I've lived in Calgary for 5 years now. I grew up in Vancouver.
I'm finally consistently saying C-Train instead of SkyTrain, I know more about the Flames' prospects than the Canucks', and I love the Calgary Stampede like the summer Christmas that it is.
But I still miss the coast.
So I've found little pockets of my adopted hometown where I can go and imagine I'm in Vancouver. I'll admit, some of these are a stretch, but when you're homesick you look for any glimpse you can find.
So squint a little bit, use your imagination and see if you can see what I mean with these 13 Places In Calgary That Feel Like Vancouver:
1. The Douglas Fir Trail at Edworthy Park and Bowness Park feels like Lynn Valley.
Image via Buzz Bishop
2. With cranes in the skyline and the water still, this little patch near Prince's Island feels like Lost Lagoon.
3. There is sailing in Calgary, on the Glenmore Reservoir. From the right angle, it can look like the parks and beaches of Point Grey are stretching off in the distance.
Image via Malcolm on Flickr
4. An hour away from the city are many heart pounding hikes to the top of the Rockies. Vancouver has the Grouse Grind, Calgary has Ha Ling Peak, Powderface Ridge, Sulphur Mountain and dozens of others.
Image via Buzz Bishop
5. Wandering the old brick buildings of Inglewood can feel a little bit like Gastown. As with Vancouver, this neighbourhood was the original heart of Calgary.
Image via Dave Bloggs on Flickr
6. Calgary doesn't have a Lion's Gate Bridge, but it does have a downtown bridge with lions guarding it. I take the Centre St Bridge everyday and pretend I'm heading to the North Shore from downtown.
7. Water. Anything along the water and imagine you're on the coast. That water is hard to find, though. My wife imagines she's crossing Granville St Bridge when she goes over the Glenmore Causeway. The pathways along the Bow River and Elbow River, and Glenmore Reservoir are the closest we have to a seawall in Calgary, and I love them.
Image via Dave Bloggs on Flickr
8. There is a strong Farmer's Market culture in Calgary and any of them feel like Granville Island on a weekend.
Image via Mack Male on Flickr
9. Australians in the mountains are a mainstay whether you're skiing in North Vancouver, Whistler, Banff, Lake Louise or K Country. It's almost at a point where G'Day feels like a truly Canadian winter greeting.
Image via Buzz Bishop
10. Calgary has a Mount Pleasant, so does Vancouver. Both have neighbourhoods named Killarney. They both even boast a Stanley Park. Now, the Stanley Park in Calgary is much smaller (of course) but it's still pretty, don't you think?
Image via James Tworow on Flickr
11. Calgary's Chinatown is nowhere near the size of it's coastal cousin, but the signs are just as unreadable to me, the architecture is just as ornate, and there are tiny little bakeries where I can sate my urge for a siao pao. Good enough.
Image by Buzz Bishop
12. A midway is a midway is a midway. Many of those people you see working the Calgary Stampede in early July will ride the carnie caravan to Vancouver by the end of August. Mini donuts are mini donuts whether in Alberta or BC, they're awesome.
Image via Calgary Reviews on Flickr
13. There is Vancouver food in Calgary too. Rodney's Oyster House is here, so is Cafe Artigianno. On summer weekends, my back deck makes me feel like I'm in Vancouver. I pour some Granville Island Brewing into my frosted Vancouver Canucks pint glass and wonder how things could have been for that team.
Image via Buzz Bishop
Because in Calgary, they've got a darn exciting hockey team. They've reloaded for the future quickly, and my boys are fans. As much as I miss Vancouver, and look for it in hidden places in Calgary, it's good to be here after all.
What about you? Do you have favorite places in Calgary that remind you of Toronto or Saskatoon or Houston or Vancouver or wherever you're from? Share them in the comments below.
This post originally appeared on The Blog According To Buzz. Follow Buzz on Twitter to find more of his discoveries in and around Calgary.
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