By Becky Waring

Looking for a horse of a different color this summer? Take a trip to the Calgary Stampede.

This legendary Western-style event has something for everyone: a world-class rodeo, top musical performers, a midway with rides and games for the kids, an Indian Village and a recreation of a Calgary street circa 1912. And it's all set in a beautiful city on the banks of the Bow River in Alberta, at the gateway to the Canadian Rockies, where the Winter Olympics were held here in 1988, showcasing both the plains and mountains.

This year's Stampede takes place from July 3 to 12. It's an ideal family vacation, with plenty of activities for all ages. Afternoons are reserved for the top rodeo events like bull- and bronco-riding, steer-wresting, and barrel racing. In the evenings, dramatic chuckwagon races and music take over, followed by fireworks. If you've never seen a chuckwagon race, you're in for a treat. Teams of four thoroughbreds are hitched to a wagon and have to follow a neatly choreographed figure-eight route at top speed while stopping to set up and take down the meal tent on each lap. More than $1 million in prize money is up for grabs, $150,000 on the final heat alone—the racing is serious.

Musical acts appear on several stages around the Stampede grounds. Past performers have included Nelly Furtado, Good Charlotte and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. You'll also find headliners at the nearby Saddledome each night; this year's lineup features George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift.

Children and adults alike will love the ferris wheel, flume, roller coaster, carnival games and Indian village. There are also plenty of fun county fair-type activities, such as sheep-shearing and sheepdog herding competitions, cutting horse and cattle-penning races and youth livestock shows.

To keep in touch while you're there, head for one of the 19 iPass hotspots around town. You'll find them at the popular Earl's Restaurant and Joey Tomato's Mediterranean Grill chains, as well as Ramada and Marriott hotels.

Finally, a great side trip from Calgary, just 1.5 hours west, is the magnificent Banff National Park. Head for the world-famous resort town of Banff on Lake Louise for a relaxing time after your visit to the Stampede.