Wild & Wonderful Calgary, Alberta, Canada - Wolf Dogs, Great Food and Urban Fun

Calgary surprises as more than just a gateway to the Rockies in this adventure-packed episode. We start at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, where rescued wolfdogs roam vast enclosures, offering an intimate glimpse into these magnificent creatures' lives. The experience continues with an adrenaline rush at the summer dog carting trails, where teams of energetic dogs pull specially designed carts through scenic paths – proving dog sledding isn't just a winter sport.

In a powerful cultural connection, we join Indigenous guides for traditional archery lessons, learning about the spiritual significance of the bow while practicing this ancient skill against the backdrop of Alberta's sweeping prairies. But Calgary's wild side perfectly balances with its sophisticated urban offerings.

The city's culinary scene dazzles with farm-to-table restaurants, craft breweries, and the vibrant diverse cuisine. We explore the 1000km pathway system – the most extensive urban network in North America – connecting everything from art installations to hidden coffee shops. Female travelers will appreciate the city's safe, walkable neighborhoods and thriving women-owned businesses, especially in areas like Inglewood and Kensington.

Whether you're seeking outdoor thrills or urban exploration, Calgary proves itself as a dynamic destination where wilderness meets metropolitan charm.

Transcript

Wild and Wonderful - Calgary Shows Its Wild Sophisticated Style

[00:00:00] 

Welcome to Untethered and Wanderwise, where adventure has no age limit. We're your co host Heidi Brandist and Nikiya Mohandro, and we're here to inspire and celebrate women over 45 who are embracing their independence and want to explore the world on their own terms.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Hey Wanderers, I'm Heidi Brandes

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: And I'm Nikki Omohundro, and you're listening to the Untethered and Wanderwise. we explore destinations that spark joy for adventure in women travelers over 45. I

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: and today we're heading north to a city that completely blew my mind, Calgary, Alberta. Now Nikki, you know I love cowboy culture, I love outdoor adventure, but Calgary's taken western heritage and given it the most fascinating modern twist.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: have to say, when you first mentioned Calgary, I thought, [00:01:00] oh, the Stampede City, but there's so much more happening there that I learned from your recent trip, especially for women travelers looking for unique experiences.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Yeah, see, I went in summer and it was right around the time of the Calgary Stampede. It was a couple weeks beforehand and they were positioning what else you can do in Calgary besides just go to the Stampede. And there is so much to do in this town. I mean, we took bike tours, we took motorcycle tours, we went dog carting, which is kind of like dog sledding in winter.

, we took archery lessons and, oh my god, the food scene. Nikki, you would have lost your mind over the start.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: my perfect city.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: I know, I know. And they're doing amazing things, uh, culinary wise, but let's start with something that fascinated me. And that's the Yamnuska Wolf Dog Sanctuary. So imagine being about 30 [00:02:00] minutes from downtown Calgary and all its modern amenities and settling, finding yourself face to face with a creature that is Mostly wolf part dog.

It was incredible.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Now that sounds amazing. I know personally, I've done Dog sledding in Canada and in Finland. So I can just imagine what it would be like to be face to face with an animal like that.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: They've got more than 60 wolf dogs on this property. It was started by a lady named Georgina who got a wolf dog on her own. And here's the sad fact 98 percent of wolf dogs, especially those with high percentage of wolf in them, will be euthanized before age two because they're difficult dogs to keep.

They've got a lot of wild in them still. , they're escape artists. They're just very difficult animals to keep as pets. [00:03:00] So she started this mission to educate the public about wolf dogs, what they are, and to also give them a place to go when they had to be surrendered.

And some of these wolves, I mean, they look like wolves you would find in the wild. And there are many of them you couldn't get close to, but they had a couple that would come up, we're all seated on a chair. I had to, My phone in one hand and dog treats in the other and they would very timidly come up and maybe snatch a dog treat from your hand.

And the guides were fantastic about talking about the history of the place and wolves in the wild and wolf dogs in general. And I cannot recommend going to the Yamnuska Wolf Dog Sanctuary enough. Plus it's on a beautiful piece of property and you're going to get killer views too.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: So that sounds like a perfect balance in Calgary between urban life and wild adventures. Can you tell me a little bit [00:04:00] more about getting around the city? You mentioned something about e bikes earlier.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Yes. Calgary has North America's most extensive urban pathway network. That blew me away. I had no idea, but you can bike, walk, or e scooter pretty much anywhere in the world. But here's the twist. You can also take a vintage sidecar motorcycle tour. And I did that with Rocky Mountain Sidecar Adventures.

