Calgary Tower, Calgary

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Calgary Tower offers similar sights to most high rise towers in cities. The highlight is obviously the glass floor which still fills you with fear even though you know it will not collapse and send you plummeting to your death.

There are interactive screens throughout which fill you with info about the Rockies and Calgary, and point out exactly where the local attractions are.

Once you've paid (it isnt expensive) you can use your reciept to come back later in the day when it's dark.

There are a couple of revolving resteraunts at the top although I believe they are expensive.

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It used to be that each Canadian city boasted a magnificent hotel which served as a symbol for that town, but sometime after the Space Needle of Seattle's World Fair, it became de riguer for a 'true' city to boast a tower which held a revolving - overpriced - restaurant and observation deck from which to look out over the metropolis. Calgary, being the 'true' city it is, has its Calgary Tower, rising 191 metres (Canadian spelling again)/626 feet high directly above the transcontinental Canadian Pacific train lines on its south side and that older Calgarian icon, the Palliser Hotel to its west. Lying directly north, are the shops and restaurants of the restored Stephens Street area, along with the large Marriott and Hyatt Regency hotels. There is a huge parking structure just on the south side of the tower which actually spans the multiple CP rail lines. Trains travel underneath the parked cars.

The Calgary Tower is the highest landmark in the city standing at 190 metres. It opened to the public on June 30, 1968. As with most towers, this one features both an observation deck and a revolving restaurant at the top. The most outstanding feature about going up this tower is that it offers a view of the Rocky Mountains. The price of admission is $11.95 (2005).

This view from the Calgary Tower is looking northeast, away from the main business core of the city. It shows the Bow River, and the yellow leaves of the trees along its banks, as it winds its way through the city. This river actually rises in the Rocky Mountains, not much more than an hour's drive to the west but, finally, it ends up in Hudson Bay half a continent away!

We had a very enjoyable time taking in all the views, including finding our hotel and observing the snow-capped Rocky Mountains! However, just as we were about to wrap it up we were in for quite a surprise (see my Off the Beaten Path tip)!

From the top of the tower you will get a great view of the city obviously but I most remember Holly and I being teased by a very expensive dinner there one night and still being hungry after we left.

But if your into romantic revolving views of the city while you eat, this is your place!

You can get a great view of Calgary from the top of the Calgary Tower. There is a 360 degree view.

If you are planning for a really full day, you could do what we did -- plan a downtown day -- and visit the Glenbow Museum, the Devonian Gardens and the Calgary Tower all in one day (and do a bunch of shopping at the same time).

Cost in 2004 - $10.65 Cdn per adult, $7.50 Cdn for kids., $8.65 Cdn for seniors

for some reason i remember being really scared when i vistied this..i think it was because of the height! so if your afraid of heights dont go up here! even though the view is absolutely amazing!! i remember seeing a ride at the calgary stampede when i was up at the tower and was in awe! its really worth it!

Construction of the Tower commenced on February 19, 1967 and was completed in June 1968 (15 months) at a total cost of 3.5 million dollars.

The Calgary Tower elevates visitors 189 metres (626 feet) above downtown Calgary for a stunning view of the city and the Canadian Rockies.

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The views from the tower are wonderful. There is also a glass floor for those who can handle a view straight down, brrr.

Calgary Tower, the most identifiable landmark built in 1968. It was also the location of the Olympic Torch during the 1988 Winter Olympics.