SSSR 2025 Banff Excursions
Welcome to Calgary for SSSR’s Thirty-Second Annual Conference! We're thrilled to offer you the opportunity to explore the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just one hour from Calgary. Banff National Park boasts:
- Towering, ragged peaks of the Rocky Mountains
- Pristine, turquoise, glacier-fed lakes
- Abundant wildlife, including bighorn sheep, bears, mountain goats, and elk
If you're interested in experiencing the natural beauty of Banff National Park during your visit, we have a special offer for you!
Exclusive Discount for SSSR 2025 Attendees
We've arranged a 20% discount with Brewster Summer Sightseeing Tours! You can book your tour either:
- Online: Visit the Brewster website. At checkout, enter the promo code: SSSR2025
- By Phone: Call their toll-free line at 1-866-360-8839 and identify yourself as being with SSSR2025 to receive the discount.
Tour Details
Brewster offers several highly-rated full-day tours (as seen on TripAdvisor) that include:
- Pickup and drop-off at the conference hotel, the Calgary Downtown Marriott (be sure to specify this location when booking)
- Transportation to Banff (and beyond)
- Return to the hotel at the end of the day
Important: Ensure you book tours that begin and end in Calgary. A list of round-trip tours is provided below.
Columbia Icefield Adventure and Skywalk
Duration: 15 hours
Price: $487 CAD regular price (discounted price: $414 CAD)
Note: The website banner says “from Banff,” but scroll to the bottom for the Calgary departure option.
Highlights include:
- Lake Louise
- Icefields Parkway
- Crowfoot Glacier
- Bow Lake
- Peyto Lake
- Columbia Icefield
- Admission to Columbia Icefield Adventure & Skywalk
- Hot buffet lunch at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Discovery Centre
Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls
Duration: 14.75 hours
Price: $371 CAD regular price (discounted price: $297 CAD)
Highlights include:
- Lake Louise
- Moraine Lake
- Valley of the Ten Peaks
- Spiral Tunnels
- Takakkaw Falls
- Light lunch at Emerald Lake Lodge
Explore Banff
Duration: 11.75 hours
Price: $359 CAD regular price (discounted price: $306 CAD)
Highlights include:
- Foothills of the Canadian Rockies
- Sulphur Mountain
- Bow Falls
- Tunnel Mountain Drive
- Surprise Corner
- Two Jack Viewpoint
- Lake Minnewanka
Note: Brewster offers tours to the general public, as well as custom charters. Please note that while this is not a custom charter, it is possible that SSSR members and affiliates could fill a bus. More likely, though, each bus will comprise a combination of SSSR members/affiliates as well as members of the general public.
Important Information for Your Tour
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, please take note of the following details:
- Departure Time: All tours depart from Calgary at approximately 6:00 a.m. We recommend planning to have an early breakfast or bringing a meal with you.
- Tour Availability: Please be aware that Brewster cannot guarantee tour departures, and tours may sell out on any given date. Booking in advance is highly recommended.
- Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your tour up to 24 hours before your scheduled departure time without incurring any penalties.
- Arrival Time: Kindly arrive at the designated pickup location at least 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. This will allow for a timely departure.
