How-to: Make the most of winter in Calgary

New to Calgary and unsure of how to tackle the seemingly never-ending winter season? Despite the icy cold temperatures that sometimes plague this dear city, residents can still manage to enjoy each and every day throughout the winter – with a few handy tips for getting by. Here are the top ways to make the most of winter.

Live Inner City

Being able to walk to downtown Calgary is a huge plus during the winter months. Avoiding winter roads and the crazy amount of traffic that accumulates once a drop of snow hits the city, is totally worth it. Neighbourhoods like the East Village, Eau Claire, Inglewood and Mission are all excellent spots to seek out a home for that short and sweet commute.

The +15 System

Folks who work in the inner core know and love the famous +15 walkway system. Connecting the people and buildings of downtown with over 59 bridges that are approximately 15 feet above the street, the +15 is an essential and welcome luxury of life in downtown Calgary. There was even a movie called “waydowntown” about some downtown dwellers who vow to never leave the +15 system as a personal challenge.

Car2Go

If you’ve got to get somewhere fast and public transit isn’t an option, you can easily hop in a Car2Go (as long as you have a membership) and hit the road. These blue and white Smart cars are all equipped with Calgary-ready snow tires meaning you don’t have to worry about slipping and sliding on those particularly hectic snow days.

Devonian Gardens

Looking to get away from it all but can’t leave the city? Enjoy the indoor wonders of CORE Shopping’s Devonian Gardens. This stunning and sprawling botanical garden will keep you distracted from the snow outside and focused on the beautiful ponds with fish, tropical plants and the indoor playground.

Chinook Days

Lastly, one of the most important parts of enduring a Calgary winter is fully embracing the warm winds of a Chinook. The Chinooks usually only last a couple of days but true Calgarians embrace them in only moments. You’ll see the patios on 17^th Avenue packed with people, gloves and toques will be swapped for light jackets and you might even see a few people donning shorts and flip-flops. If you don’t take advantage of the Chinook days, this winter can truly take advantage of you!