And let me tell you, there's nothing quite like seeing the city from a vintage motorcycle.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: That sounds like fun. So I'm curious, is it two people? same motorcycle and sidecar or is it a guide and driving and then you're on the sidecar?

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: The guy drives, of course, and I'm in the sidecar and all of the helmets have little microphones in them and speakers. So the lead motorcycle guy is giving the tour and you can hear it through your motorcycle helmet. It was [00:05:00] just a great way to really see the city. We went all the way up to these vantage points where you could get a whole view of this incredibly modern and beautiful city.

And it lasted about an hour, hour and a half. And it was just a great way to spend the afternoon.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: That does sound like fun and there's nothing like feeling the wind rushing through your hair if you have helmet hair. So you know my favorite thing to talk about is food and you did mention that Calgary's got an amazing food scene and I know our listeners always want to know about unique dining experiences.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Well, goodness, where do I start? Um, first of all, the e bike tour we did was in the morning and we toured to various brunch places. So there was about four or five different restaurants that we stopped at and we had like waffles at one we had donuts at another we went to a cup of coffee shops and So we started the day with pretty full [00:06:00] belly,

so let me tell you about Rouge. It's an incredible restaurant in the trendy Englewood neighborhood of Calgary. It's actually located inside the oldest home in that neighborhood. So it's a historic building. The chef grows the ingredients in the restaurant's backyard garden. Some of the best tomatoes you've ever had in your life.

The food was exquisite and it's got a French twist with a Canadian feel to it as well. Fresh fish, fresh produce, fresh meat. It was My absolute favorite place that we ate. And then there's River Cafe, which is literally on an island in the middle of downtown Calgary in this gorgeous old fishing lodge setting.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Oh, wait. An island in downtown? Tell me more.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Yes, Prince Island Park is this beautiful urban oasis where the Bow River [00:07:00] flows through downtown Calgary. The restaurant has this Fieldstone fireplace and these gorgeous views of both park and the city skyline and some of the best cocktails I think I have ever had. Their menu is very seasonal.

So it rotates out quite a bit to reflect what's in season in Canada. And the dishes were just so well thought out, obviously delicious. And there's a reason it's one of Calgary's most popular places to eat.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: I'm curious. How do you get to this island?

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Well, you drive and you walk over a bridge and when you get onto this island, there are no cars. It's completely pedestrian. So it's this very intimate feel and you can walk all along the island and the river cafe is right in the middle of it. So it's nice central place. Walk along the river and take your photos and watch the sunset.

Just a [00:08:00] great place. Princess Island Park in Calgary.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Yeah, that sounds like a perfect way to spend the afternoon. Great food, get a little walking, and scenic views. So let's talk about something unique to the area. Something called Painted Warriors. mentioned earlier, when we were just talking about your trip, that this was one of your favorite experiences.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Painted Warriors Ranch was one of the coolest places I've been in years. This is where traditional indigenous culture meets outdoor adventure. So we met there just for the afternoon, but you can stay the night and learn about foraging and indigenous cooking and, , archery. So we learned archery there.

It's not just target practice. It's about connecting with the Ojibwe, Cree, and Mohawk traditions. They have these foam targets that are shaped like various animals that look very realistic. So you're hiking through the [00:09:00] woods and then you come up to the foam targets. And you shoot. They're set up at different distances throughout the property.

But before you do that, you of course get a lesson from the guides and it's wonderful if you've got kids, or if you're just curious about indigenous culture, because it's thoughtfully done. You don't feel like a stranger. You're, you're highly welcomed. You learn so much. They're very patient if you've never done archery before.

And it was just fun.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Well, that sounds like such a meaningful way to experience indigenous culture. How easy is it to get there?

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Yeah. It's about an hour from downtown and most hotels can help you arrange transportation, but you can obviously drive there yourself.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Seems easy enough. Now, was this the first time you'd ever done an archery lesson?

