Calgary to Chicago Flights

  About Calgary

Founded as a Rocky Mountain outpost, Calgary rose from rags to riches as one of Canada's high-end cities after it discovered oil in the early 1900s. Calgary is the commercial powerhouse of Canada and earned quite a reputation for itself after hosting the Winter Olympics. You will find a lot of conventional cowboys in the locality with the wide-brimmed hats and leather boots. You will get a taste of the cowboy culture here if you visit the city in summer for the annual Calgary Stampede. You will get to witness rodeo shows, music festivals and a lot of other events hosted during the Calgary Stampede. You will be treated to a wonderful scenery and some delicious food. There are museums, parks, zoos, everything you look for on a vacation when you visit Calgary. You can just rent a bike and explore the city on your own. No matter what season it is when you head to Calgary, you will always find something to do. The city is also known for its vibrant breweries, and you can't leave without treating yourself to a glass of beer or more. People here are quite friendly and welcoming. You will certainly leave with one or more new friends.

Best Time to Visit Calgary

Spring season hits Calgary in April and May. It is not the most popular season to visit Calgary since not only is the spring season quite short, but also, the melting snow only leads to an increase in moisture and humidity in the city. The parks and other tourist destinations can be quite muddy and wet. It is best to avoid travelling to Calgary during these months. This season is also when the city starts getting ready to welcome the tourists in summer. If you are still planning to visit the city during the spring season, you can get to attend events and festivals like Calgary Expo, Calgary Dance Stampede, The Electric Highway and Calgary Marathon. You can book a hotel in Calgary of your choice and convenience at the lowest price during this time since the demand is quite low. Do make sure you are carrying your monsoon footwear and an umbrella.

June to August is a high tourist season in Calgary for all the right reasons. The city experiences summer and a lot of events are hosted during this time of the year. You can go hiking up the hill or boating by the river. You can even plan a picnic in the parks here. The weather is just perfect to plan a picnic by the lake. The famous Calgary Stampede also takes place in July, and the city sees a lot of tourists buzzing in to witness it. Make sure you book your hotel in Calgary at least a month in advance since the prices increase and availability can also become an issue. You might also want to book your flight tickets to Calgary in advance. You can attend quite a lot of festivals and events during summer like the Lilac Festival, Calgary Stampede, Calgary Folk Music Festival, Calgary Fringe Festival, Calgary International Blues Festival and Calgary Pride.

September to October is the autumn season in Calgary, and it is a pleasant time to head to the city. You won't find a lot of tourists in the city as compared to summer. You will get a better deal on flights to Calgary and hotels, too. You can enjoy all the tourist attractions without having to wait in queues or amidst a lot of tourists. The evenings get pretty chilly, so make sure you also pack warm clothes. You can attend events like the Calgary International Film Festival, Wordfest: International Writers Festival and Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival.

Calgary experiences winter from November to March. This is an ideal time to visit Calgary only if you are a fan of winter sports. The Rocky Mountains are pretty accessible, and this is the best time for you to go skiing. You can attend events like the Calgary Winefest, Calgary Midwinter Bluesfest and Glow Winter Festival. You can easily get cheap flight tickets to Calgary in winter, and the hotel prices are also at their lowest. If you are a winter sports fanatic and on a budget, this is the perfect time for you to head to Calgary.

Places to Visit in Calgary

Calgary Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks and buildings in the city. The observation tower is about 190 meters tall and offers a magnificent view of the city. Prince Island's Park is another beautiful tourist attraction in Calgary that is worth visiting. You can plan a picnic in the park or go on a stroll to explore the park. You can catch the Calgary Folk Festival and Canada Day celebrations in the park here. Calgary Zoo is the best place to go to with your family. The zoo has about 1000 different species of animals including gorillas, pandas, lions and so on. Reaching the zoo is also quite convenient since it is pretty close to Calgary's C-Train. Fort Calgary is one of the historical monuments in Calgary that was built in 1875. This is the perfect place to head to if you are a history buff. You can plan an adventurous trip to the Rocky Mountains to ski, if it's winter, or go on a hike. You can take loads of pictures from up top.

Things to do in Calgary

Skiing at the Rocky Mountains is one of the main reasons why people plan a vacation to Calgary. You can also sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city. There is much more to Calgary than just the skiing slopes. You can head to the Calgary Zoo or visit the museums. You can also sign up for a tour of the Mountain Lakes and Waterfalls trip. Calgary is also known for its craft beers and food. If you don't plan on signing up for a food tour of the city, you can explore restaurants on your own. The Calgary Stampede is a very popular event and something you must witness at least once in your life. You can also try the local food from the stalls here at the event. The city is known for the locals who live their everyday cowboy life. You can also attempt to put on a cowboy outfit and blend in with the crowd during festivals. No matter when you visit the city, you will find some event or another to attend. You must definitely attend music festivals and concerts happening in the city during your holiday.

