Completed in 2012, the Bow tower is a 58 floor (236m) skyscraper located in downtown Calgary, Alberta. Named after it's crescent shape and view of Calgary's Bow River, the Bow has been hailed for its bold architecture and height. It became the tallest structure in Calgary for a short time, before being surpassed by Brookfield Place, which is due to be completed in 2017.
Another claim to fame for the Bow tower is the impressive Wonderland sculpture by Jaume Plensa, a Spanish artist and sculptor. Wonderland was unveiled in 2013 and is located in the the Bow's south plaza. The 12 metre geometrical mesh head is a striking feature that visitors can walk around and even go inside of for some unique perspectives.
Wonderland has quickly become a Calgary landmark, making the Bow even more of a downtown centrepiece. It was after seeing the national attention that both the Bow and Wonderland had received that I knew they'd make great Calgary additions to my Around Alberta series.
Located in Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, Hotel Zephyr is a trendy boutique hotel featuring an upscale industrial marine theme. As we continued our road trip down the California coast, Hotel Zephyr became our brief hub in "the City by the Bay". Corrugated metal, colorful shipping containers, portholes, dockside embellishments, and splashes of pop art made for another photogenic stop on a trip full of memorable and unique accommodations.
The location of Hotel Zephyr was ideal for what limited time we had in San Francisco. After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge we parked the car at the hotel. Over the next 48 hours we preceded to explore Fisherman's Wharf, walked to Pier 33 and took the ferry to Alcatraz, and made time for Coit Tower and Lombard Street as well. When you're visiting so many distinct locations in the course of a single trip, nothing beats a hotel with character.
