There is an International Peace Park that spans the borders of Canada and the US designated by a poster in each Visitor Center at Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks. There are no magnets, t-shirts, commemorative coins or posters of the purported UNESCO World Heritage site. You can take a boat cruise that crosses into US waters at the cut line without a passport but you can’t buy a bumper sticker. Perhaps in today’s climate, Peace Parks are out of fashion.
We were asked about alcohol, tobacco, and firearms while the agent scanned our drivers licenses. Why are you here? To experience NW Canada. How long are you staying? 3 months. Where are you going? The Arctic Ocean. Really? What are you using to protect yourself? An axe. Several eyebrow raises later we were given entry.
At the first town across the border we were changing dollars for loonies and picking up canvas waterproofing spray for the leaky Clam screened room. No Frills supermarket is an Alberta landmark. We replenished the pantry with health food and junk food that wasn’t even expired!
Waterton Lakes National Park is the epitome of contained cute. There’s a historic hotel, lodging from budget to boutique, food from prime rib to 1/4 pound dog. Our home at the Townsite campground was a block from Windflower Street where we could get a coffee and muffin, buy a souvenir, rent a surrey and see Devil Wears Prada 2 at the Opera/Theater house. Not that we did any of those things.
What we did do is walk in and out of all the storefronts while doing $10 a loonie load laundry at the Resort and Spa hotel. We considered High Tea at the historic Prince of Wales hotel but decided to save that for our RMD adventure in 10 years. It is important to leave ourselves some bucket list items for our future selves.
Townsite Campground has 278 electric sites and every one of them is occupied. Alberta, the Wild Rose province, is home to Edmonton and Calgary, two urban centers who have chosen Waterton Lakes as their preferred getaway locale. Banff is for tourists, WL is for locals.
There is a significant East Asian (Indian and Pakistani) presence here which allowed us to see how another culture adventures. They ride Harleys, tow trailers, sleep in tents, barbecue and eat ice cream. WOW! They are just like us. To fit in, we put curried lentil stew in the crockpot while we made the scenic drive in search of wildflowers.
Red Rocks Canyon is at the end of the road. The thing about contained cute is that everyone is packed into the same experience. If you want to take very long hikes across prairies you’re good. Stop at the map markers and you’re showing up in someone’s Insta Reel. We’ve seen some waterfalls in our travels and these are no Sioux Falls let alone Comet Falls. That’s why we don’t go chasing waterfalls.
To get the download on what to do in the Canadian Rockies, you go to the dishwashing station. It’s where everyone shares stories about their favorite hike, hot spring, baked good and jerky. Morocco gave travel tips like go to Lake Louise before 7am or after 7pm or you won’t find parking. Amelia from Medicine Hat had the skinny on Radium Springs vs Fairmont vs Miete for the hot spring experience. It’s the new international peace park. We think world peace should be put in the hands of those washing the dishes.
Back at the ranch, Waterton Lakes was calling. After critiquing the original art at the Gust Gallery with Eric, Sheri broke out her new box of soft pastels toted in the Halliburton Sub Zero art box and tried to capture the iconic lake and mountain view. She’d taken a few online art classes with Shawn, our art instructor at the Dali Museum 13th Anniversary date. Trying out new application, blending and layering techniques, her first plein air pastel is the first Canadian souvenir. Who needs a bumper sticker?