Food and Restaurants in Calgary

Calgary is known for Alberta beef, and it is the most popularly ordered dish in most restaurants. However, you can also try some of the local favourites like cheese buns from Glamorgan Bakery, mini doughnuts at Calgary Stampede or Calgary Mini Donuts, if you are not in town during the festival. You can also try the deep-fried ginger beef at Silver Inn Restaurant. It was invented here in the 1970s and became an instant favourite among locals. Another invention in Calgary was the Caesar cocktail. It is apparently made with hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Clamato juice, vodka and spices. Sounds adventurous, doesn't it? You can order the drink at Westin Calgary and other bars in the town. Vero Bistro Moderne and Gaga Pizza are some popular Italian and Canadian restaurants in the city. The Himalayan is the perfect restaurant to head to if you feel  like eating Asian, Tibetan or Nepali food. Santorini Greek Taverna serves the best Mediterranean and Greek food. The restaurant also has a very trendy decor, and you will love your dining experience here. Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant has a unique decor, and the ambience itself makes you want to sit there for some more time. The restaurant is popular for serving delicious Canadian cuisine.

How to reach Calgary (Transportation)

The Calgary International Airport is the fourth-busiest one in Canada. The flight connectivity to Calgary from India is quite good. KLM, Air France, Lufthansa, Air Canada have frequent flights to Calgary with layovers in Paris, Amsterdam, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Zurich and Frankfurt. If you book in advance, you might come across exciting flight deals to Calgary. The flight journey might be quite tedious since it takes more than 18-20 hours to reach Calgary from India. Make sure you pack everything that you need to be comfortable on your flight to Calgary. You can book a hotel in Calgary that is closer to the airport so you can avoid the commute or to catch an early flight. It will be quite easy and convenient to get a cab from the airport or to book a car rental service. The airport staff is pretty helpful and will give you certain tips to explore the city if at all you ask them about it. In case you missed out on some last-minute shopping, you can always buy souvenirs and gifts from the duty-free shops at the airport.

  About Chicago

Located on the West coast of Gujarat is the quaint little city of Porbandar. The city is highly regarded for its pilgrimage as it has a strong mythological relevance. Many pivotal incidences from the tales of Mahabharat and Ramayana have taken place in the city, or so says the folklore. As the city is on the Saurashtra's coastal side, the city is blessed with a brilliant climate and geography. There are hills, coasts, rivers, lakes and more such geographical benefits that make Porbandar a beautiful city. Historically, the city adds another feather to its illustrious cap by being the birthplace of freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. With such intriguing stories that the city has to tell, it easily becomes one of the most visited places in Gujarat.

The flight connectivity to Porbandar from other major cities is also excellent. The coastal town connects with the rest of India through popular routes, making travel easy and convenient. Booking hotels in Porbandar are also useful as the city comes with exciting accommodations.

Best time to visit Chicago

Porbandar enjoys fair weather throughout the year. The temperature is mostly at a pleasant range between 23 degree Celsius to 36 degree Celsius. Depending on the year and the humidity, the temperatures do see some changes, but mostly, it's sunny positive. The winters in Porbandar are quite enchanting as the cold breezy air adds quite a romantic charm to the place. The temperatures usually range from 10 degree Celsius to 36 degree Celsius. When you do plan for your Porbandar trip, try to choose this season. The pleasant weather will make sightseeing more comfortable. Not to mention how the flight tickets to Porbandar are also cheap and affordable, irrespective of the peak season. December and January are considered as best months to visit Porbandar.

The monsoon months in Porbandar are just as enjoyable as the winters. Between July to September, the monsoon drenches the city with a cool but humid atmosphere. While the humidity does increase during monsoon, the strong winds that pass through the city during the season help normalise the temperature to a pleasant level. You can book a hotel in Porbandar during this time and take in all the monsoon magic. You certainly wouldn't regret it.

Summers, though, could be a little hot. In comparison to the pleasant weather the city experiences throughout the year, the summer winds come with high temperatures that sometimes reach 40 degree Celsius. While it is not ideal for visiting Porbandar during summers, if you are already used to such temperatures and climate, you wouldn't have much trouble. Not to mention how the flight tickets to Porbandar during summers see a drop in prices.

Places to visit in Chicago

Porbandar does not have many tourist attractions as such. The place is a pilgrimage with many temples and shrines. During your trip, you can visit some of the temples, namely, Sri Hari temple, Krishna-Sudama temple, Kirti temple, to name a few. These temples have strong connections with the Hindu mythology tale Mahabharat. The city also has some relics from the Harappan civilisation which could add to a good historical venture.

