Nestled as it is in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the city of Calgary is a sporty, active place that embraces its professional teams with passion, and takes to the great outdoors with equal enthusiasm. Much of that outdoor ambition is spent in the nearby magnificence of Banff, but in-city, a comprehensive network of cycling paths and abundant park space make urban outdoorsmanship a readily available option. With its two rivers, the Bow and the Elbow, urban angling is popular here, especially on the Bow, the larger of the two, where it's not uncommon to hook a 2-pound trout within the city limits. So be sure to bring some hiking boots, or at least some sturdy runners; if the constant bustle of boomtown starts to exhaust, natural refuge abounds.
