Travel Agent - April 28, 2008 - (Page 32)

DESTINATIONS CANADA Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta building boom that entails the residential, corporate and government sectors. Some 2,000 apartments are under construction, as is a $350 million courthouse complex and a skyscraper named The Bow, which will be the tallest in Canada outside Toronto. Attractions This is a city, literally and figuratively, on the rise. And it has another milestone anniversary coming up this year: June will mark 40 years since the opening of the Calgary Tower (www.calgarytower.com), the 627-foot-high observation tower that’s the most recognizable structure in the city’s skyline. One section of it has a glass floor, so visitors can look straight down to the street below. The glass is, of course, as sturdy as the regular floors in the Tower, but can nonetheless be unnerving when one is standing on it (the gift shop sells “I survived the glass floor” T-shirts). The revolving restaurant atop the Calgary Tower is due to reopen this summer following a complete renovation. Across from the Tower is the Glenbow Museum (www.glenbow.org), mostly a museum of history and cultures, but with artwork in the collection as well. Two permanent exhibits in particular provide an excellent introduction to Alberta—“Mavericks: An Incorrigible History of Alberta” and “Niitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life.” The former recounts the struggles and triumphs of people who shaped the province’s history in politics, industry, the arts, public service and community activism. The latter is a comprehensive overview of the Blackfoot, the First Nations people native to Alberta. The proximity of the Tower and museum to each other illustrates one of Calgary’s great attributes, especially for tourists: Downtown is compact. Within two blocks of those attractions are the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts (www.epcorcentre.org), the Art Gallery of Calgary (www.artgallerycalgary.org), a Hudson’s Bay department store (www.thebay.com) and several hotels, including Hyatt, Marriott and Fairmont. It’s so compact, they don’t even bother charging passengers to ride the C-Train, Calgary’s light rail, within downtown. Just a block from the Glenbow is Olympic Plaza, where the medals ceremonies were held during the 1988 Games. It’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 35 CALGARY In this Alberta city, downtown is easy to get around and filled with historic and cultural attractions TWENTY YEARS AGO, CALGARY WAS FRESH OFF HOSTING THE FIRST Winter Olympics ever held in Canada. They were the memorable Games where the world got to know a Jamaican bobsled team and a cheerfully inept British ski jumper known as Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, and where competition highlights included the “Battle of the Brians”—Boitano vs. Orser—for the men’s 32 | TravelAgent April 28, 2008 BY ADRIENNE ONOFRI figure skating crown. Edwards and Orser were among those who came to Calgary this winter to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Olympics. From the look of the Alberta city today, however, you’d think it was getting ready to host a huge international event rather than looking back on one long past. Cranes and partially constructed buildings hover all over downtown, in a PHOTO COURTESY OF TOURISM CALGARY http://www.calgarytower.com http://www.glenbow.org http://www.epcorcentre.org http://www.thebay.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - April 28, 2008

Travel Agent - April 28, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor Africa: Where to Stay in the Gateway to Southern Africa South Pacific/Australia: Luxury Lodges in Queensland and Tasmania Pacific/Asia: Shanghai, China’s Cosmopolitan Powerhouse, Sees New Hotel and Cruise Development Canada: Downtown Calgary is Easy to Get Around and Filled with Historic and Cultural Attractions California: Laguna Beach Blends Culture with Coastal Beauty Florida: Golf, History, Food and Fun Defined Our Stay at the Renaissance Resort in St. Augustine Las Vegas: Vegas Hotels Gamble on the Allure of Men’s Grooming Pacific Northwest: Washington Inns Emphasize Local Charm Mexico: Tulum Comes Into its Own as a Luxury Destination Europe: Cruising the Mosel and Rhine Rivers with Amadeus Waterways Rudi Schreiner, President of Amadeus Waterways, Talks about River Cruises Caribbean: Travel Agent Reports From the Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange The Slot Spot: Gaming at the Casino Dominicus Cruise: Suppliers and Businesses Use Ships as Springboards to Satisfy Enthusiasts’ Hobbies and Passions Key Legal Decisions Will Affect the Future of Alaska’s Cruise Industry Cover Story: Exclusive Beach Destinations Hotels: The Girlfriend Getaway is an Exploding Market Agent Profile: Sabine Harris’ Personal Touch Provides a Memorable Experience Virtual Tourism: New Websites Give a New View of Tourist Destinations Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Anguilla’s Cap Juluca Sold Aloha Airlines is Grounded Exorbitant Hotel Rates Make Alternatives More Appealing Koepf takes Helm at NACTA, Plans to Expand Membership In the Spotlight Classified Marketplace Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - April 28, 2008

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