Book Last Minute Hotel Deals in Calgary

Oil has given Calgary its swagger. Young and brash, with shiny skyscrapers popping up seemingly overnight, Alberta's largest city just keeps growing. Don't be fooled by the Cowtown nickname – it’s a remnant of Calgary's century-old, good-time Stampede each July. Provincial? No way. This metropolis is anything but unpolished.

Downtown ka-chings with big business. The Glenbow Museum, combining art and history, and the Calgary Tower, with its view-tastic observation deck, are both here. Nearby Fort Calgary Historic Park has the lowdown on Mounties. Calgary Zoo is Canada's most-visited menagerie, beloved for its rhinos, komodo dragons and life-size replica dinosaurs. Canada Olympic Park lets adrenaline junkies ski or snowboard in winter, mountain bike or zipline in summer, and bobsled at 75 mph any time.

For a night out, stylish Uptown 17th Avenue piles on martini lounges and hockey bars. Italian trattorias and cafes with rooftop patios draw a fun-loving crowd to the Mission district. Artsy Inglewood holds eclectic eats and live music clubs. Kensington swings upscale with wine bars and mansion-set restaurants.