Calgary experiences warm summers and bitterly cold winters, temperatures often dropping well below freezing. The mountains cause Calgary's climate to be rather dry, the little rainfall that does occur falls in summer (June to August). Winters are long and cold and occasionally relieved by a warm wind called a Chinook. The weather in Calgary is highly changeable and daily predictions are often off the mark.

Calgary's affluence has meant a restaurant boom that encompasses nearly every worldwide cuisine, so eating out in Calgary can include a range of experiences. The city's specialty is Alberta beef, which is generally acknowledged to be some of the best in the world, but expect to see elk or bison on the menu as well. There are a range of great international options as well, from sushi and Asian to French and Italian cuisine.

The best Calgary restaurants are generally located within easy distance of the city centre, and are concentrated in three areas: the Eau Claire district on Prince's Island, with trendy hotspots like Joey Tomato's, Prego Cucina Italiana and River Cafe; the chic 4th Street and 17th Avenue Mission district, offering cosmopolitan choices like Towa Sushi, Fleur de Sel and Mercato; and the downtown area that includes Chinatown and the Stephen Avenue pedestrian mall with restaurants like Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Saint Germain and The Core.

All restaurants in Calgary are smoke-free, even outdoor dining areas. Nearly all restaurants will accept credit cards and Canadian cash, although some will take American dollars at their own discretion. The exchange rate is never in your favour, though. A service gratuity of 10-15% is expected and not included in the bill.

Getting around in Calgary is made easy as most of the city's attractions are concentrated within the city centre. The streets downtown are laid out in a numbered grid with avenues running east to west and streets running north to south, while in outlying areas themed neighbourhoods have more meandering streets which can be confusing to visitors.

Because of the grid system, walking around downtown Calgary is a simple way to get around. The Eau Claire market area and the Stephen Avenue Mall are pleasant pedestrian-only areas.

Calgary's public transport system is efficient and reliable, with a light rail and bus system servicing the city centre. The light rail runs from 4am to midnight every day, and the buses operated from 5am to midnight, with some routes continuing until 1am. There is a fare-free zone in the middle of town, and in other areas a pass can be purchased at any Co-op, Safeway, 7-Eleven Food Store or Mac's Convenience Store.

There are plenty of taxis available, either by hailing them in the street or calling the dispatch. Note that taxis cruise mainly the central areas of the city.

Driving in Calgary is relatively stress-free. Many streets are one-way, and streets marked 'transit only' are for public transport vehicles only. Parking downtown can be scarce and confusing, as the city uses an automated pay system that requires you to enter your zone and license plate number into a pay station. It is often easier to park in a private lot. There are numerous companies from which you can hire a car in Calgary.

The official languages are English and French (predominantly in Quebec).

The currency used is the Canadian Dollar (CAD), which is divided into 100 cents. One-dollar coins are also known as loonies (due to the picture of a loon, a type of bird, on the coin), and two-dollar coins as toonies. Banks and bureaux de change will change money and travellers cheques, as will some hotels, but the rate will not be as good. Major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are plentiful. US Dollars are largely accepted, though due to fraud, larger notes might not be and change is usually given in Canadian dollars.

Calgary's nightlife is always hopping, which is no surprise considering more than half of its population is under 30 years old. The most popular nightlife areas are in the city centre, including the lounges, pubs and restaurants in the Mission district, focusing at the intersection of 4th Street and 17th Avenue. Stephen Avenue is bustling in the early evening as young professionals empty their offices downtown, and you'll find quite a few clubs, pubs and live music venues there, including the Beat Niq Jazz and Social Club, Marquee Room, and the sports pub Flames Central.

There are a number of live music venues, including the Ironwood Stage and Grill in 9th Avenue, which hosts country, blues, and folk bands; the eclectic Liberty Lounge in Richard Road, which caters to the varied tastes of Mount Royal College's students; and The Distillery in 7th Avenue, which hosts rock and heavy metal bands.

Calgary's dance clubs are as varied as its live music, so you'll find offbeat places like the Hi-Fi Club and The Warehouse, which play everything from retro funk to breakbeat; The Roadhouse, which caters to a younger and more mainstream crowd; or house venue Tequila Nightclub.

The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra performs regularly at the Epcor Centre near the Olympic Plaza, which has five separate venues for music, theatre and dance productions. The Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium hosts large-scale ballet, opera and music performances, and you'll find a range of student performances and productions at the University Theatre at the University of Calgary. For live comedy, you can visit the Comedy Cave in MacLeod Trail, or the Laugh Shop Comedy Club at the Blackfoot Inn in Blackfoot Trail.

To find out what's happening in Calgary, pick up a copy of FFWD, a weekly arts and entertainment guide.

Shopping in Calgary reflects the moneyed population that has grown wealthy with oil booms and big business. You'll find all the major luxury brands represented alongside most western franchises and chain stores at the numerous shopping centres and outlet malls.

The most popular Calgary souvenirs are cowboys hats and other 'wild west' items, which are easily found at most shopping centres.

Calgary has a number of large shopping malls in every section of the city, including the Chinook Centre, SouthCentre, and Signal Hill Centre in the south; Deerfoot Outlet Mall, Market Mall, and Sunridge Mall in the north; and the downtown shopping district surrounding the pedestrian mall on Stephen Avenue.

You'll find more one-of-a-kind items at the Eau Claire Festival Market on Barclay Parade, including fresh produce, independent boutiques, art galleries, and a variety of entertainment options like restaurants, movie theatres, and an arcade. The Mission District also has eclectic and interesting boutiques and vintage stores, and is the best place to go for Calgary fashion.

Nearly every shop in Calgary will accept major credit cards and Canadian money. Most stores will also accept US dollars, but at exorbitant exchange rates. There is a 5% federal tax on nearly all goods and services, and the government no longer offers a GST rebate on goods purchased in Canada.

Calgary's bustling metropolis and vibrant cultural are worth exploring, but sightseeing in Calgary is dominated by the natural wonders that surround the city. Calgary is the gateway to Alberta's many impressive landscapes, which include mountain lakes, rolling prairies, and icy glaciers.

If you do find yourself exploring the city however, there are many museums and cultural sites in Calgary worth visiting, all located within easy distance of the city centre. The Glenbow Museum is Alberta's largest history museum, with nearly 30, 000 artefacts from Canada's history, with a cafe, shop, library and archives are also onsite. The Tsuu T'ina Museum looks more specifically at the history of the Sarcee tribe, complete with antique headdresses and a model teepee. Another museum worth noting is the Cantos Music Foundation, which traces the evolution of the piano, and has over 400 different keyboard instruments on display.

The Heritage Park Historic Village takes a living look at Canada's history, with an antique midway, old-fashioned bakery and candy store, and authentic steam train among the attractions. Fort Calgary is another place to explore frontier life, with 40 acres of land set up to resemble life in 1875. The Deane House Historic Site and Restaurant is located at Fort Calgary as well.

Calgary was the host for the 1988 Olympics, and you can tour facilities like the Olympic Oval skating arena; McMahon Stadium, which hosted the opening and closing ceremony; and Olympic Plaza, which was built at one of Canada's best skiing hills and offers mountain biking, rock climbing, bungee jumping and luge rides in the summer; and skiing (cross-country and downhill), snowboarding, and bobsled rides in the winter.

Prince's Island Park brings nature into the heart of the city, with fishing sites and a network of hiking and biking trails. The park also features the Eau Claire Market, with its array of funky boutiques, restaurants, theatres and art galleries.

Canada covers six time zones, from GMT 8 in the west to GMT -3.5 in the east.