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: No, , I've done archery quite a bit in my lifetime. [00:10:00] I like it, but this was. One of the most inclusive lessons I've ever had. I learned new ways of pulling back the bow, proper arm placement for better accuracy. So I learned more in this lesson than I've ever learned in my years of doing archery.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: I'm curious for this lesson, did you use a long bow or was it a crossbow? Cause I know some people that do archery have a preference.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Yeah, no, this was a long bow. It wasn't a recurve bow. They were compound bows. , in the past I've used a lot of recurve bows, which is, Just your basic bow, right? A compound bow has the gears and It packs more power, basically. So, you know, there's a learning tip with pulling it back and having it reach that point where it's set and then aiming down the shaft.

But we laughed. There were some girls on our trip [00:11:00] who had never picked up a bow in their life. And by the end of the lesson, they were hitting the target straight on.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Oh, that's fantastic. I think some people, I know for me, I did skeet shooting in Southwest Virginia skeet shooting wasn't something that I'd ever done before and never thought I would do it on a trip, but doing something like Archer Your Skeet, it's a bonding experience with whoever you're with.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: , I think that's important. We have these idea of what women are supposed to do and what they're not supposed to do. Who's to say we can't go skeet shooting. Who's to say we can't learn archery? It's just as fun and there's that feeling of satisfaction when you are at least somewhat good at something new that you've never considered trying before.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: I remember when they pulled the clays out of the machine and I hit two and said, Oh, I was giddy. And I was so proud of myself for only trying it, but actually blowing up the [00:12:00] clays. It, it's a little accomplishment you feel good about.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: You should have heard the cheers from some of these ladies when we were doing the hike through the woods and shooting at the the foam animal targets. You would think they won the lottery. It was that much fun when you'd actually hit the target you were aiming at, but with the indigenous aspect to it, 

you also learned about respect for nature, respect for the animals that you're hunting. We heard about indigenous legends and beliefs, and we talked about. foods and how these, these animals that we were shooting at played into their cuisine before and after colonization. So it's not just shooting at foam targets.

You're learning quite a bit about the culture and indigenous people that are hosting you.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Oh, that's fantastic. It sounds like a great experience overall. So give us the [00:13:00] inside scoop on Calgary.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Okay. First of all, let's talk some practical tips. One pack layers. Locals all say you need a toque. That's Canadian for a beanie hat. Any time of the year because it can be pretty chilly in the summertime as well. In fact, I remember we were walking downtown and I was in shorts. It was really warm and then a cold front came through.

It was suddenly frigid wind blowing. We all had to bundle up in our jackets just that quickly. So definitely bring layers. There are a bunch of direct flights from major U. S. cities that make this city super accessible. Pretty affordable place to go visit, especially if you've got non stop flights. And in the summer, you're going to get 16 hours of daylight.

So it's the perfect time for maximizing adventure time. The weather is a little [00:14:00] more manageable if you're not used to the extreme cold or snow of the north in winter. And the currency exchange usually favors U. S. travelers. You're looking at a 10 to 20 percent discount on everything. It's also incredibly safe for solo women travelers.

Just very friendly city, very modern city, very easy to navigate.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: I think that's one of my favorite things about going to Canada is the favorable exchange rate. Go and do a little shopping. I always bring an extra suitcase just in case.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Oh yeah.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: So what unique experiences surprised you that would also surprise our listeners?

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: One thing I've always wanted to do was go dog sledding. I have never been dog sledding and technically I still haven't, but Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours just A little bit away from Calgary offers this amazing experience in the summer called dog carting. So you can interact with their [00:15:00] dogs, even help care for them on the ranch, but they hook them up to this, basically a cart.

That holds about six people and the dogs run the trails pulling this cart, which has wheels, of course, instead of sleds. And it is so much fun.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Yeah, I've done both carting and sledding, and I found carting to be a little bit easier. 

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: I think it's because of the wheels, but these dogs were so excited. That was the most fun part is they lined up all the dogs and we got to feed them. We got to interact with them, but these dogs could not wait. To get on the line to pull the carts and go down the trail. And at some point they were going so fast that we were all bouncing around and laughing.

