Calgary's Best Historical Events, Parks & Venues

Heritage Cowboy-&-Indian, NWMP or Fur Trade Experiences for Families

Feb 12, 2009

Places in & around Calgary where family visitors can have pleasant authentic western Canadian historical experiences without mobs, noise & hucksterism.

Calgary Stampede offers the best international rodeo events and chuckwagon races, and a first-rate livestock and agricultural exhibition, but it's crowded, noisy and expensive. Apart from the grandstand and trade shows, it also focuses almost exclusively on the midway, beer parlours and casinos. Great for adults and teens, but overwhelming for tots, and almost too much for young families; it gets hot, dusty, and pushy in that crush. Unless visitors are lucky or squired around by a sponsor or VIP, it's hard to meet a bonafide cowboy or Indian there. Fortunately there are some calmer, gentler, more family-oriented alternatives:

T'Suu Tina Rodeo & Pow Wow

The T'suu Tina Rodeo & Pow Wow is the real thing! Every summer, this First Nations band whose reservation abuts Calgary's city limits hosts a traditional Plains Indian festival and get-together just outside the community of Bragg Creek, 25 minutes by highway west of Calgary, and it's open to visitors from around the world:

Brewster Kananaskis Guest Ranch:

The Brewster Family's tour company has operated in the Bow Valley area for over a century. They offer a variety of horseback tours through the spectacular east Rockies, ranging from short overnight trips to 4-day packhorse treks. A variety of western entertainments are offered at their guest ranch west of Calgary in the beautiful Kananaskis Provincial Park, including barbeques.

Heritage Park:

It's hard to find a nicer theme park than Calgary's Heritage Park, the 127-acre pioneer village on the east shore of Glenmore Reservoir. Settlement in western Canada is so relatively young that anything prior to 1914 is restored and preserved in order that visitors can experience a sense of what life was like when this country was being formed. The full pioneer village offers:

Hungry visitors can eat at the Wainwright Hotel, bakery or numerous fast-food concessions, or have ice cream at the parlour and penny candy at the general store. Period crafts like soapmaking or candle-dipping are free for kids. The season's pass for an entire family including free breakfast and rides beats the cost of one day at the Stampede.

Glenbow Museum

The Glenbow Museum is the authoritative source for Alberta history, and the northeastern Rockies. Extensive permanent exhibitions are filled with the best-quality artifacts. The archives and collection of western art are formidable, their docents know how to make history fun, and there are all kinds of activities for adults and kids alike.

Fort Calgary

Fort Calgary is a reconstruction of the original fort built by Col. James MacLeod of the NWMP at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers where Calgary began back in 1875. It is a fun place for families to visit with many activities and exhibitions. Be sure to check their website for details.

The Ranche Restaurant

On the eastern edge of Fish Creek Provincial Park is the fully restored ranchhouse which belonged to William Roper Hull, one of the Big Four, the original creators of the Stampede. There Chef Thomas Neukom offers five-course meals of the finest Rocky Mountain cuisine from wild boar, to duck confit, to bison ribeyes. Delicious food in a beautiful environment, with a lovely park to walk through after the meal.

While traveling through the region, be sure to schedule time for a trip along The Cowboy Trail.

The copyright of the article Calgary's Best Historical Events, Parks & Venues in Alberta Travel is owned by Simone Keiran. Permission to republish Calgary's Best Historical Events, Parks & Venues in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.