2oo,ooo free pancakes are served at the Calgary Stampede, the world-famous annual rodeo
Calgary, Alberta- Ridin' ropin' & ranglin' may be center-stage at the Calgary Stampede, but what's also very cool is the tradition of western hospitality which is demonstrated with free pancake breakfasts at different locations around the city. What started with a chuckwagon driver serving breakfast from his rig in downtown Calgary has morphed into massive mall breakfasts. An estimated 200,000 pancakes are severed around the city during the 10-day event. It's all part of what Calgary calls 'the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth'. Last year more than one million people took part in this city celebration, which dates back to 1912. Businesses dial it down, residents grab their cowboy hats, and thousands of volunteers head over to the Stampede Park ( just look for the saddle-shaped stadium) to help with the wild west entertainment, which features family fun ranging from rodeos and an Indian village to chuck wagon races and nightly fireworks.
Where: Here's where 2011 free breakfasts will be held.
In the News: The 2011 Stampede is scheduled for July 8 to 17 (the first breakfast is on July 7.) Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be visiting Alberta July 6 to 8. They will participate in the Calgary Stampede Parade on Friday, July 8. The public will be able to see Their Royal Highnesses in the morning as they travel the route of the Calgary Stampede Parade just prior to the start of the parade, and then launch a fireworks signaling the start of the parade.
Lucy Izon
Canada Cool is produced by award-winning Canadian travel writer & speaker Lucy Izon. Her travel stories & reports have appeared in numerous leading North American publications including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and Chicken Soup for the Traveler's Soul. Bio page
Canada’s Coolest:
Welcome to a new feature on Canada Cool. I'll be presenting different 'Coolest' lists with my favorites and I encourage you to nominate suggestions from your own experiences. You can Twitter @CanadaCool or email Lucy@CanadaCool.com. Let me know what makes your suggestion exceptionally cool. Remember, by contributing your comments you are giving Canada Cool permission to quote you. Only a selection of submissions will be included, but all comments and submissions are greatly appreciated!
The first feature is: Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives
Here are some of my favorites...
The Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta - This 229 km (142 mi) Rocky Mountain route from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper passes 100 frozen rivers and nudges the base of the Athabasca Glacier - the most accessible glacier in the world. You can stop and explore it. It spills down from the Columbia Icefield, an area of ice so massive that you could fit the entire population of North America on it with each person getting at least a square metre of space.
The Corridor, Algonquin Park, Ontario – this 56-km stretch of Hwy 60 cuts through the southwest section of Algonquin Park. Less than three hours north of Toronto the park is a nature-lover's paradise with 7,725 km of lakes, rivers, forest, trails, camping, comfortable lodges and 2000 km of canoe routes. Offers hiking trails to stop and enjoy, but what makes it really cool is that it’s one of the best places in North America to spot moose (especially in May and June). And, on Thursday nights in August up to 600 cars will gather to listen to wolves howl.
The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – Driving this 303 km (187 mile) route is like riding a roller-coaster: the road snakes around hairpin turns, rises to heights over 365 metres (1200 ft), weaves around headlands revealing spectacular coastal scenery, and plunges down to sea level taking you into the heart of small fishing communities. The most dramatic scenery is between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park entrance near Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay, so go slow. And, plan some flexibility into your schedule, so you can drive it on a clear day.
And here are some of your nominations for 'Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives'...
More from Canada’s Coolest
'Canada's Coolest' topics we'll be publishing in the future:
- Golf Course Features
- Haunted Hotels
- Hotel Special Services
Send your suggestions to lucy@CanadaCool.com
Recent 'Canada's Coolest' topics:
