Greedy Comrades & Princely Socialism...

After our stay at Glacier National Park, we crossed the border into Canada to spend some time at the Canadian side of Glacier, Waterton National Park.
This was the third time we have stayed in a Canadian parks, back in 2007 we stayed at some provincial parks and Banff.
Once we reached Waterton, I got reminded on the stark differences on how the two countries make parks available to visitors.

The basic and often spartan facilities in the USA national parks seem to represent an approach to commune with nature. Even though I love USA's National Park Service and agree with its approach, their facilities always give me a institutional feel to them. A “Welcome comrade, enjoy the people's forest” sense to it.

In contrast, the Canadian National Parks seem to try to mimic a Victorian European villa. Right smack in the middle of the Waterton, Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper you can find luxury hotels with princely names, along with all kind of private businesses around. Not sure if it is because I am accustom to the USA egalitarian approach to national parks, that the Canadian approach makes me feel that I am not really in a national park but in a business concession.

The funny part, is that Canada seems to have more “government involvement in business”, and USA a more “private business is the cure for all” attitude. So you would think that you would find the gulag style camping in Canada, and the bourgeois amenities in the USA.

Well...we have enjoyed both styles. Boondocking with the comrade bears, or sipping cappuccinos and fine pastry while overlooking lakes and mountains.