You really do hear things like this in Canadian restaurants. Before I married a Canadian, I had no idea there was actually a "Canadian cuisine." But there is. And western Canada is a great place to experience it.

Calgary has many great restaurants, some neat shopping areas, and lots of wonderful pubs. Try the local brew, Big Rock. It's pretty great!

For food, I highly recommend the River Cafe. It's on the same island as Prince's Island Park, in the middle of the Bow River. There is no parking. You park in various locations downtown and walk to it (I recommend parking near the Eau Claire Market). It's a wonderfully rustic spot, with fieldstone fireplace (very cozy in the winter!) The food is Canadian cuisine at its finest, with genuine Alberta beef, and the other products shipped in fresh from around Canada. The Okanagan area of British Columbia is full of orchards and grows a lot of Canadian produce, so they are a big supplier of River Cafe. They change the menu according to the seasons, so you’ll never know what sort of wonderful options you’ll get to choose from!

The decor is comfortable, and if you go in the summer and get a window seat, you can watch the frisbee players, interesting birds, and the black squirrels in the park. When you leave, check out the Canadian geese on the banks of the Bow if you've never seen one up close!

River Café stats:
Hours Monday to Friday 11am - 11pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-11pm
Cuisine Canadian Regional Woodfired Cuisine
Credit Cards Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diner's Club, En Route, Interac

Check out their web site at http://www.river-café.com

Also a treat was the James Joyce Pub in downtown Calgary. The friends were friendly, the beer was fantastic, and the Guiness Pie was a treat for the senses. If you have any Irish in you (and I don’t, actually) you will think you’ve died and gone to heaven. This is hands down one of the best pubs I’ve ever been to. I even had to buy a shirt! Check out the merchandise in the basement near the bathrooms.

James Joyce’s website: http//:www.jamesjoycepub.com

James Joyce stats:

Phone: 1(403)262-0708
Fax: 1(403)262-0709
114 - 8th Ave. S.W.,
Calgary AB Canada
T2P 1B3

There are plenty of neat little shopping areas- Inglewood is full of cool little antique stores, vintage, and fun gifts. 17th Ave is great for finding all kinds of stuff, from gifts about pets, to used books, to coffeehouses, to music stores, and more restaurants.
Calgary has a lot to offer. I was amazed the first time I visited how such a small city could have so much personality. And if you get bored with city life, the mountains are right in your backyard! Head to the Kananaskis for camping or Banff for skiing. Both are exciting bets, and a wonderful way to see pristine Canada.


Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug