The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Every Saturday morning, my family and I enjoy a pancake breakfast, then sit down together to watch our favorite travel shows. In the middle of one of the videos, a commercial for Calgary appeared. It was sponsored by their local tourism board and was about two minutes long, showcasing some adrenaline-filled, fun, winter activities. My husband Chris and I were hooked at first sight!

I immediately jumped on my computer to make the necessary reservations. I was especially excited about the close proximity of the destination. About a six-hour drive from Big Sandy, this was sure to be a great road trip for my girls. Not to mention, it would be our first visit to Canada for myself and my daughters!

I then had this excellent idea to write an article on the lesser-known winter activities available in Calgary. Everyone knows about the excellent skiing, tubing, and ice skating.

However, did you know you could bobsled down the official Olympic track with an Olympian at the WinSport Ski Resort?

Also, did you know you could have the opportunity to command your very own pack of husky hounds on a one-hour dog sledding adventure solo or with your family?

And did you know, Calgary has its version of Christmas Markets filled with Holiday gifts and treats?

We embarked on our journey to the Great White North last Friday, excited and hopeful to try these cool experiences, but that was not meant to be. Our first hiccup was encountering a closed border at Wild Horse just a few miles outside of Havre. My husband had looked on google, yet the information had not been updated. I learned that summer hours are extended to a 9 pm closing, yet the fall and winter months close at 5 pm. However, that did not deter us; we picked up some McDonald's and headed towards the border crossing north of Shelby. Then just 18 miles from our hotel, we had some unexpected car trouble, in which our car gave out! So there we were, parked alongside the vast Canadian highway, in the dark, with two sleeping girls in tow. My first reaction was that of shock and worry; worry for our safety, and the condition of our car. However, I quickly sprung into action and called a tow truck to transport our vehicle to the nearest dealership and a taxi to transfer us to our hotel. Finally, after 9 hours of traveling, we made it to our hotel in Downtown Calgary. Unfortunately, it took an additional 2 hours to get our girls back to sleep!!

The next morning, Chris and I decided to adopt a positive attitude and say, "Que sera, sera" or what will be, will be, in terms of our car. Thus we jumped right into our activities for the day as we had previously scheduled. The first order of business was breakfast. Being that we were in Canada, we were hoping to indulge in their national staple dish, poutine. We were not disappointed! We went to a local spot called EIB that served mouth-watering breakfast versions of poutine, as well as some other sweet and savory breakfast favorites.

Our next stop was the Calgary Zoo. It was fantastic! They had a wide variety of animals from North America, the Sahara, Asia, and South America! My girls' personal favorites were the playful penguins, whose habitat was so close to the public, they managed to get splashed a few times! Other favorites were the massive hippos, giraffes, and komodo dragons, and lastly, the adorable panda bear! The zoo was large but surprisingly easy to view all of the exhibits in one afternoon.

The rest of our evening consisted of amazing Chinese food at a restaurant nestled in Calgary's Chinatown district. Calgary's Chinatown history dates back to the late 1800s when Chinese men came to work on the expansive rail line. Since that time, Chinese immigrants settled in this enclave, making it the third-largest Chinese community in Canada! Walking through this neighborhood, traditions are evident in the architecture, the art on display, the music lingering in the ambiance, the language, the merchandise sold, and the food!

Unfortunately, we were not able to experience all of the excursions we saw on the commercial due to lack of time and a functioning vehicle. However, we were ready to visit the Calgary Tower. This attraction was built in 1967 and stood tall at a whopping 626 feet! Visitors are invited to take the smooth elevator to the top of the free-standing observation deck to gain spectacular views of the City! Also featured is a terrifying portion of flooring made of glass, where people can stand and look down at the bustling street below!

Our road trip to Calgary may have started bumpy (our car was diagnosed with engine trouble that required a complete overhaul, by the way), but we made the most out of it! We loved walking along the clean streets of the downtown area gazing at the neat collection of bridges between skyscrapers, as well as partaking in their diverse and delicious gastronomy. There are a variety of family-friendly activities to take in, and so we are hoping to return soon! (preferably with a car that operates properly)