It's all about craft beer and cowboys in Airdrie
With craft beer, farmers' markets and Nose Creek Valley, the small town of Airdrie is full of surprises. Located 20 miles north of Calgary, Airdrie is Alberta's nod to its Scottish heritage. Start your Rockies adventure by booking a centrally located Airdrie vacation rental. Main Street is the hub and dotted with quirky shops, craft beer bars and a farmers' market, and it's a short hop from Nose Creek Park and the Nose Creek Valley Museum. Time your vacation to coincide with a major lacrosse game or the Airdrie Pro Rodeo, or catch a show in the Bert Church Live Theatre.
Nose through Airdrie's historic past
Although nearby Calgary houses the bulk of Alberta's attractions, Airdrie also has its fair share. Book a centrally located Airdrie vacation rental and you'll be moments from the city's main cultural draw, the Nose Creek Valley Museum. Located off Main Street at the south end of Nose Creek Park, it's open every day and offers guided tours. There are over 10,000 artifacts, from the First Nation's display to a replica blacksmith's shop. After dark, catch a show at the Bert Church Theatre, one of the premier performing arts venues in the Calgary region.
There's something in the Air-drie tonight
Depending on your preference for sun or snow, the best times to visit Airdrie is either in the height of summer, when you'll get the best of the weather, or around December and January when it becomes a twinkling winter wonderland. July and August is peak visitor season in Alberta, when the best Airdrie vacation rentals get booked up in advance. Prepare for the mercury to dip dramatically in fall. The first snow makes an appearance in October and is a frequent friend until April, so pack well.
Go big in Banff or gentle in Big Hill Springs Park
Lying due east from the glacial peaks of Banff National Park, Airdrie is within easy reach of Alberta's finest natural attractions. But for those not quite ready to tackle Banff's mountainous peaks, Big Hill Springs Provincial Park is ideal. A mere 20-minute drive from Airdrie, it's perfect for a leisurely half-day hike, but with enough streams, wildflowers and waterfalls to make it interesting. See the tufa rock formations and numerous spring-fed waterfalls which wind through the aspen forest. In the summer, you'll find wild strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries to feast on.
Transportation options to and around Airdrie
The nearest airport is in Calgary International Airport (YYC), located 11.1 mi (17.9 km) from the city center.