CALGARY - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 458

the museum for research and cataloging. Even for those visitors with little or no in-
terest in dinosaurs, it's easy to spend half a day in the massive complex. The mu-
seum holds more than 80,000 specimens, including 50 full-size dinosaur skeletons,
the world's largest such display.
At Dinosaur Provincial Park, 200 kilometers (124 miles) east of Calgary, you'll
discover one of the world's most important dinosaur fossil beds. Thirty-five species
of dinosaurs have been unearthed here, along with the skeletal remains of cro-
codiles, turtles, fish, lizards, frogs, and flying reptiles. Not only is the diversity of
specimens great, but so is the sheer volume; more than 300 museum-quality speci-
mens have been found. Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park has
a small field station (403/378-4342, 9am-4pm daily Apr.-mid-May, 8:30am-7pm
daily mid-May-Aug., 9am-4:30pm daily Sept, 9am-4pm weekdays the rest of the
year, adult $5, senior $3.50, child $2.50), but the best way to learn about the area is
on a guided walk or bus tour.
Sports and Recreation
The City of Calgary (403/268-2489, www.calgary.ca ) operates a wide variety of recre-
ational facilities, including swimming pools and golf courses, throughout the city. They
also run a variety of excursions, such as canoeing and horseback riding, as well as inex-
pensive courses ranging from fly-tying to rock climbing.
WALKING AND BIKING
A good way to get a feel for the city is by walking or biking along the 210 kilometers
(130 miles) of paved trails within the city limits. The trail system is concentrated along the
Bow River as it winds through the city; other options are limited. Along the riverbank, the
trail passes through numerous parks and older neighborhoods to various sites such as Fort
Calgary and Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. From Fort Calgary, a trail passes under 9th Aven-
ue SE and follows the Elbow River, crossing it several times before ending at Glenmore
Reservoir and Heritage Park. Ask at tourist information centers for a map detailing all
trails. The ski slopes at Canada Olympic Park (west of downtown along the TransCanada
Hwy., 403/247-5452) are the perfect place to hone your downhill mountain-bike skills.