reviews and a 4.5-star rating, Big Sky BBQ Pit was a must-visit. I always prioritize places with high ratings and numerous reviews, and this spot came highly recommended by our Alberta friend, a Texas BBQ lover herself. Big Sky BBQ serves authentic Texas-style BBQ, cooked old-school with real wood, and is known for its lively atmosphere and outdoor patio. Drew, our resident BBQ connoisseur, enjoyed the meal but still holds Texas as the BBQ capital of his heart—and stomach! We ordered the Pit Pack, which included 1 lb of brisket, 1 lb of pulled pork, ½ lb of sausage, cornbread, scalloped cheddar bacon potatoes, and smoked beans. We also added mac and cheese for the kids, though only one of them liked it. Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t finish everything and had plenty of leftovers for the next day’s lunch. While we enjoyed our food, 407 BBQ in Argyle and Hard 8 BBQ in Roanoke still hold the top spots for us.
Telus Spark
TELUS Spark, Calgary’s science center, is a place where people of all ages and abilities can embrace their curiosity and explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The exhibits and programs here ignite a sense of wonder and excitement, and my kids were thrilled from the moment they heard about it. They ran from exhibit to exhibit, thrilled for the next science lesson. The Dome Theatre offers live planetarium shows and movies that captivate the imagination. A nice touch at Telus Spark is the flat parking fee—only $10 for the entire day, a welcome relief after spending up to $50 in parking fees at other places. The Social Eatery, a fresh food marketplace inside Telus Spark, offers delicious, nutritionally balanced meals to keep you fueled for a day of exploration.
Where We Stayed:
Spring Hill RV Park
Spring Hill RV Park, located near Cochrane, Alberta, is a beautiful gateway to the Rocky Mountains. After four days without electricity, Wi-Fi, phone service, water, or sewer in Banff National Park, this RV park was a breath of fresh air. The large lots with full hookups were a welcome change, especially as I needed to plan for homeschooling and nail down our upcoming travel itinerary. The kids immediately headed to the large playground across from our site, while Drew and I checked out the bathrooms, laundry, and showers—easily the nicest and cleanest we’d seen in our seven weeks on the road. We also met our neighbors, who graciously lent us a hammer after ours was lost somewhere in Banff National Park, thanks to our youngest son. They were newly full-time RVers, living at Spring Hill RV Park, and we enjoyed chatting with them and hearing their stories.
Other Calgary Highlights We Missed:
Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant
Our world-traveling friend Michelle called Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant the “Best Dining In The World.” Located in the heart of Fish Creek Provincial Park, this upscale restaurant offers Canadian fare, including bison, elk, and seafood, in a historic ranch house. We decided to lay low and have a movie night at the RV instead of venturing out to this culinary gem.
Calgary Zoo
I was on the fence about visiting the Calgary Zoo, especially after learning that the pandas, which had been a major draw, were returned to China in 2023 due to diplomatic tensions. However, the Calgary Zoo remains one of the premier wildlife conservation zoos in the world. Open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., it’s a great spot for families. Grazers, the zoo’s recommended restaurant, offers a seasonal menu with locally sourced ingredients at family-friendly prices.
Heritage Park Historical Village
Our tour guide at Lake Minnewanka recommended Heritage Park Historical Village, and it did not disappoint. Spread over 127 acres of lush parkland, this living history museum has more than 200 exhibits and attractions, offering a unique blend of historical fact, adventure, and fun. We toured the park on an antique steam train, visited farm animals, learned about Blackfoot culture, explored a bustling prairie town, and marveled at one of the world’s largest collections of antique vehicles at Gasoline Alley Museum. The Historical Village is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some Interesting Facts
Cattle guards are called "Texas gates" in western Canada.
Calgary is a vibrant and diverse city, with nearly 25% of its population being foreign-born. It's the third most diverse major city in Canada, with over 120 languages spoken. Beyond its cultural richness, Calgary holds the title of the cleanest city in the world!
One of Calgary's most famous events is the Calgary Stampede, which hosts the largest rodeo in the world. This annual 10-day extravaganza, known as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” features concerts, a midway, First Nations exhibits, chuckwagon racing, agricultural competitions, stage shows, and a grand parade. It's also a time of big parties and high accommodation prices, as over a million visitors flock to the city.
Calgary is home to a world-class public library, ranked as one of the top 52 things to see by the New York Times. It's the sixth most used library in North America, a testament to the city's commitment to knowledge and learning.
Known as Canada’s sunniest city, Calgary enjoys 333 days of sunshine each year, translating to about 2,300 hours of sunshine annually. The city experiences an average of 12.6 inches of rainfall and 50 inches of snowfall per year. Calgary's weather is a story of extremes—the coldest temperature ever recorded was a bone-chilling -49°F in February 1893, while the warmest day reached 97°F in July 1919. Typically, peak winter temperatures range from -5°F to 14°F.
Calgary is the headquarters of the Canadian Pacific Railway and was once a cattle ranching capital. It also hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics and the 2009 World Water Ski Championship.
Calgary has an old law that prohibits throwing snowballs unless authorized by the mayor or city council.
Sports enthusiasts can cheer for Calgary's two professional sports teams: the Calgary Flames in the NHL and the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL.
