Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Cochrane

"Calgary Tower has a lot to offer, so it was a natural addition to the list of best things to do in Calgary. The tower itself provides the best views of any building in the city, and once inside the tower, the multimedia tour includes a virtual presentation that delves into Calgary’s location – from its skyscrapers to its Rocky Mountain range, and everything in between. The virtual windows show the (actual) views of the city, but as a touchscreen where certain points can be opened for more information."

"One of the top Calgary attractions is viewing the city from the Calgary Tower, a 190.8 meter free standing observation tower. Have a bite to eat in the Sky 360 Restaurant and Lounge, and then stand on the Observation Deck to see a panoramic view (not recommended if you are afraid of heights!). Be sure afterward to browse the gift shop which features unique Calgary Tower memorabilia."

"Prince's Island Park is a very popular downtown park in Calgary. Found on the Bow River directly north of the downtown business core, it is the location of many lunch breakers and "recreationalists" alike, looking to enjoy the outdoors while being immersed by the sounds of nature. Read more about Calgary Activities at Princes Island Park today!"

"A favourite urban escape for Calgarians, Prince’s Island Park sprawls across 20 hectares on a northward bend in the Bow River. It’s a fantastic place for travellers to enjoy some of the city’s quieter moments. There’s plenty to do in Prince’s Island Park."

"Prince’s Island Park is the perfect spot to escape the busyness of downtown Calgary without going far. Flower gardens, expansive grassy spaces, and several bridges make for a picturesque park in the city centre."

"Fort Calgary is the birthplace of the modern city of Calgary, first established in 1875. Built to foster relations with the local Indigenous people and fight illegal trade of whisky, the fort transformed as the railroad arrived and the city grew. It is now a history museum sharing the complicated history of the region."

"Found in the downtown area at the meeting place of the Bow and Elbow Rivers, Fort Calgary is easy to get to via LRT and is a great place to learn, discover and enjoy!. Find out more about the local attraction at Calgary Activities - Fort Calgary."

"Featuring 11sqkm (4sqmi) of native grasslands, Nose Hill Park is Calgary’s biggest park. It might be surrounded by residential neighborhoods, but the overall effect of the wild moors is one of rugged remoteness. Visitors are asked, kindly (this is Canada, after all), to stay off the grasslands as they’re a threatened ecosystem, but hikers and cyclists are still privy to panoramic views of downtown Calgary in the distance."

"I love Nose Hill Park and its rolling hills for sunset photography sessions. I specifically like meeting at the South parking lot because it offers some fantastic views of Calgary downtown (after a 10 minute walk uphill). There are also a lot of great trees in that area which will be perfect when fall rolls around."

"Nose Hill Park is an 11-square-kilometer natural nature park in Calgary’s northwest district. The park was founded in 1980 and covers an area of 11 square kilometers. In the northwest corner of the city, the Nose Hill Natural Environment Park is surrounded by 12 residential neighborhoods."

"One of Calgary’s newest parks, St. Patrick’s Island was redeveloped in 2015 with hiking and biking trails, a public plaza and amphitheatre, playground, and restored river channels. Take a walk to the top of The Rise, a grassy knoll used for community festivals and outdoor movies in the summer and tobogganing in the winter. Wade into the water of the Seasonal Breach or get downtown city views across the Bow River from the westernmost edge of the island."

"A lesser known island that divides the Bow River is St. Patrick’s Park, and is located on the east of East Village. You can reach here by walking/biking/scootering along the Riverfront pathway and is neighbouring George’s Island which is part of the Calgary Zoo. It’s a great and quiet place to catch the sunset over East Village and the George C. King Bridge."

"East Village Playground – East Village – 7 Ave and 6 St SESt. Patrick’s Island Playground – 1300 Zoo Rd."

"If you’ve visited the Bow Habitat Visitor Centre or the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery, then you have been in this park. Home to 15 hectares of reconstructed wetlands, this gorgeous park is located barely northeast of the city’s downtown and just off of the Bow River. Whether you want to picnic, hit the playground, explore the expanse of trails or visit the hatchery, there’s plenty to do when you come to Pearce Estate Park."

