Originally built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, this park remains an integral part of the city's recreational life. Nowadays, it serves as a training facility for athletes and is used by the city's residents throughout the year. Although the original ski jumps are off-limits to the public, you'll find ski and snowboarding slopes, winter bobsleigh rides, a park for mountain biking, summer luge rides and year-round zipline rides. You can also take a bus tour of the facility or visit the Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum. Several restaurants and a gift shop are also located on the premises. Athletic facilities have different hours depending on season.

One of the continent's largest urban parks, this expanse of greenspace provides a great refuge from the city. It offers miles of trails for horseback riding, cycling and hiking and also contains archaeological sites. A variety of terrains gives it character, a visitor center provides useful information, and a learning center teaches children about nature and ecology. The Bow Valley Ranch House, a turn-of-the-century home, can be found on the premises and now shelters a terrific restaurant that serves local Canadian cuisine.

Occupying a stretch of land along the Bow River, this sanctuary is a haven for humans and wildlife alike. Off limits to dogs and bicycles, the park offers a network of walking trails. It also features exhibits in the Colonel James Walker House, which belonged to the North West Mounted Police officer who originally owned the park's 80 acres. Picnic tables and restrooms are located near the house. Many bird species are visible during spring and fall migration periods, but you can find resident species anytime of the year.

This park is largely natural, unmanicured and uncultivated. It's home to tall prairie grasslands and provides a nice mid-ground between the city and the mountains, both of which are visible from the park. The expanse of land is located in Calgary's northwest quadrant, and since it doesn't provide many access roads, it's home to a variety of wildlife. It's also one of the highest points in the area, thanks to debris left behind by retreating glaciers.

If you happen to be downtown and are looking for a beautifully landscaped venue where you can enjoy a picnic lunch or the balmy summer weather, it's already here ­ and has been since 1988. Built as the site for medal presentations during the Winter Olympics, the park has since become a favorite of downtown professionals and anyone who frequents the Stephen Avenue area. It hosts many public festivals and events, along with winter ice-skating. Plaques honor athletes who performed well in the Games, and bricks paving the area are inscribed with the names of those individuals who helped finance the park.