Staycation Ideas In and Around Calgary

For many residents of Calgary, the energy industry woes of the past several years have had an undeniable impact on discretionary spending. When any economy experiences a drop-off in non-essential spending, one of the first things to go is the traditional out-of-town vacation. Travel is great and not to be missed whenever possible, but if your bank account is lower than you would prefer, why not consider staying home in Calgary this year? Plan a staycation, save a few dollars and explore a few of the treasures that make Calgary such a great place to live.

A staycation is a great way to enjoy all that our wonderful city has to offer. It is a well-known fact that many New Yorkers have never visited the Statue of Liberty. There are residents of Rome who repeatedly pass on the chance to tour the Colosseum. Calgary is no different in that there are native born Calgarians who have never been to Heritage Park or Glenbow Museum. If financial concerns are weighing you down, remember that “local” and “inexpensive” do not equal “boring.” As the economy and housing market continue to rebound, 2016 might be the best time ever to play the perfect Calgary staycation.

With less time and money spent on travelling to a remote destination, you can delight in the pleasure of being a tourist in your own town. Start by making a list of all those spots you have wanted to visit in Calgary, but never found the time. If time permits, here are a few ideas for making your 2016 staycation a memorable one.

Spend a Night at a Local Hotel – One of the best ways to recharge your batteries and escape from it all without the stress, cost and time investment of air travel is to check in for a night or two at a local hotel. Calgary has any number of international and national chain hotels as well as an increasing number of boutique hotels that cater to the needs of the most finicky guests. Whether you enjoy a romantic date night for two or a boisterous pool party for the whole family, you are sure to relax in the pampering atmosphere that a hotel experience provides.

Geocaching in Calgary’s Parks – With more than 800 km of pathways and hiking trails spread over 8000 hectares of parkland, Calgary is an urban nature lover’s dream. Admission to all of the city’s parks is free and there is always something going on. For the uninitiated, geocaching is a modern day outdoor treasure hunt that employs a Global Positioning System (GPS) device to search for buried treasure or “caches.” Mostly, it offers a great excuse to get off the couch and enjoy the great outdoors. Calgary’s immense system of parklands is the perfect venue for geocaching and it is a nice way to discover corners of our beautiful parks and opens spaces that you never even knew existed.

Rocky Mountain Day Trips - As your staycation draws to a close, plan a day trip to Banff or Drumheller. Both locations are within short driving distance from Calgary and offer year round activity, entertainment and scenic beauty for visitors of all ages to enjoy. You are sure to return home invigorated by the cool mountain air.

Whether you are a visitor from another part of the globe or a local enjoying a staycation, Calgary is a city that does not disappoint.