Use Calgary Transit and save money

To figure out whether to drive or take Calgary Transit, especially during the Calgary Stampede, you need the numbers.

Calgary Transit's fares are posted here on the CT website. 

The cost of parking around Calgary varies but for on-street parking using our fancy new(ish) parking meters, the parking rates are posted here on the ParkPlus part of Calgary Parking Authority's website.

Here's a link to Calgary Parking Authority's list of parking lots and the charges.  There are also private parking lots in the city, not shown here.

A lot of people overlook the Calgary Transit Day Pass but it can be good value.  It's good for a calendar day (not 24 hours).  If you buy it in person from Calgary Transit's office, or purchase it in person at a vendor, it should come with some money-saving coupons attached.  I have tried buying it at a vendor (a small convenience store near my home) but found they had none in stock. I bet a bigger store would have a better supply.The Calgary Transit website has a list of vendors, and there are many of them.

If you have no luck with a vendor, go to the Calgary Transit office. It's downtown and only open Monday to Friday from 10 to 5:30. 

One place you can apparently get a discount for is the Calgary Zoo.  The Zoo's website has a list of ways to save money on Calgary Zoo admission and one of them is to use a Calgary Transit coupon.

If you are buying a day pass from a vendor, check it first to make sure it has coupons attached and also that they have not expired. Don't just take my word for it, because deals like this do change from time to time.

The day pass sold at the ticket vending machines apparently does not have coupons attached.

CBC Stampede Breakfast kicks off the 2010 Calgary Stampede season

Stampede breakfasts are a wonderful thing, and the CBC Calgary Eyeopener has become one of the best in town.  It's also the one of the first, and as far as I know, the first big one.

Thursday, that's tomorrow, July 8, 2010, in the parking lot at the CBC building, from 7 to 9 a.m.

The CBC's address is 1724 Westmount Boulevard NW but if you don't know Calgary, forget that and just drive along Memorial Drive heading west, and you'll find it about halfway between 14th Street and Crowchild Trail.

Once you know where it is, drive a few blocks into the neighbourhood and find a considerate place to park.  Yes, it may be challenging, but it can be done if you don't mind walking.

Better still by far, take Calgary Transit or get someone to drop you off.


CBC Stampede Breakfast webpage

Calgary Transit info webpage

And bless her heart, the lovely Julie Van Rosendaal has posted her recipe for great pancakes on the Calgary Eyeopener's website.  I heard them being made and eaten on the air the other day and if made me reach for the bottle.  (Of maple syrup.)

Where to find a pancake breakfast during the 2010 Calgary Stampede

And a big Yahoo again this year to the two pancake locator websites we saw last year.  Check out:

StampedeBreakfast.com

and

FlapJackFinder.com

And there's even an iPhone app for the Flap Jack Finder.

It's getting so easy to find just the right Stampede Breakfast.

The traditional breakfast is a pancake, usually with butter and syrup, and some kind of meat, either bacon or a sausage, and sometimes eggs too. You can always count on the pancake, but not the meat and eggs.  Any combo can happen.  Other extras:  coffee and juice.

There are lots of free breakfasts, and also some that have a cost, often in support of a community or charity group.

Wear your cowboy hat to breakfast.

2010 Stampede is just around the corner! Stampede's own website and links.

A few key links for today:

The Calgary Stampede homepage.  Check here for schedules, prices, lots of info about the 2010 Stampede.  The dates are July 9 to 18, 2010. 

Look at the Online Planner for daily events at the Stampede, and the Deals & Days page (with links to more pages) to find out about money-savers.

Hey, the Stampede has an iPhone app!