One of the big highlights of Porbandar's tourism is the Huzoor Palace, built in the early 20th century by Rana Natwarsinhji, the last Maharaja of Porbandar. The structure has derived architectural inspiration from European styles and is quite beautiful. The vicinity also has fancy fountains and well-maintained gardens.

Things to do in Chicago

The city might have only pilgrimage as the most prominent tourist attraction, but you can tweak your itinerary and add some personal excursions of your own. Located a little away from the city are the Jambuvan Caves, known to be the resting place of the famous warrior Jambuvan, who has played an essential role in the mythological tales of Mahabharat. The caves are also known to have Ramayana relevance with Hanuman spending time in the caves. You can also visit the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary and indulge in some photography. The sanctuary has a scenic setting which adds to the charm and beauty of the place. The biggest attraction of the bird sanctuary is how it inhabits migratory birds such as jacanas, little cormorants, whistling teals, avocets, coots, grebes, pelicans, terns, to name a few.

Food and Restaurants in Chicago

Porbandar is famous for its Gujarati cuisine. The city, much like the rest of the state, is rich in vegetarian Gujarati delicacies. From lip-smacking dhokla with green chutney to divine khandwas, one can never get tired of these dishes. Porbandar also follows the Jain-style cuisine by eliminating potatoes, onions, etc. from their dishes. They substitute potatoes with bananas which manage to do the job perfectly well. In fact, Jain cuisine is just as tasty as a regular vegetarian cuisine. You should probably give Jain food a try when in Porbander.

Travellers with a taste for vegan and vegetarian food can head to Flavours. The restaurant is famous for its take on vegan-friendly dishes as well as a slew of global cuisine. You will definitely be happy and satiated with their take on international cuisine. The place is extremely healthy and something worth considering. If exquisite fine dine is in your itinerary then you should head to Blue Coriander and book a table. The place with its classy interiors has great food reviews. You can get some lovely Gujarati thalis here or even the sweet daal that they're fans of. The food is known to be fresh and tasty with a plethora of choices for vegetarians. You can also get a spicy vada pav at Goli Vada Pav. Mumbaikars know their vada pavs well, and they sure love Goli Vada Pav.

Finding a non-vegetarian restaurant in Porbandar might be challenging as the city primarily has a vegetarian population. However, there is one place where you can get some lovely Indian spin on dishes, including seafood. SaltWater, located on the Dwarka Porbandar highway, has the best seafood that you should certainly try. As for those who are tired of all the spices and want something savoury, you should check out Shiva Baker's Point and Midday Munchies.

How to reach Chicago(Transportation)

By Air

Porbandar Airport is located along the coast of the state of Gujarat. The airport is open for commercial use but also has a military presence. The city's airport is well-connected with some of the big cities in India such as Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, June, Jaipur and Bangalore, to name a few. Thanks to the consistent infrastructural development, the city has managed to find great connectivity with other cities in India. The flight connectivity to Porbandar is excellent as many flights from big cities have direct flights. SpiceJet and TruJet are the two airlines with dedicated flights flying to Porbandar. Even though it is a domestic airport, there are provisions of duty-free shops within the airport that one can avail goods from at a reasonable cost.

The airport also provisions a slew of restaurant chains and fast food shops to keep the passengers entertained. The most popular route to Porbandar is from Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi as these three cities have regular flights flying in and out. The location of the airport is also convenient, enabling easy access to the city centre. You can hire a taxi cab from outside the airport, or if you have booked a hotel in Porbandar, they will probably send the airport shuttle, if you request it.

By Rail

Porbandar Railway Station is perfectly connected with major cities within Gujarat. There are dedicated daily trains to and from Porbandar to Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Somnath and more. The railway also connects well with other domestic routes from Porbandar to big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Jaipur. Weekly trains to cities in the South such as Hyderabad and Kochi are also available. It is essential to know the train schedule before booking the tickets. Specific express trains are not reserved for Porbandar so you might end up spending a lot of your time in transit. The station is around 5 km from the city centre.

As frequent trains are entering and leaving the city regularly, transport via train is also considered to be a good and affordable option. Flight tickets to Porbandar could be expensive sometimes depending on the season in which you are booking your flights.

By Road

Major cities are connected to Porbandar through the domestic route of NH 8B. The national highway brings cities such as Ahmedabad and Rajkot closer to Porbandar. Public buses are also available to connect Porbandar to the rest of the cities in Gujarat. You can find them at the bus station where buses to Vadodara, Jamnagar, Surat and even Mumbai are available. Many travellers opt for roadways to reach Porbandar, especially if they are travelling from the coastal areas of Maharashtra. Tourists even drive down to Porbandar from Jaipur and other cities in Rajasthan as it is a good drive. From the bus station, rickshaws and buses are also available that can take you to the hotel you have booked in Porbandar. Taxi cabs are also present in the city, so transportation in the city is extremely convenient for travellers.