A Weekend in Calgary: The Tower, the Rivers and Studio Bell

Two days in Calgary cover a 1968 observation tower, two river parks, a national music centre, an 1891 historic house and a contemporary art gallery, with dinner by the rivers one night and an oyster bar the next. Day 1 runs from downtown to the confluence of the Bow and Elbow; Day 2 moves through the Beltline and out to a brewery. It suits a first visit to the city.

Start at Athenian Bakery, a Greek bakery in the Bow Parkade on 7 Avenue SW.

Walk to the Calgary Tower on 9 Avenue SW. It stands 190.8 metres tall, was finished in 1968, and has a glass-floor observation deck. Tickets sell online.

Walk north to Prince's Island Park, 20 hectares on the Bow River. It is named for Peter Anthony Prince, who set up the Eau Claire Lumber Mill in 1886, and the lagoon began as a channel dug to move lumber. The park has gardens, picnic areas, playgrounds and the Chevron Learning Pathway, with signs on the wetlands and wildlife at the east end.

Head east to Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre at 850 4 Street SE. Inside are the Canadian Music Halls of Fame, the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, a PlayLab to try instruments, and tours of the recording studios. Tickets sell online, and the King Eddy, the historic music venue, stands across the street.

Finish the afternoon at The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet. The North-West Mounted Police founded Fort Calgary here in 1875. Exhibits, a garden and guided walking tours on history, true crime and ghost stories run from the site.

Dinner is at Charbar, in the restored 1912 Simmons Building in East Village. The kitchen cooks over wood on a custom Argentine parrilla, the first in Alberta, and grills ultra-dry-aged Alberta beef. The rooftop patio looks over St. Patrick's Island and the skyline. Book a table ahead.

Find a place to stay in Calgary

Start in Reader Rock Garden on 25 Avenue SE. William Roland Reader, Calgary's Parks Superintendent from 1913 to 1942, began it in 1913 and trialled more than 4,000 plant species here. It opened as a city park in 1944 and became a national historic site in 2018.

In summer the Arts and Crafts house in the garden opens as Reader's Garden Cafe, with weekend brunch, pastries and house-made lemonades.

Drive or ride west to Lougheed House National & Provincial Historic Site at 707 13 Avenue SW, built in 1891. It is now an accredited museum with permanent and temporary exhibits, heritage gardens and a gift shop.

On 11 Street SW, Art Cafe serves specialty coffee, breakfast all day, and beer and wine.

Steps away at 701 11 Street SW, Contemporary Calgary hangs rotating shows of contemporary art.

For a late-afternoon drink, Cold Garden Beverage Company on 11 Street SE is a brewery taproom with communal tables, couches and a patio, where dogs are welcome. It runs bring-your-own-food, so pick up something on the way.

End with dinner at Embarcadero Wine & Oyster Bar on 17 Avenue SE, an oyster bar since 1995. There are at least six varieties of oysters on the half shell, daily specials and a wine list the owner selects. Book a table online or by phone.

• CTrain rides along 7 Avenue downtown are free between Downtown West-Kerby and City Hall/Bow Valley College stations.
• Studio Bell and the Calgary Tower sell tickets online, so buy before you go.
• See what's on this weekend for events that fit around the plan.

The mountains are next: a weekend in Banff.

Start from this plan, set your dates and swap any stop you like.

Make this my trip