My City Celebrates: Brendan’s Calgary

This year, inspired by our ever-popular “I Heart My City”

series on Intelligent Travel, we’re reveling in the holiday season by asking our readers to share their favorite ways to celebrate in their cities. Today’s city-lover is Brendan McGuigan, who gives us a glimpse of Calgary.

What to share the things that make your city special?

We’ve put together a festively-themed fill-in-the-blank questionnaire, and we’d love to hear your responses. So cut and paste the list, fill in your answers, and e-mail us your picks at intelligenttravel@ngs.org.

(Please include links and photos if possible). We’ll be featuring your “My City Celebrates” posts through the New Year, click here for a list of cities we’ve featured so far. Happy Holidays!

My City Celebrates: Calgary

When I need a dose of holiday cheer, I always head to Higher Ground in Kensington for a lovely eggnog latte.

The best place to grab a cup of cocoa is Caffe Beano… so delicious, my goodness.

If you want to find great sledding you have to head to Fish Creek Park, where there’s hills of every shape and size!

Strap on your skates at Olympic Plaza and enjoy the view of Stephen Avenue Walk and the Calgary Tower.

For a classic holiday photo op, be sure to check out the Calgary Zoo, which is known for its fantastic annual Christmas light display.

A great place to take the kids during the season is Heritage Park–the lights, decorations and atmosphere are always a hit.

For all of your gift-giving shopping in one store, check out Eau Claire Market–fabulous local vendors of all sorts mean you won’t go home empty-handed!

The Calgary Farmer’s Market has the best markets; be sure to pick up a pie from Simple Simon’s for your Christmas dinner.

No holiday meal in my city is complete without a dessert treat from Nectar Desserts.

My favorite holiday tradition in my city is Theatre Calgary’s production of A Christmas Carol.

Locals know to avoid the throngs of last-minute shoppers in TD Square and Chinook Centre and find the real magic at Prince’s Island Park, or walking along the Bow River.

The best part about my city during the holiday season is meeting old and new friends downtown, along 17th Avenue, and taking in all the cheer!

Photo: National Geographic My Shot user Ross Dance