Things to see in Calgary

At 191m (627ft), the Calgary Tower may not be the world’s tallest. Nevertheless, this attraction, standing among the gleaming skyscrapers of the city centre, is a must-see in Calgary. The Observation Deck offers a bird's-eye view of the city, the prairies and the magnificent Rocky Mountains to the west. A walk across the glass floor suspended over the city street below can be an unnerving experience. A revolving restaurant, Sky 360, provides a more relaxed environment in which to take in the view.

The Canada Olympic Park harks back to Calgary's shining moment as the host of the XV Olympic Winter Games in 1988. You can practise skiing and snowboarding, try out luge and bobsleigh rides, or test your freestyle moves on the 17m (55ft) Big Airbag. Fly down North America's fastest zip line on a 500m (1,640ft) cable from the 90m (295ft) ski jump tower at speeds up to 140kph (87mph). In summer, you can speed down the ‘Road Rocket' bobsleigh track at 95kph (60mph) or take to the 25km (16 miles) of mountain biking trails.

Fort Calgary dates from 1875, when the Canadian government dispatched a troop of North-West Mounted Police to cross the Bow River and build a fort. Although the Mounties' occupation of the fort ended in 1914, today you can visit a reconstruction of the fort amid 16 hectares (40 acres) of parkland. An interpretive centre outlines Calgary's development via artefacts, audiovisual displays and walks along the river. You can even try on a Mountie uniform or languish in jail. The site also includes the Deane House Historic Site & Restaurant, a historic building that now houses a restaurant.

This 22-hectare (66-acre) historical village and theme park feeds visitors' fascination with the ‘Wild West' by recreating life in the Canadian West before 1914. This working museum comprises more than 150 restored buildings, each functioning as part of a specific type of community (such as a native village, a fur-trading post or a homestead) with characters in authentic heritage costume. You can also ride aboard a steam locomotive, an antique Ferris wheel, historic streetcars or the SS Moyie, an early sternwheeler. The adjacent Gasoline Alley Museum displays an extensive collection of vintage cars, while Heritage Town Square represents a 1930s to 1950s street.