Hi, my name is Wendy Huang, I’m Miss Teen Alberta – World 2009 and I’m your tour guide for today! First of all, to let you know a bit about me; I immigrated to Canada when I was five years old. My first stop was at the North part of Calgary, then after a year, I moved to the South part where I have been living ever since.

I am an outgoing person who loves to have fun, so if you are up for some excitment around Calgary, I am the right person to help you out!

Calgary has been my hometown for 12 years now and I know the city very well so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask me!

Location:

Calgary is a fast growing city with a population of one million. With Calgary’s location, many tourists pass through the city to get to the three wonderful National Parks of Canada. Drive an hour and a half and you will arrive at a famous tourist attraction – Banff National Park. A few more hours past Banff is the gorgeous Jasper National Park where you can see the Rocky Mountains. Down south is the Waterton Lakes National Park which is by the Canadian and American border. Drive north three hours and you will arrive in Edmonton, the capital of Alberta. There is also a Dinosaur museum in Drumheller Valley – the Dinosaur capital of the world!

Short interesting facts about Calgary:

• Calgary hosted the 1988 Olympic Games which left us with great pride. Our Calgary Tower was the tallest Olympic Flame and the Calgary Olympic Park, Saddledome (picture on right) and Olympic Oval are all awesome arenas.
• The Calgary Flames won the Stanley Cup in 1989! Apart from our well known hockey team, we also have our amazing football team – the Calgary Stampeders – who has won the league’s Grey Cup championship six times!
• The white cowboy hat symbolizes Calgary’s legendary western hospitality, therefore each year; we have the Calgary White Hat Awards. These awards are presented to individuals with outstanding customer service in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Calgary Stampede & Attractions:

Many people have moved to Calgary for the oil and gas industry. What these people will find is a city that can have all four seasons in one day and always inaccurate forecasts. A bright summer day can end up having a big snow storm whereas; Christmas can be sunny without a bit of snow. But the unpredicted weather does not stop the yearly Calgary event – the Stampede.

The Calgary Stampede is the ‘Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!’ with a large festival, exhibitions and a rodeo show that happens during early/mid July. This is what makes Calgary so special! If you visit Calgary around this time, you will notice that many businesses are decorated in a western style and the people, including tourists, dress up in western attire. There will be many places with free breakfast - Stampede breakfast. 

Aside from the Stampede, there are a few attractions in Calgary that you can visit all year long!

The Calgary Tower is Calgary’s most famous landmark. If you visit the Observation Deck, you are able to look straight down and directly out in front of you at Calgary through glass floors and windows! Come experience Calgary’s view with excitement!

Heritage Park allows you to have a taste of Calgary’s past. As you step into Heritage Park, you will be greeted with fur traders and prairie town folks, shops and a authentic steam train! See ‘How the West was Once’! Admission ranges from $15.00 to $20.00.

Also, what city tour is complete without a trip to the zoo! Apart from over a thousand animals to see, you can experience milking a cow or driving a tractor as well! The Calgary Zoo is the second largest in Canada and the best in Western Canada!

If you are up for some amusement park fun, Calaway Park is the largest family amusement park in Western Canada. With a selection of rides, live stage shows and special events, you and your family will have a lot of fun at this theme park! Admission ranges from $23.00 to $32.00. (This attraction does not open yearly; usually opens from May to October.)

Shopping:

If you are looking for some shopping, the largest mall in Calgary is the Chinook Centre Mall which is a 10 minute drive from City Centre. From clothing brands such as Bebe, Lulu Lemon, Old Navy, Aritzia and Underground to shoe stores – Aldo and Spring, along with the well-known Sephora to the Scotia-Bank Movie Theatre, Chinook will keep a person busy for a whole day! Other well known malls in Calgary are the newly renovated Southcentre Mall in the south and the Market Mall in the North. Apart from malls, Calgary has other great shopping areas - 17th Avenue, Kesington, Calgary Eaton Center/TD Square and Stephen Avenue. All of these places have great restaurants and food courts as well!

Lake Bonavista:

Now down to some insider scoop, from yours truly. The community I reside in, Lake Bonavista has the first man-made lake in Calgary. You can enjoy a picnic or barbecue on lovely seas of green grass or go along the beach and take part in activities such as paddle boating, kayaking and various others. If you’re up for a tiny climb, you can make your way up to the top of the hill and enjoy a gorgeous view! In the winter, you can go skating on the lake - don't worry, you won't fall in! It can withstand a Zamboni! This community lake is definitely a place for families and friends to spend some time together. If you would like to visit the lake, please notify me and I can take you in!

Food:

I am a big fan of food! So if you are like me and like to try new restaurants and cuisines, here are some of my favorite places:

• Pita Stop: You will taste the most delicious donairs in the world here! This little family owned donair shop is located in the Canyon Meadows strip mall beside Dr. E.P. Scarlett High School. The prices are cheap and the food and service are great!
• Cora’s Breakfast & Lunch: This heart-warming restaurant is the perfect family restaurant. If you love fresh fruits and up for breakfast and lunch, Cora’s dishes will definitely satisfy your taste buds!
• Dessert House: If you are up for some bubble tea, this is the place to go! It is definitely a great hangout place where you can enjoy your bubble tea and delicious snacks with some friends. The prices for a bubble tea is usually around the same price as a Starbucks drink, so if you’re in need for a change of your daily coffee, try Dessert House!
• Buddha’s Veggie: Here is a place for vegetarians! This vegetarian Chinese restaurant is always packed with customers. They are a bit pricey but their food is definitely satisfying!

Ask me for more amazing restaurants!

I hope I have sparked your interest on the City of Calgary! With so many interesting and fun activities to do and sights to see, your visit to Calgary will be one fulfilled trip! Thank you for choosing me as your tour guide! It was a pleasure to meet you!