On the east side of the Elbow River bordering Mission sits a hidden gem – the community of Erlton. Here, pockets of vintage heritage homes along with architecturally pleasing townhomes and condo developments are tucked away along the east banks of the Elbow River, mere steps from the trendy streets of Mission.

"Erlton is one of Calgary's best kept secrets. I love living here. It's just such a small, connected community," said Viccy Grace, an area resident and president of the Erlton Community Association. She and her husband purchased and refurbished a century-old home on the hill in Erlton.

When it came online almost 17 years ago, the southeast community of Cranston, with its characteristic windmill at its entrance, was at the forefront of new and exciting urban planning – design that pushed forward a new way of thinking about community, where access to nature and connecting people was top-of-mind.

"Cranston is a great example of thinking differently about community. It creates plenty of opportunities for residents of all generations to meet up, get outside, have fun, and engage in community events," said Jessie Seymour, senior manager of strategic marketing at Brookfield Residential, the developer behind the community.

The great thing about living in Calgary is that every neighbourhood comes with bragging rights and the southeast riverside community of Quarry Park is no exception.

"There really isn't anything that compares to Quarry Park in Calgary – the location, the variety of housing types, the strong sense of community and the strong identity with great architectural character," said Glen Deibert, residential director at Remington Development Corp., the developer behind the community.

Situated on a historic quarry site adjacent to the Bow River, Quarry Park graces 400 acres of reclaimed land that features over 90 acres of park land, a 50 acre nature reserve and 10 km of paved walking and cycling paths that weave through the area, connecting to the Bow River pathway system.

The soft summer breeze rustles through the tall stands of mature Aspen trees and prairie grasses in the lush valley on the northwest edge of the city. Here nature sits untouched, a picture perfect backdrop for the homes that grace the ridge above. Nearby, the voices of happy children ring out, as they ride their bikes in the cul-de-sacs connecting the homes. And anchoring it all is a beautiful 18-hole golf course. This is Valley Ridge, home to almost 6,000 residents. Most live in single-family homes (93 per cent) and the area is almost entirely owner-occupied, leading to a connected community with a vibrant and engaged feel.

Peppered with century-old birch and popular trees, the southwest neighbourhood of Britannia offers old-world charm and a magical aesthetic.

With its diverse mix of housing types, rich history and close proximity to Calgary's core, Tuxedo Park is rapidly transforming into a thriving community of hip, young families.

"There are so many young families in the neighbourhood. And I've met so many new people, just by walking around the community with my baby in his stroller," said Anne Johnson, president of the Tuxedo Park Community Association.

There is something special about living close to the river – waking up in the morning to the sounds of water swishing along the banks and birds singing their morning symphony.

It's that sense of getting away from it all that is attracting people to the riverside communities of Bowness and Montgomery. Both communities boast a deep and storied history – originating as villages and then towns before being amalgamated into the city – which led to the development of a distinctive flavour and culture that is still visible today.

Shovels broke ground in Evanston in 2007, but the community has quickly become one of the fastest growing and most desirable places to live in Calgary's northwest quadrant.