3 Scenic Drives In The Mountains Near Calgary

Calgary has a lot to recommend it to travellers, but it isn’t really a great driving city. In fact, personally, I feel that driving through downtown Calgary during rush hour is similar to attempting to solve a Rubik’s cube while being yelled at in four different languages at a Nascar rally. However, there are some great drives to be had nearby. While driving through the prairies has its charms, for me it’s the mountains that will always be the better choice for eye candy. Now, before you read on, keep in mind that these roads can be dangerous in the winter if you, or your car, are unprepared.

Bow Valley Parkway

This is a lovely stretch of road that begins at the Sunshine Turnoff near Banff, and continues all the way up to Lake Louise.  While the speed limit is low (50 Km) it can be a very pleasant drive. The road is surrounded by dense forest, some of which is currently recovering from an extensive forest fire. This makes for a very relaxing drive, but is a little lacking in the “sweeping vistas” department. However, if you're more into spotting wildlife, well, as the above picture suggests there are a ton of Bighorn Sheep in the area.

Smith-Dorrien Highway

The Smith Dorrien is essentially a large gravel road with a speed limit of 80 Kms an hour. The road runs through the Spray Valley and can be approached through Kananaskis Country, or through Canmore. There are some tremendous mountain views to be seen up here, as well as a pretty good chance of seeing a Moose. They love it up there near Mt Engadine Lodge. Which reminds me, they have a pretty good restaurant there too...

Icefields Parkway

In my opinion this is the nicest drive in Alberta. And, yes, I have driven all over most of Alberta so don’t even start. While it can be a bit frustrating if you get stuck behind a slow-mover, the views of the mountains are absolutely grand. The high point of the drive, both in Altitude and in interest, are the Columbia Icefields. That’s not to say that the rest of it isn’t nice, though.  Although, a word of warning. This road is true to its name in that it gets very icy, very fast in the winter. If you’re heading out here anytime from mid-fall to late spring, make sure your vehicle is ready to get a grill fun of winter.  



3 Great Steak Houses in Calgary

            Here in Alberta, life just can’t get much better for a cow. That’s the title of ‘Best Steakhouse in Calgary’ is always a bit of a competition. Calgary, the self-styled “Heart of the New West” is located in the province of Alberta, which happens to produce some of the best beef on the planet. With strict treatment laws, rolling hills made for free-ranging herds, and all the grass an animal with four stomachs can eat, Alberta beef ranks pretty high. All this 'Cow Culture' might be the reason Calgary is affectionately called 'Cow-Town', and it's certainly why there are so many Steak Houses out there. If you're looking for a good one to head out to, here's a short list.

#3.

            Chicago Chophouse

            This is definitely not a run-of-the-mill kind of place. Located in the historic Bank of Montreal building in the heart of downtown Calgary’s Film & Entertainment District, the Chicago Chophouse combines classic elements of a traditional steakhouse with a certain amount of contemporary flair.  Chicago Chophouse has a rather eclectic menu including everything from a 7 oz Cab Steak Sandwich to a Filet Mignon stuffed with Blueberry cheese and a truly unique dining experience amidst the hustle and bustle of the city core. Reservations are always a good idea here, call ahead at (403) 265-3000.

#2

            Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

#294 115 9th Avenue SE, 2nd Floor at the Calgary Tower

Located on the 2^nd floor of the iconic Calgary Tower, Ruth’s Chris Steak House serves excellent dead cow to most of Calgary’s downtown core. While the food is great, the decor is also worth describing. Art niches throughout the restaurant exhibit some nifty illuminated glass art. Elsewhere, brushed walnut limestone imported from Argentina enhances the walls and creates great ambiance, and a reproduction of a French country home’s hearth stone fire place is a prominent feature of their "Great" room. Reservations are usually a good idea, you can give than a call at (403) 246 – 3636.

#1

            Mercato

My number one entry might be a bit of a surprise. The best steak for your money in Calgary is not found in a steakhouse but an Italian restaurant-slash-market called Mercato. There are plenty of other steak houses in Calgary worthy of honourable mentions, but pound for pound the best steak in the city is found at 2224 4th Street SW. Mercato is usually fairly busy at dinner, you probably shouldn’t even bother trying to go there for lunch if it’s after 11:45, though. Call ahead at (403) 263-5535.



Top 3 Things To Do In Montgomery

Canada Olympic Park Zipline:

            This can be quite a thrill, even for the more adventurous guests of Calgary’s first boutique motel. The zipline costs $55/person, and if you feel like you need to take a bit of a learner course you can pay $35 to spend some time on the zipline trainer plaza. In case you’re wondering what kind of speed you can achieve doing this, well it’s in the vicinity of 140 kilometres an hour. And in case you want to see it...

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Bow River Multi-Use Trails:

            As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, the City of Calgary has somewhere in the vicinity of 650 kms of trails wending their way through its green areas. A good portion of these trails are concentrated along the shores of the Bow River as it lazily flows through the middle of the city. Some of the trails are truly beautiful, and they require a minimal amount of equipment and training to enjoy them. If you do want to rent some bikes, there is a sports rental shop just a block down from the Centro Motel.

Canoe or Raft down the Bow River:

            Speaking of the sports rental shop, you can also rent rafts there. Taking a few hours to drift down the river is a great way to get to see the prettier side of Calgary and, as long as the weather is nice, it’s a great, easy way to spend an afternoon. The only catch is you need some way to get yourself and your rental raft back up to the Centro, but a pre-emptive cab drop-off, or a friend with a vehicle can easily overcome those challenges. Here’s a link to a previous article where you can get a detailed guide to rafting the river.