Inglewood and Ramsay are two must-visit neighbourhoods during a trip to Calgary. The area has a little bit of everything, whether you’re in the mood for a day at a Riverside Park, walking trails, sipping pints at a local brewery or window shopping along the historic main drag. Use this guide for some ideas to start your exploration.
Neighbourhood Guide: The Perfect Summer Day in Inglewood and Ramsay
Reading time: 4 minutes
These two downtown Calgary neighbourhoods can't be beat for outdoor fun: Craft brewery patios, shopping and soaking up the sun by the river at a park.
- Start your day with a yummy breakfast or brunch at the farmers’ market.
- The pathways are perfect for walking, roller skating or biking.
- Explore the cool shops, local brews and riverside parks here.
Breakfast and treasure hunting at Crossroads Market
The flea market at Crossroads Market adds a bit of quirk to your typical farmers’ market jaunt. Make a morning of it by starting with breakfast (try the huevos rancheros from Molcajete or the spinach-and-feta borek from Anatolia Turkish Cuisine) before you explore the market. It’s extra fun if you go with a target item in mind: maybe an ’88 Olympics pin, a milk glass butter dish or an elusive comic book.
Get lost at Fair’s Fair Books
Approach Fair’s Fair with an open mind and a dose of curiosity. The charming used book shop is well-organized by subject matter and packed with options for your next summer read. You’re equally likely to go home with a 1941 issue of Life Magazine as an ’80s-era Sweet Valley High book, or a copy of that bestseller you’ve been waiting ages to read.
Roller skate to your heart's content
Roller skating captured the hearts of Calgarians over the last few years, as anybody who had to wait months for back-ordered skates can tell you. Skaters can park at Pearce Estate Park, lace up and make for the Harvie Passage Lookout before skating west along the Bow River Pathway. If you’re in need of new wheels or boots, be sure to visit Nerd Roller Skates in Inglewood.
Patio dreams and park brews
Grab a couple of friends and make for the Ol’Beautiful courtyard or Cold Garden right next door. High Line Brewing’s patio is sneakily tucked away on 9 Avenue SE and often gets loads of sun, while The Dandy Brewing Company is conveniently en route to Crossroads Market.
Bonus: You can book a picnic table through the city’s website to enjoy an adult beverage in a number of parks across Calgary, including in Inglewood.
Sunset at Scotsman's Hill
Scotsman’s Hill in Ramsay is known as the ultimate place to watch the nightly Calgary Stampede fireworks (if you’re not already at the Grandstand Show), but it also offers a stunning view of downtown all summer long. Put it on your itinerary for a romantic spot to catch the sunset, a picnic with a view or simply a great photo op.
Look up at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary
Rain or shine, the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary is a gem, with more than 225 bird species recorded here. You don’t need to be a birder to appreciate the variety found here, but binoculars will make it extra enjoyable since you can see the locals’ little avian faces. Download a birding app such as Audubon to identify what you’ve seen as you watch for mergansers, sandpipers, woodpeckers or even a kestrel.
Portable crafts
Whether you’re planning an Alberta road trip or anticipating hours around a campfire, a portable craft is the perfect way to keep your hands occupied while hanging out. Pop into Stash for a beginner-friendly embroidery hoop kit. Try Recess for a new journal-pen combo for calligraphy, sketching or journaling. And for those who sew, consider getting supplies at RICK RACK Textiles for a project you can sew by hand on your next camping trip while someone else starts the fire in the morning.
Takeout picnic at Pearce Estate Park
It’s hard to deny the delight of eating good food in a beautiful park. Consider a couple of classic options like a pie from Inglewood Pizza or burgers from Inglewood Drive-In. Or, head to Lina’s Italian Piazza, for grab-and-go sandwiches at the deli, and a wide selection of picnic fixings.
Go ride a bike
Is there a more iconic pairing than biking and summertime? Inglewood and Ramsay are super bikeable — and you can happily pedal through all the items on this list, from (responsibly) patio hopping to hitting Crossroads Market to bringing takeout to a park.