Recommendations for Independent Exploration
Banff National Park (1 hr drive west of Calgary to the entrance of the park). Banff National Park is Canada’s first national park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws in over 4 million tourists each year. With its pristine turquoise lakes and the towering Rocky Mountains, this park is an excellent location for scenic hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, white water rafting, hot springs, and wildlife viewing. The small town of Banff is home to many uniquely Canadian restaurants and shops. Just outside the town site is Cave and Basin National Historic Site, which was a place of significance to Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years and remains so today. Please see detailed information below for information about Banff excursions. (Photo: Lake Louise from the Fairview Lookout Trail; Jodi DeVries)
Drumheller (1 and a half hours northeast of Calgary)Drumheller is touted as the dinosaur capital of the world. Badlands surround the town and were once home to many species of dinosaurs. Many well-preserved dinosaur bones and fossils have been unearthed here, as well as in Dinosaur Provincial Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site 2 hours east of Calgary (2 hours southeast of Drumheller). Drumheller’s Royal Tyrrell Museum is a paleontology museum and a site of on-going research. It features many fossils and bones that were unearthed in southern Alberta. Tourists also often stop just west of town at Horseshoe Canyon for panoramic views of the badlands, or head just southeast of town for closeups of the hoodoos. (Photo: Horseshoe Canyon; Travel Alberta)
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (2 hours south of Calgary). Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that showcases the history of Buffalo on the prairies and details their use by the Blackfoot People at this culturally significant cliff. This site houses an interpretative centre and outdoor walking trails. The nearby town of Fort Macleod is home to The Fort Museum, which focuses on the history of the Northwest Mounted Police. Additionally, this museum hosts the only on-site performances of the Musical Ride, an equestrian performance by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Note: Both Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump and The Musical Ride may be unavailable on Mondays and Tuesdays. Check websites for current details. (Photo: RCMP Ride in Dome formation; Sasktoday.ca)
Calgary is home to many places of interest, including the following museums:
Heritage Park: Canada’s largest living history museum.
- Studio Bell, home of Canada’s National Music Centre: A museum of Canada’s musical history, located within a building with unique architecture. This museum is walkable from the conference hotel. (Photo: StudioBell.ca)
- Telus Spark Science Centre: An interactive science museum.
- The Military Museums: The second-largest military museum in Canada.
Tsuut’ina Nation Culture Museum: A small museum just outside of Calgary on the Tsuut’ina nation. Note: The museum is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Walking, Shopping, and City Culture:
- 17th Ave: Known by locals as “The Red Mile” due to its proximity to the Calgary Flames’ Saddledome, this stretch of road is a popular location for indoor/outdoor restaurants and bars.
- Prince’s Island Park: This pedestrian-only island on the Bow River is a favourite for strolling through beautiful gardens, watching summer Shakespeare performances, and dining at the upscale River Café. (Photo: Calgary’s iconic Peace Bridge, a pedestrian bridge at the west side of Prince’s Island Park; Mark Ducharme)
- Stephen Avenue: Situated just outside of the north end of the conference hotel, this downtown outdoor pedestrian mall is a lively place for shopping and dining. The Core Shopping Centre is an upscale, indoor mall nearby, complete with its own indoor gardens.
Events:
The Calgary Stampede, dubbed “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” is a ten-day event that typically attracts over a million guests through its gates each year. During this time, the city of Calgary transforms into a landscape of western wear, pancake breakfasts, and general revelry, while the Stampede itself hosts various competitions, exhibits, concerts, and cultural events, along with a rodeo, chuck wagon rages, a grandstand show, and so much more. The Stampede will wrap up just before our conference begins, but if you choose to attach extra days to your trip to attend this event, book everything early, because hotel rooms are a rare commodity during this time.
Other Places of Interest:
- Central Library: Construction of this flagship location of the Calgary Library was completed in 2018. It has won numerous awards and mentions for its architecture and design. The New York Times listed it as one of their “52 places to go in 2019” and the Time Magazine as one of their “100 Great Places of 2019.” The Central Library is walkable from the conference hotel. (Photo: Calgary Central Library; Yonatthan Silva)
The Calgary Tower: Head up to the observation deck to gain 360 degree views of the city, and walk on the glass floor, if you dare! Alternatively, make reservations at the Sky 360 Restaurant and Lounge, which slowly revolves while you dine. The Calgary Tower is located across the street from the conference hotel.
The Calgary Zoo: This Calgary favourite is home to a wide array of animals, is the most visited zoo in Canada, and is a leader in conservation efforts. The zoo is located on St. George’s Island on the Bow River near downtown and is easily accessible by transit from the conference hotel. (Photo: Rockhopper Penguin; Calgary Zoo)
Calgary; Photo: Eric González
