January 2015

If you enjoy horses and you want to see some of the best country areas near Cochrane, Saddle Peak is the right choice for your trail rides. With horseback riding by the hour, day or week, you can choose how much time you want to spend out on the trails. Saddle Peak also offers vacation tips into the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

The company hasn't gotten too big in the over 30 years in business. They still provide a truly western experience and only run about 25 head of horses with on city frills. There are no bars or restaurants on these trail rides.

Hour and Day Rides

On Fridays and Saturdays from May to October, the company provides overnight trips, along with hour rides. You can get to the range around 4pm and head out on a one hour ride after

Whether you need to visit the Cochrane area or put up guests visiting you, it's important to know where you can stay. The city offers a few options ranging from hotels to camping. Here are some of the choices for your stay in the Cochrane area.

Hotels

Two major hotels serve the Cochrane area. Both provide plenty of access to the city. The two hotels you can choose from in this area are:

• Days Inn & Suites Cochrane - 5 Westside Drive
• Ramada Cochrane - 10 Westside Drive

Both hotels are worldwide chains and provide plenty of amenities.

Bed & Breakfasts

If you prefer a more intimate stay with plenty of perks, a B&B might be the right way for you to go. Cochrane offers two excellent B&Bs for your stay or for the stay of your visiting

Cochrane provides a location not far from a number of good restaurants. There are plenty of unique choices throughout the area and even more just a short drive away. Here are some of the top spots to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner in Cochrane.

Olive 'R Twist Bistro & Bar - 205 1st Street West

Update: Permanently Closed
This trendy bistro and bar provides plenty of excellent martinis and dishes on the menu. They offer a number if interesting dishes and use the freshest ingredients possible. Olive 'R Twist has been named as a gold award winner for the Best of Cochrane five times and a silver award winner six times. Some of the top menu items include the coconut shrimp, baked brie, grilled salmon salad and prime rib.

Texas Gate Bar & Grill - 304

Sometimes it can be difficult to keep up with the mortgage payments. When you fall behind, for one reason or another, your natural instinct will probably be to hide your head in shame and try to avoid the situation. It's difficult to call up the bank and let them know that you're having financial difficulties and it may be just as hard to pick up the phone when you know that the bank is calling to find out why your last mortgage payment was late.

Let's take a step back and remember why you were first given a mortgage in the first place. You were approved for a mortgage because you had shown yourself to be trustworthy with money. Your credit was probably good, your income was high enough to warrant an approval and you weren't carrying a high debt level

The Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre opened in 2001 and offers indoor recreation to residents of Cochrane. They believe in a health history and a fit future. The Sports Centre has operated as a user pay model in which they are financially self-sustaining and run off of membership fees.

They offer drop-in programs, kid’s camps, a gymnasium and arena for the public to use. They offer birthday party facilities and even facility rentals. Here is a look at all you can enjoy at the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre.

Arena

The arena is used for a variety of purposes. Your kids can learn to play hockey, you can drop in for sticks and pucks to practice or try drop-in public skating for all ages. Play ‘n Sk8 for children will help them learn

Most people that are taking a look at their real estate options think about whether they'd like to live right in the heart of the city or in the suburbs. Many don't think about the other option of living in a small town close to the city. If you want to stay close to Calgary but don't want to live right in the downtown core, you don't necessarily have to settle for the suburbs.

Living in the suburbs can be a nightmare if you try to drive your car into the city for a daily commute. Living in the middle of Calgary can be tough as well especially if you are just learning to drive. It's much more relaxing and enjoyable to live just outside of town and enjoy the daily drive into work and then back home again. You won't have to deal with the endless lineups

The Inside Out Experience is an Alberta recreational activity that you won’t want to miss out on. It’s a fun, safe and memorable experience in the great outdoors of the Canadian Rockies. All ages and skill levels can participate in the Inside Out Experience in the mountains of western Canada. You’ll experience spectacular views, an unforgettable vacation and outdoor adventure. Here is a look at what you can enjoy at the Inside Out Experience.

What to expect

The Inside Out Experience is an outdoor trip for all ages and abilities. You’ll get to try adventures like mountain biking, day hiking, whitewater rafting and horseback riding. You’ll have a professional and knowledgeable guide making for a completely safe experience. The company has an

There's always something fun going on throughout the Cochrane area. The city is full of great facilities for all types of events and things to do. There are some unique things about the community and plenty for everybody. Here are some of the facilities and programs you may discover throughout Cochrane.

Facilities

The recreational facilities found throughout the area include plenty of parks with ball diamonds, outdoor ice rinks and soccer fields. There are more than 20 parks with playgrounds, trout ponds and so much more. Residents also enjoy more than 30 kilometres of pathways used all four seasons.

Along with the parks, Cochrane provides:

• The Big Hill Leisure Pool
• The Bow Centre
• The Nan Boothby Memorial Library
• Spray Lake Saw

The Cochrane Valley Folk Club is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization. They provide many authentic live concerts to the Cochrane area every year. The club started by performing in the Cochrane Boys and Girls Club back in 2000, but has since expanded into the Cochrane Alliance Church.

They provide stellar entertainment with some of the best productions in the area. Many of the performers fit the roots, blues and folk genres. The club provides monthly concerts for the community to enjoy.

Upcoming Shows

Even though the club is about half way through the season, there are plenty of great shows coming up including:

• Danny Schmidt & Carrie Elkin - Saturday, February 7th, 2015 - This duo was named to the Chicago Tribune's 50 Most significant

If you are considering entering into the real estate market either as a buyer, seller, or investor, you should be aware of the benefits you will receive when you hire a Cochrane real estate agent. Some people will try and save the money and do it on their own. This can be disastrous if you do not know exactly what you are doing.

Buying a Home

When you are in the market for a home for yourself and your family you will need to take all reasonable precautions against any unscrupulous dealings. Having a real estate agent as your representative will reduce the likeliness of anything like this happening. Real estate agents are there to help you in all aspects of your search and closing. They will help you find a home that is suitable for you. Once found,