Nose Hill Park — right at the end of our street
Nose Hill Park is Calgary's great backyard. 11 square kilometres of prairie, 60+ kilometres of trails, the Siksikaitsitapi Medicine Wheel, glacial erratics, off-leash areas, and sunset views over downtown. Open 5 AM to 11 PM, and a 25-minute walk from the Dome House.
The walk: Leave the house down Hunterburn Crescent, follow the pathway along Hunterview Drive and 64 Avenue NW, and cross under 14 Street NW through the pedestrian tunnel into the park. It's 1.8 km, about 25 minutes on foot — and it feels like the countryside the moment you're through.
Walking route (Google Maps): https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&origin=1203+Hunterburn+Crescent+NW,+Calgary,+AB&destination=Nose+Hill+Park,+6465+14+St+NW,+Calgary,+AB&travelmode=walking
Tip: Go at sunset. The park's high ground faces the downtown skyline, and the light over the prairie is something else.
Hidden Calgary — speakeasies & hidden bars
Calgary hides its best bars behind unmarked doors, passwords, and a good story. These are the ones worth the hunt — all verified open in 2026, in the Beltline and downtown, about 20 minutes from the Dome.
Betty Lou's Library — 908 17 Ave SW. A Prohibition-style speakeasy: entry by password, reservations required, live jazz, opens 5 p.m. 4.7 stars from 1,279 reviews.
Charlie's Watch Repair — 211 10th Ave SW, Beltline. A cocktail bar hidden inside Salt & Brick — ask for Charlie. Reservations via OpenTable, opens 6 p.m. 4.7 stars.
Paper Lantern — 115 2nd Ave SE. An underground tropical Vietnamese cocktail lounge below the street, all red lanterns. No. 33 on Canada's 100 Best Bars 2026.
Where to eat — from the Dome to downtown
WORTH THE TRIP — Ten Foot Henry (1209 1 St SW, downtown, 4.7 stars). Rustic-chic, vegetable-forward, one of Canada's best. River Café (Prince's Island Park, 4.7): the classic Calgary room, right on the river. Bar Gigi, Bridgette Bar, Carino and Major Tom round out the city's best — all on OpenTable's Canada Top 100 2026.
NEAR THE DOME — Tonic Kitchen + Bar (22 Aero Cres NE, 4.8 stars): an airport-side pub, open till 1 a.m. Blowers & Grafton (Creekside, 12650 Symons Valley Rd NW, 4.6 stars): Halifax-style donairs and lobster rolls, open till 11 p.m. DL Eats (30 Country Hills Landing NW, 4.8 stars): Chinese, open till 8:30 p.m.
Cherry Inn (6722 4 St NE, 4.5 stars): Chinese, $20–30, open till 10 p.m. Tobe Teppanyaki Lounge (Deerfoot City, 901 64 Ave NE, 4.5 stars): teppanyaki theatre, $30–70, open till 10 p.m. Signature Garden (176 Bedford Dr NE, 4.8 stars): Chinese takeout, open till 11 p.m.
DEERFOOT CITY — About 10 minutes away, Deerfoot City is the neighbourhood's big night out: The Rec Room (arcade, restaurant, bar, live entertainment), iFLY indoor skydiving, and restaurants and shopping — all in one plaza off Deerfoot Trail.
ORDER IN — Nights in are easy: Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, and DoorDash all deliver to the house.