We took a corner and I thought for sure we were going to tip over, but we didn't. And it was incredible fun. And these dogs are so well trained and just truly strong, amazing [00:16:00] dogs.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: That's fantastic. Yeah, I am O and 2 for dog carting or dog sledding and falling out of the cart. the both times that I've done it, I've ended up in the snow or in the dirt. Super fun.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Where snowy owl sled dog tours is located is probably one of the prettiest views in Canada. It's up in the mountains and just surrounded by peaks and green trees and

it's one of the most beautiful landscapes you're going to find in the area.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Oh, that sounds amazing. you say that was your best photo op of the trip?

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: By far, anytime you get pictures with dogs, it's gonna be a, it's gonna be a great photo op. But the vintage sidecar tour, I loved that. And they stop at all the best spots. So you get the views of the entire [00:17:00] city, And I will have to say the view from River Cafe is also incredible, especially if you go around sunset.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: What was your favorite social media moment? The thing that was just idyllic.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Definitely the wolf dogs at Yamnuska. But remember, you got to respect the guidelines about photography. You can't rush up on these animals. The day I was there, there was this black wolf dog that looked more wolf than anything else. And he was in this Beautiful field of yellow flowers and the mountains were rising up behind them and they were aspen trees everywhere and it's just one of those picture perfect moments where you have a black wolf lounging in this field of yellow flowers.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Do you have a picture of it?

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: I do. I'll have to show you.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Well, even better when this podcast goes live, we should put it on our Instagram page so everyone can see how majestic that is.[00:18:00] 

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Absolutely. In fact, all my views from Calgary. So, you know, if you're going to go to Calgary, definitely recommend the Wolf Dog Sanctuary. I recommend Snowy Owl Dog Sled Tours. 

Definitely check out Rocky Mountain Sidecar Adventures and go on a food tour with an e bike. Because you're going to be eating a lot, so you might as well burn some calories while you're doing it.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Fantastic. Now on your recent trip, did you stay downtown or did you stay someplace else?

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: , so we stayed at the residence in by Marriott. Calgary's downtown, it's in the Beltline District, and it's a relatively new residence inn by Marriott. So it has Calgary's history written on its walls. And it stands on the historic Alberta Boot Company's original location. So the really pays [00:19:00] homage to its roots.

So they showcase cowboy bootstitching above the headboards in every room. And the hotel actively participates in the green key program. So it's achieved four keys for environmental excellence.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: That's fantastic. Sounds like a great place to stay.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: It was, and Calgary itself was fantastic. They've got celebrity chefs. They've got a creative side. Their public library, believe it or not, is worth a visit. It is one of the most impressive and beautiful libraries I think I've ever been to. And of course, this massive pathway network is most extensive in North America.

You'll have plenty of time to hike or hike or walk and just take in those city scenes.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Yeah, from what I've been told by other people too, Calgary is also a great urban setting. And so it's [00:20:00] great for women that want to travel and they want to get a good mix of Western culture, culinary, outdoor adventure, and then city sites as well.

Talking about culinary, so the places that you recommended are Rouge and River Cafe. Do you have a third place to recommend?

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Yes. Sidewalk Citizen. Park is the actual name of the restaurant, but it's by Sidewalk Citizen and it's located in Central Memorial Park. It nods to the former garden rooms of the park with this gorgeous solarium. And the menu is inspired by street foods of Israel.

So you're going to find one of the best shishuka dishes you've ever had in your life there. Plus I've got a great coffee bar and Really, the food there harkens back to the Levant region [00:21:00] of Israel and just has these vibrant flavors and local ingredients.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: Oh, that sounds delightful.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: So before we go, I have to mention that Calgary really has an incredible way of surprising you. One minute you're in the sophisticated urban setting and the next you're learning traditional archery or watching wolf dogs out in this natural setting.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: It does definitely sound like the perfect destination women who want adventure, good food, culture, and urban amenities.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: Exactly. It's wild but wonderful. Sophisticated but unpretentious and definitely worth putting on your 2025 travel list.

nicky--she-her-_1_01-09-2025_130825: So that's all for this week's episode of Untethered and Wanderwise. Don't forget to follow us on social media, on [00:22:00] Facebook. You'll find us at Untethered and Wanderwise or Instagram, Untethered Wanderwise.

squadcaster-01ch_1_01-09-2025_130825: And be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. So next time. So until next time, keep wandering. Ladies,

Be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcast fix. Check us out on Instagram at untetheredwonderwise, that's no and, for even more travel inspiration and tips. Until next time, happy travels.