CALGARY - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 444

the system soon proves its usefulness. Basically, the four quadrants are geographically
named—northwest, northeast, southwest, and southeast. Each street address has a corres-
ponding abbreviation tacked onto it (NW, NE, SW, and SE). The north-south division is
the Bow River. The east-west division is at Macleod Trail, and north of the downtown at
Centre Street. Streets run north to south and avenues from east to west. Both streets and
avenues are numbered progressively from the quadrant divisions (e.g., an address on 58th
Avenue SE is on the 58th street south of the Bow River, is east of Macleod Trail, and is on
a street that runs east to west). Things don't get any easier in the many new subdivisions
that dominate the outer flanks of the city. Many street names are very similar to one anoth-
er, so check whether you want, for example, Mackenzie Lake Bay, Mackenzie Lake Place,
Mackenzie Lake Road, or Mackenzie Lake Avenue. Fill the gas tank, pack a hearty lunch,
and good luck!
DOWNTOWN
The downtown core is a mass of modern steel-and-glass high-tech high-rises built during
the oil boom of the 1970s and early 1980s. Calgary's skyline was transformed during this
period, and many historic buildings were knocked down to make way for a wave of devel-
opment that slowed considerably during the 1990s. The last few years have seen a subtle
change in direction, with developers incorporating historic buildings in new projects, espe-
cially along Stephen Avenue Walk. The best way to get around is on foot or on the C-train,
which is free along 7th Avenue.
Crisscrossing downtown is the Plus 15 walkway system, a series of interconnecting, en-
closed sidewalks elevated at least 4.5 meters (15 feet—hence the name) above road level.
In total, 47 bridges and 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) of public walkway link downtown stores,
four large malls, hotels, food courts, and office buildings to give pedestrians protection
from the elements. All walkways are well marked and wheelchair accessible. The follow-
ing sights can be visited separately or seen on a walking tour (in the order presented).
Stephen Avenue Walk
The traditional center of the city is 8th Avenue, between 1st Street SE and 3rd Street
SW—a traffic-free zone known as Stephen Avenue Walk. This bustling, tree-lined pedes-
trian mall has fountains, benches, cafés, restaurants, and souvenir shops. In summer, the
mall is full with shoppers and tourists, and at lunchtime, thousands of office workers des-
cend from the buildings above. Many of Calgary's earliest sandstone buildings still stand
along the mall on the block between 1st and 2nd Streets SW. On the corner of 1st Street