Waterton National Park
by Cecile Schutter - September 2002

Although Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada is one of the world’s finest and Canada’s shining star, it’s also crowded and over run with tourists. A lesser traveled, but certainly as spectacular National Park, just a short drive south of Calgary, is Waterton National Park. Waterton is the Canadian side of the well known Glacier National Park in Montana. But there’s some very good reasons to pick Waterton over Glacier. First is getting there; from Houston to Calgary, non-stop, then a three hour drive on straight, can’t get lost highways. There’s also an interesting deviation called Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, a monument to the life of hunting buffalo. Once in Waterton National Park, the town of Waterton has a good selection of hotels and motels, from self-efficiency to the elegant Prince of Wales that has to have the best views of the lake and town. If you can afford to stay there, plan way in advance as it is a small hotel and booked many months in advance. You can’t get accommodations IN Glacier National Park, you will be on the fringes.

Then there’s the advantage of the exchange rate with the Canadian dollar. Although the difference has been narrowing, it is still about a 30% advantage. There are a number of cute and reasonable restaurants, as well has bakery cafes and fine dining. But there’s not the chains, Starbucks or the like. Still mom and pop run enterprises.

The population of Waterton swells to about 3500 residents in the summer and many small business provide all the hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and outdoor activities you can imagine.

For scenic beauty, the Canadian Rockies are hard to beat. Waterton is simply stunning, and if you take the lake boat cruise you will cross the US border

    Trips can be arranged by West University Travel, 3622 University Blvd, Houston, TX 77005. 713-665-4767. Ask for Ray or Cecile Schutter.