The cosmopolitan city of Calgary is one of the main gateways into western Canada, providing access to the spectacular Rocky Mountains to the northwest, the expansive, flat plains of the Badlands to the east, and beautiful Waterton Lakes National Park to the south. The city itself once thrived from the oil industry but now prospers on a more diverse range of business interests such as energy, financial services, transport logistics, and film and television. Bisected by the Bow River, the downtown area can seem at first glance like a bit of a muddle of busy one-way streets and high-rise buildings, but Calgary is a city that rewards those who scratch a little under the surface. If you ask around for the most interesting restaurant, funkiest bar, quirkiest gallery, or best bagel shop, any local will be able to offer a few ideas. The city is perhaps most famous for its magnificent annual festival — the Calgary Stampede — held every July and offering ten days of classic cowboy entertainment. Attracting over one million visitors a year, this is one of Canada’s most popular events — booking early is highly recommended!