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Town in Alberta, Canada
Photo: via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
Cochrane is a town of 32,000 people (2021) in the Calgary Region of Alberta. Cochrane has a reputation for its western culture, which can easily be felt when you wander the streets (particularly Main Street).
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Over 13,000 books related to western culture from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, including a complete collection of Brand Books for Alberta from 1888 to present, and some from the other provinces. 6,000 magazines on such areas as ranching, rodeo, horsemanship, veterinary science, history, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Early March. Activities include Crokicurl, pancake breakfast, Extreme Cowboy demonstrations, pony rides, axe throwing, ski jump demonstration.
The Outhouse Race
Local teams of five design, build, and proceed to race mock outhouses on wheels by pushing them on wheels down 1st St West. Prizes are awarded for fastest outhouse and most humorously decorated, with the largest prize totalling $500. The race takes place in historic downtown, Cochrane. Parking is usually arranged by event organizers at various locations throughout the town, and directions for access and parking are released online, on the Cochrane tourism website.
The reason that Calgarians visit Cochrane. Dozens of great flavours of locally made ice cream, e.g., dill pickle, ginger with candied ginger, spotted cow, sticky toffee pudding, Mayan chocolate, wasabi. Since 1948.
Specialty coffee, full meals, freshly baked bread, soups and sandwiches.
Locally owned and managed Vietnamese restaurant known for excellent dishes and quick service. On Fridays and holidays, there is a higher number of customers due to an influx of high school students being let off early and coming to the location to eat.
inside Rockyview Hotel
180-person bar features 3 pool tables, 4 dart boards, 9 VLTs, 10 big screen TVs, stage & dance floor, karaoke nights and live entertainment or all-request DJ on weekends.
A tiny house accommodation in in a large backyard that has been designed for privacy. Kitchenette, parking. No pets or smoking.
Bed and Breakfast
Custom-built solar-powered home nestled into the foothills and overlooking the Bow River valley, opened its doors in 1999. There is guest room on the second floor (two flights of stairs) with private bathroom and panoramic mountain view. TV with local channels, access to Chromecast for Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc., and free Wi-Fi. Kitchen is available upon request. A real wood-burning sauna and EV Level 2 charging.
April-October. Along the banks of the Bow River in Cochrane. Next to the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Center. Each site at Bow RiversEdge has full hook-up facilities including water, sewer, power, and Internet.
Free high-speed Internet, microwaves, refrigerators, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. Free continental breakfast, laundry facilities, and free parking with large-vehicle spaces. Gym and heated indoor pool.
Founded in 1904, the Rockyview Hotel & Saloon revels in its Wild West past.
Car, taxi, or use the 30 km of pathways to travel by bike or on foot.
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Calgary · International · YYC
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