Visiting Calgary and all its surrounding scenic spots was one of the highlights of this summer. This was my second visit there, covering a few more scenic spots than my last one. Here are the venues I covered this time.

Plus 15 Skyway

Walking around Plus 15, the most extended pedestrian skyway system was one of the highlights of this trip. The skyway traverses 16 kilometres, 86 bridges, and 130 bridges and is 15 feet above street level. 

The walkway was the brainchild of Harold Hanen, an employee of the Calagry planning department in the mid-60s. It is a perfect spot for a brisk walk during Calagry’s winters or on scorching summer days

Restaurants, eateries, specialty stores, and shopping centers are spread across the path. Many banks and businesses also have offices along the skyway.  Glass walkways across buildings provide street views and sunlight to enhance the experience.  Whether you are looking for a brisk walk, a pick of eateries to choose from, or a break from the outdoors, this is a great venue to visit.

If you wish to take a break from the walkway and walk across downtown streets, there are plenty of exits that you can take.

Yoho National Park

The national park located in the Rocky’s gets its name from the Cree, one of Canada’s indigenous people and is an expression of wonder and awe. This is for good reason, as the parks offer breathtaking views of mountains and ice fields.

A notable highlight in Yoho is the Takakkaw falls, the second tallest waterfall in Canada. It is of little wonder that Takakkaw is the Cree word for magnificent.

Banff

In the vicinity of the Rockys is the town of Banff, a quaint town with botiques, restaurants and coffee shops. It is certainly worth the visit. We stopped by for a quick lunch.

Lake Lousie

With its profound beauty, Lake Louise is a hamlet is situated near Banff. Visiting the lake wedged among mountains is a surreal experience. No picture post card of photo can do justice to the natural beauty(which is also surreal) of this lake. The waters of the lake take on a beautiful turquoise blue. Fine rock dust provided by glaciers as they make contact with the bedrock stay on the surface of the lake. As sunlight falls across the lake, the rock dust reflect the rays, giving the lake its unique color.

Scenic hiking paths surround the lake and red canoes skim across its surface. The Historic Fairmont Chateau beside the lake is a popular resort among wealthy patrons on the area.

This is one place I could come back to over and over again.

Fish Creek Provincial Park

Though nowhere near breathtaking as Calagry’s national parks, Fish Creek provincial park is noteworthy for many reasons. The area was sculpted by melting waters from glaciers during the ice age. During the floods of 2005 and 2013much of the area was destroyed.

However, thanks to a giant effort from the the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society, a non profit, the park has been reopened and now boasts of more than a hundred kilometers of hiking trails.

One challenge that the area faces comes from beavers in the area. In an effort to construct dams, the beavers have damaged numerous trees causing the risk of flooding. An initiative called the Fish Creak Beaver Coexistence Project creates ‘pond levelers’ or special pipes that allow the water to flow downstream. This area is noteworthy especially for those of us interested in protecting the environment.