DETAILS

Calgary, Alberta

GETTING THERE: Multiple airlines offer connecting service from all three Washington area airports. Round-trip fares begin at about $450.

WHERE TO STAY: Hotel Arts (119 12th Ave. SW, http://www.hotelarts.ca/, 403-266-4611) is a designer hotel with such touches as flat-screen televisions and Ultrasuede duvet covers. Rates for a double begin at $103 to $225, depending on the date. The most elegant choice: the Edwardian-style Fairmont Palliser (133 Ninth Ave. SW, http://www.fairmont.com/palliser, 403-262-1234), a historical landmark built in 1914 after the Canadian Pacific Railway decided to woo tourists to its tracks by creating elaborate places to visit. Rooms on weekends often start at $129, and on weekdays, $191.

The Westin Calgary (320 Fourth Ave. SW, 403-266-1611, http://www.westincalgary.com/) offers a great location, with doubles from $100 to $300. For a more distinctive experience, the Twin Gables Bed and Breakfast (611 25th Ave. SW, 866-271-7754, http://www.twingables.ca/) is in a 1910 Arts and Crafts home. Doubles range from $78 to $198. Find other B&Bs at http://www.bbcalgary.com/.

Budget travelers should consider staying outside the downtown core and taking advantage of convenient public transit. For example, the Howard Johnson Express Inn (5307 MacLeod Trail, 800-268-6128, http://www.hojocalgary.com/) is three stops and less than five minutes by train from central downtown; doubles begin at about $51.

WHERE TO EAT: A wine list with more than 300 choices is available to go with such entrees as tenderloin wrapped in wild boar bacon, with truffle mashed potatoes on the side, at the elegant Vintage Chophouse and Tavern (322 11th Ave. SW, 403-262-7262). Entrees are about $15 to $42.

For western-style dining, including bison and AAA-grade Alberta beef, head to Buzzards Cowboy Cuisine (140 10th Ave. SW, 403-264-6959). Entrees are $14 to $22.

Nuevo Latino food is available at the Old Havana-style Conga Room (109 Eighth Ave. SW, 403-262-7248). Entrees such as paella, beef marinated Brazilian-style and fish with are $23 to $28, or go for the tapas. There's live salsa music on weekends.

One of Canada's best seafood restaurants is in land-locked Calgary: Catch Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant (100 Eighth Ave. SE, 403-206-0000), an upscale establishment that daily flies in seafood caught that morning on both coasts. Entrees are $27 to $41.

Live music of the honky-tonk variety is accompanied by barbecue specialties such as ribs and pulled pork at Palomino Smokehouse and Social Club (109 Seventh Ave. SW, 403-532-1911). Entrees are $8 to $20.

SPECIAL EVENTS: Numerous big events occur year-round; dates and other information can be found at the visitors bureau Web site (see below). The Calgary Stampede will be July 6-15 this year; details at 800-661-1260, http://www.calgarystampede.com/. Equestrian competitions and exhibitions are held February through November at Spruce Meadows (403-974-4200, http://www.sprucemeadows.com/).

DETAILS: Calgary Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-661-1678, http://www.tourismcalgary.com/.

-- C.L.