Margaret had a full day planned for us in Alberta!! Yay!!
One of our stops was going to be Franks Slide, one of Canada’s deadliest rock slides, but we decided to go to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump which was really interesting. Franks Slide – next time!!!
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre is a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site that preserves and interprets over 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo culture. Through vast landscapes, exhibits, and diverse programming, learn about the cultural significance of this cliff to the Plains People.
Then we drove on to Waterton Lakes National Park – back into the Rocky Mountains! Wow – beautiful. Once again we are in the mountains which is so nice!!
We stopped for a beer with a great view!!
They have a brand new visitor centre (sorry I didn’t get a pic of it) but they mentioned they were over-due. When A fire came through Waterton in 2017 it took down a lot of trees and it also burned down the original visitor centre. When we drove in we saw all the trees burned on the sides of the moutain and knew something had happened. Our boat tour guide gave us information on it, and the Waterton Town apparently was proactive and saved their town. The fire started on the other side of the mountain in B.C. and when they got word days before, they pumped water, water, water into the forests at the edge of town…..so when the fire reached them……..they were able to stop it from burning down the town of Waterton.
We went on the Waterton Boart Cruise and had some great local tour guides! He lived in Waterton his whole life, was an avid hiker that hiked all these mountains over and over again, and was so knowledgeable of the area. It was shocking to hear how deep the water was – 480 feet down like a bathtub! They have 400 types of wild flowers in Waterton National Park and 60 different kinds of mamamals. The road ends in the town of Waterton, so to get to the rest of it, you have to put on your hikers and get out there and hike it!! You can do a day, 2 day, 3 day, etc. hike in the mountains!! Next time!!
Very cool!!! We crossed over the US border into Montana and at that point the park is now called Glacier National Park, US. We were a bit early to be able to get out of the boat in the US and stop at Goat Haunt, where you can get your passport stamped! It starts in June and if you go to Waterton, you should for sure plan to do this.
The picture below….you can see the cut out going up the moutain? that is the US/Canada border. I could not believe that every 15 years they maintain this cut…..all the way across the border. Wow! I guess it does make sense that they need to know where the border is, but what an incredible amount of work for people to maintain this.
The Hotel Prince of Wales is quite spectacular up on the hill. and later we go to visit the hotel and get to see the magnificant view from the back of the hotel. Wow!
We had dinner at Lakeside Chophouse in Waterton. What a great view! and if going in warmer weather, a seat on the patio is a must!! The back drop of the water, the mountains and the wildllife (so many deer coming through) are so beautiful!
and the food was so yummy!!! I was going to order the Tomahawk Steak at only $239 but thought it might be a little too much for me, so I enjoyed the Parmesan Chicken. The reason I ordered it was that it had lots of mushroom!! and the arugala on top was a nice treat!
I was amazed at how many Elk and deer are roaming around the towns. Banff, Canmore, and now in Waterton. They just are so free and comfortable and at home. Lovely!
After dinner we made our way up the Prince of Wales Hotel. What a gorgeous view if you were to stay here. Honestly, you should add it to your bucket list!! and plan to do some serious hiking when here. Or some serious drinking/eating in from of this window!!! 🙂
The Prince of Wales was built by the Great Northern Railway in 1927 as an extension of the Glacier Park Lodges and today, stays true to its roots. From the furniture in the lobby to our prohibition-inspired cocktail menu, the hotel is dotted with historic elements and period-specific inspiration. I could have say in front of that window…..all day!!!! and all night!!!
My sister Margaret showed my an Ammolite stone that she got from a friend. It was beautiful. But then she shared some of the history of Ammolite and wow!! It is found in the Rocky Mountains. Apparently it is illegal to look for it and get it. I will have to research this a bit more!! So that next time I come, can I dig or can I not dig?
But to buy it….wow crazy expensive!! I think I will dig…lol.
The staff at the Prince of Wales are dressed in traditional Welsh tartan kilts and ties, and the servers and bartenders are very knowledgeable about the history. And while you’re there, ask them to tell you about the ghost stories that haunt the premises! Apparenlty they have more than a few to share. For sure, I will come back here and stay at the hotel for a couple nights!!
We had planned to hike the Bears Hump hike in Waterton…..but after our busy/full day, there was not enough time, but also I am not sure there was consensus from the group on hiking the trail. It is a very steep hike……but I hear the view is spectacular. So….yes, next time!!! We will plan to do it at the same time we stay at the Prince of Wales!
On the way back we listened to the playoff hockey game! I think Edmonton lost 🙁
We had a full day of fun!! We got back to Margaret and Dennis’s and had a night cap (or 2 or 3) and then off to bed!!! and we are in a season of hockey and baseball at the same time! We got to watch some of the Jays game too!
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