(NC) Calgary is a city that truly comes alive in the winter months. It’s a dynamic Albertan hot spot, where the excitement of the city meets the beauty of the Rockies. Get a head start on planning your trip to the Blue Sky City with these insider tips.

Unique attractions: The contrast of modern skyscrapers and snow-dusted foothills is a delight, but that’s just scratching the surface of what you can experience in Calgary. 

• For the history buff: The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland has tours where you can learn about Fort Calgary’s past. • For an educational adventure: The Telus Spark Science Centre is a science museum with interactive exhibits well suited for all ages.
• For a little bit of everything: In late January Calgary’s winter festival, Chinook Blast, kicks off in the downtown core. With a range of experiences from live music, to sporting events, light and arts installations, night markets and more, it has something everyone can enjoy. 
• For families: Calgary Zoo’s Zoolights is a favourite local holiday tradition with festive displays all through the zoo. 
• For adrenaline junkies: WinSport Canada Olympic Park is home to one of Canada’s largest ski and snowboard schools and features a world-class halfpipe, terrain park and more.

Natural sights: Calgary’s location makes it ideal for winter adventurers. Just over an hour away, Banff National Park offers world-class skiing and snowboarding, along with scenic drives and snowshoeing trails. For outdoor adventure without leaving the city, Bowness Park is a favourite. It features outdoor skating and cozy firepits, but you can also rent ice bikes or play some crokicurl—a new outdoor sport combining two Canadian favourites: crokinole and curling. If you want to keep the city as your base, there are also tours which take you out to see picture-perfect Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and more within the span of a day.

Where to stay: As a world-class city, Calgary has no shortage of options for accommodations. For visits during the winter months, it can add to your experience to choose a place with extra ways to warm back up, like the Country Inn and Suites by Radisson. It has an indoor heated pool and hot tub—perfect for unwinding after a cold day’s adventures—and complimentary hot breakfast to get the next day started.

Eat and drink: Considered one of the best restaurants in the city, the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant is a historical landmark, offering upscale Canadian dishes featuring Rocky Mountain game meats and local harvest vegetables. Craving a cold brew? There are several breweries featuring local craft selections.

One of the things that makes Calgary such a great winter destination is that it lets travellers experience city comforts and natural splendor all at once. You can find more destinations and travel tips at choicehotels.com.