Blue Sky Tours

Heritage and Aboriginal Culture

A. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump UNESCO World Heritage Site - 1 day
About 2 hours south of Calgary, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and Interpretive Centre is a place where the foothills of the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains. It is the site of one of the world's oldest, largest and best preserved buffalo jumps known to exist and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981. Head-Smashed-In had been used continuously by aboriginal peoples of the plains for more than 5,500 years. This tour could be combined with a return trip through the town of Nanton, Bar-U Ranch or Bragg Creek or we could drive further south to the Crowsnest Pass and the coal-mining town of Frank, which was buried by a landslide in 1903.

B. Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park - 1 day
Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park and Interpretive Centre is located about 1 ½ hours southeast of Calgary. Enter into a land before time...and enjoy an exciting, authentic, Blackfoot Indian cultural experience. Take an indoor tour of the exhibit hall with a local Siksika guide, who will escort you through this 62,000 square foot eco-friendly museum, explaining the facility and exhibits. Learn about the Blackfoot culture and visit the gift shop for unique aboriginal arts and crafts and souvenirs. This tour could be combined with a return trip through the Inglewood antique shops.

Combine this with a trip to the future, as we "go boldly" to Vulcan, the Alberta town known for its coincidental science fiction relationship to Star Trek.

Antiques, Crafts and Art

A. Nanton - half or full day
An hour south of Calgary, Nanton has become a mecca for antique hunters. The town was settled by farmers and ranchers when the Canadian Pacific Railway was being built and that sense of yesteryear still permeates the town. Much of the town has been restored to its frontier splendour and merchants offer a wide range of handcrafted items and specialty services including custom built furniture and restorations.

Take a relaxing stroll along Nanton's historic downtown streets and visit a great selection of antique shops, gift and specialty stores, art stores and unique eateries. Or, if some in your group prefer learning about the area's heritage while others shop, we can take them to visit historic sites such as the Lancaster Air Museum, the Big Sky Garden Railway, the MacEwan School House Visitor Information Centre and/or Nanton & District Grain Elevator Historical & Cultural Society.

If you still have time and energy, we can return to Calgary via a portion of the Cowboy Trail - possibly with a stop at the famed Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada. Here, visitors are quickly immersed in the living, breathing and very authentic presentation of ranching culture and history found on the ranch. Pekisko Creek General Store stocks various items by local artists and crafts people. Quality items include home preserves, sewing, knitting, woodwork, handmade soap, candles and Friends of the Bar U promotional items.

B. Bragg Creek - half or full day
This beguiling hamlet is located only 45 minutes from Calgary and attracts many visitors, who come for the vibrant arts community, unique shopping opportunities for antiques, quilts and home décor, plus freshly baked pies and gorgeous scenery. Many choose to pack a picnic and head to nearby Elbow Falls, where the Elbow River collides with the rocky slopes of the mountains to form an amazing natural spectacle.

Banff National Park

Drive to town of Banff, visit Tunnel Mountain's surprise corner and the Hoodoos. See the Sulphur Mountain hot springs that led to the formation of Banff National Park, and go for a dip if you wish. Ride the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Visit the world class Banff Springs Hotel and its spectacular setting, then stop at the Cave and Basin, an original grand bathing pavilion and emerald coloured basin hot springs in the Cave. Cruise Lake Minnewanka, experiencing its mysteries. A drive up the switchback road to Mount Norquay provides exhilarating views. The park is home to a variety of wildlife such as bear, elk, mountain sheep and moose.

Lake Louise

Canada's "Diamond in the Wilderness", Lake Louise and the surrounding area are famous for their natural beauty, clear mountain lakes, numerous hiking opportunities and world class hotels and cuisine. Stop to relax in the famous Chateau Lake Louise or just take a stroll through the grounds breathing in that fresh mountain air. From the Chateau, its a short drive to Moraine Lake, named after the moraine deposited by the Wenkchemna Glacier. Its situated in the heart of the Valley of the Ten Peaks which makes this a must see when in the Lake Louise area.

Canadian Badlands: Dinosaurs & Hoodoos

East of Calgary, visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum, world renowned for its work in palaeontology. The museum has 40 mounted dinosaur skeletons and over 125,000 fossil specimens plus many interactive displays. Experience the Canadian Badlands with their hoodoos where dinosaurs once roamed. Look into Horsethief Canyon to see lunar-like coulees and ancient bones. We'll drive the Hoodoo Trail to see Hoodoos, 5 to 7 metre sandstone pillars that stand on a base of shale capped by a large stone. And maybe a side trip to the Rosedale Suspension Bridge across the Red Deer River.

Kananaskis Country

Located in the foothills and mountains of the Canadian Rockies west of Calgary, Kananaskis Country is a diverse landscape including outstanding scenery and a wide range of natural resources. Stops can include the Olympic downhill skiing site Nakiska, lunch at Kananaskis Lodge, plus other breath-taking views that make it an outdoor enthusiast's dream.

Wild Horses of Alberta

Wild horses are believed to have been brought to Alberta by the Blackfoot Indians in the 17th century. Today, they still roam parts of the Alberta foothills. Anyone lucky enough to see them will never forget the experience.