"Mission is a phenomenal place to live and play," said Julie O'Donnell, executive director of the 4th Street Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ).

There's no doubt that the communities of Mission and Cliff Bungalow spin at a vibrant pace, with people always out strolling, talking, poking into galleries and artisan shops, and enjoying the vast selection of restaurants and coffee shops.

It was that hum that enticed Nicole Butz to make a move to the area a year ago.

On an afternoon stroll, residents of the neighbouring communities of Cliff Bungalow and Mission can feel like they've gone back in time. They might encounter structures built in the Queen Anne, Spanish Colonial, Classical and Georgian Revival styles, all from the early 1900s, within only a few blocks.

However, combing through the city's historic neighbourhoods is no longer an activity reserved for area residents, as Heritage Calgary is helping people learn about Calgary's past through self-directed walking tours.