Dynamic, metropolitan Calgary lies on the banks of the Bow River and just east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. One of the largest cities in Canada, and the largest in Province of Alberta, Calgary offers the best of city attractions and easy access to outdoor recreation. An oil boom that began in the 1940s turned the city from an agricultural and ranching hub into a metropolis that hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1988. Remnants of the ranch culture remain, especially with the annual Calgary Stampede Festival, a world-class rodeo and parade founded by wealthy agriculturalists in 1912. Other cultural attractions include the Glenbow Museum–the largest museum in western Canada–the Chinese Cultural Centre, and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum. The mild weather and proximity to the Rockies, and resort towns such as Banff and lovely Lake Louise make Calgary a great launching point for excursions into the Canadian wilderness.