"The park is nestled in a curve of the Bow River and stretches out over 21 hectares of wetlands and is home to the Bow Habitat Visitor Center and the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery. Here pathways and interpretive trails wind past ponds and along streams through a balsam poplar riverine forest with birch, dogwood, and willows. The forest attracts white-breasted nuthatch, gray catbirds, swallows, flickers, and goldeneye."

"This one gets the award for the most underrated Calgary location for engagement and family photography. The Bow Habitat Station and Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery is located at Pearce Estate Park which makes it an ideal spot for a fun filled family day. You can have your photo taken and teach your kids about the Bow River wildlife on the same day!"

"The Coup is a contemporary vegetarian restaurant offering new, raw, organic, local foods and drinks in an intimate setting. The Coup first opened for business in Calgary and the outlying neighborhoods in 2004, with the aim of providing the city with a new vegetarian restaurant. Since then, they’ve been committed to providing a lively environment as well as innovative vegetarian cuisine."

"One of Calgary’s premier vegetarian restaurants, The Coup dishes out brunch every Saturday and Sunday. Chow down on healthy, yet delicious brunch options like the Sumac Shakshuka, Vegan Benedict, Tofu Scramble. Their juice menu is super fun and you can order shots of flavoured apple cider vinegar to get the old digestive system on track."

"Tamarind Vietnamese is a tiny vegan joint definitely worth the gas, the walk or even the bike ride. Featuring old authentic recipes that are gluten-free and MSG-free, and incredibly tasty, we’d strongly advise that you don’t let this one get away from you but don’t just take our word for it!. This place has been rated one of the best in the city several times."

"If you’re a vegan looking for some variety in your life, you’re in luck. Tamarind Vietnamese Grill & Noodle House is an incredibly tasty vegetarian Vietnamese establishment that serves up great dishes. It’s more than just your average pho house."

"Serving seasonal goodies and one-of-a-kind combinations, Ritual Doughnut is one to beat. Available largely through delivery, we advise anyone interested in taking a bite, to order well in advance. From week to week, these things are completely sold out for one reason…."

"Caramel apple fritter and strawberry lemonade doughnut from Ritual Doughnuts. Photograph by Jared Sych. Ritual Doughnuts makes its doughnuts from scratch with a brioche dough."

"Let us preface this by saying we absolutely have a favourite here and it’s the Serenity doughnut. With cinnamon cheese and candied walnuts, Beebop has created magic, but it doesn’t stop there. Though this is our go-to, they have something for everyone else – whether you crave chocolate, berries, coffee or hazelnut flavoured goodies, Beebop has got you."

"One of the latest additions to Calgary’s doughnut scene, Beebop brings tasty doughnuts and “boppers” (the shop’s take on Timbits) to the Mission area. Flavour options include buttercream and cheese, peanut butter and raspberry, cherries and chocolate, purple yam and more. Pick some up at the shop or order delivery through Skip the Dishes."

"Always made fresh to order, Dapper Doughnut is one of the cutest little spots on this list. Here in Canada, we love ourselves a doughnut hole, simply because you can eat more of them without feeling guilty – and that’s what you’ll get here!. It’s a dang good thing too because they have so many flavours we’re not sure that we’d be able to choose between them anyway."

"A post shared by | YYC foodTEA | (@munchinyyc) on Dec 22, 2019 at 11:33am PST. Holy mother of mini doughnuts, YYC now has a new spot where you can enjoy its favourite Stampede food all year round. The Dapper Doughnut Calgary has just opened in Market Mall, and it’s serving up cake-style doughnuts with 20 different sauces and gourmet toppings."

"The Establishment was essentially born of the 2013 southern Alberta floods and the destruction brought about by them. After their brew lab was gutted by the flood, the people at Establishment started from scratch to build a brand-new lab to bring you their great local beers once again. They now offer 14 beers on tap that you can enjoy on their central-Calgary patio."