8 days, San Diego to Boston

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Originally Posted by galaxie50059

You will need your birth certificate and passport to get into and out of Canada. I doubt if you will be required to show either one to the customs folks. I wasnt asked for either when I went through about three weeks ago. I had both in plain sight on the dash of my truck, that might of helped me out too. I try to avoid border crossings at major cities as these can be a real headache to get through

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

Actually, you just need one or the other. A passport is preferred (and will be required in 2008) but for now a birth certificate or Voter ID card and a photo ID will suffice.

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I have to agree with Michael on this one. Nowadays I cross the border back and forth at least once a week and there wasn't a single time where they didn't ask me for ID. They might not ask for it when you'll cross to Canada but they'll do for sure when you get back to the US. I live a couple of miles north of the border and I can assure you that it has always been that way since 9/11.

Custom agents will most likely ask you where you were born and ask for a photo ID. I don't know about voter ID cards since we don't have those in Canada, but a simple driver's licence or a medic aid card issued by the government will usually do the job...at least until 2008 like Michael pointed!

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Originally Posted by galaxie50059

watch out for parking in Canada as I found out that many public looking lots are not so public

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Hum, I don't get that one! I've travelled throughout Canada and the US, in the country, suburbs and cities and I never really noticed a difference. Parking can be pretty tricky in bigger cities such as Montreal and Toronto, but so is it in Boston, NYC and New Orleans. There is no secret I guess except read the signs carefully!:o)

Gen

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Originally Posted by Gen

Custom agents will most likely ask you where you were born and ask for a photo ID. I don't know about voter ID cards since we don't have those in Canada, but a simple driver's licence or a medic aid card issued by the government will usually do the job...at least until 2008 like Michael pointed!

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I actually didn't know about the Voter ID rule until I was told at the border that it was acceptable as proof of citizenship. Of course, it makes sense because you have to be a citizen to vote.

I'm guessing you have to be a Canadian Citizen to get a medic aid card?

As an American, a Social Security card is NOT acceptable as proof of citizenship because non-citizens also need them to work in the US.

I am glad to see I am not the only one who had parking issues in Canada. I was beginning to feel like the lone ranger there. The parking enforcer was way more that accurate with my vehicles and I wound up having to pay for one ticket. I pleaded ignorance and asked for mercy on the other ticket and the guy let it go.

I think the not being asked to show the passport/birthcertificate stuff is because they were in plain sight on the dash of the vehicle I was driving at the time. Each time I have been to Canada it has been for job related things, so that might have some bearing on it. I have been told that certain customs officers dont ask for paperwork if its visibly available or unless they suspect something is a little funny, i.e. funny smell from the vehicle, expired tags, or evasiness in answering questions, etc. I do suspect that this will change as border security tightens up in the next few months. I did have the truck searched once at a small border crossing. They asked about weapons and I informed them where they would find my hunting knife and pistol. The officers never even opened the case where both items where stored. I think that maybe because it was locked(I told them the keys for that case was in the ash tray if they wanted to look) and I was honest with them about what I had with me. It could be that they just didnt care either, now might be a little different, so neither item is in the truck when I cross into Canada.

The other thing that I want to mention is that the cost of gas is higher in Canada than it is here in the States. I dont know by how much(I wasnt concerned with that as my truck had a sufficient amount to get me to and from my destination). One will find that lots of other stuff in Canada is pricier too.

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your feedback. There's nothing like asking folks who've done it. I'll keep in touch and we focus in and soidify a route. I appreciate everyone's help and advice!

Keren

Hi Guys,

We have a rough working itinerary, with room for fine tuning. My friend who'll be driving with me came up with this itinerary while I deal with move-preparation insanity. Her driving times are from yahoomaps.com. Does this itinerary seem realistic?

If anyone can recommend a nice little town in Wyoming to stop in for lunch or a meal, let me know. Or something we should drive by and see. Sadly, we won't have time to see Yellowstone, I don' think. Another time, hopefully.

Here's our rough itinerary:
8/12: Leave San Diego. Drive to Las Vegas (4.5 hrs), stop for a bit for lunch & play, drive to Panguitch, Utah (near Bryce, 4.5 hrs)

Sun 8/13: Bryce Canyon most of the day. Maybe stay 2 nights in Panguitch? , then head part of the way to Salt Lake City in the late afternoon/evening (it's almost 4 hrs to SLC, I'd guess we could do about 2-3 hrs of driving and get close)

Mon 8/14: Drive to Salt Lake City (4 hrs), hang out awhile, then drive into southern Wyoming, flaming gorge area (2 hrs)

Tue 8/15: Maybe explore Flaming Gorge area? or random cowboy Wyoming things along the way to Cheyenne (4.5 hrs) or past if we want to keep driving.

Wed 8/16: Long drive day to Iowa maybe? About 10 hrs to Iowa City, and we can stay with my friend there. If Nebraska is as boring as we hear it is, we might be happy enough to do that.

Thurs 8/17: To Chicago (3 hrs from Iowa City). Spend the rest of the day playing there. Maybe head to Renssealear, Indiana (spelling??), where my friend lives, to spend the night. (Free palce to stay, and it'd be nice to see this friend.) ~1.5 hrs from Chicago

Fri 8/18: To Toronto, or to Niagra Falls. (8 hrs from Chicago, 8.5 hrs from Rennselaer, IN) (Might be good to book a hotel there too - a Friday night near Niagara Falls during the summer could be busy.)

Sat 8/19: Niagara Falls play day most of the day, then drive a few hours somewhere towards Boston, stopping on the way in Rochester, NY to meet up with friend, for breakfast or lunch.

Sun 8/20: Drive the rest of the way to Boston. Arrive in the afternoon.


I think it makes the most sense to do Nigra Falls before Toronoto, since Niagra Falls is south/west of Toronoto, so we'll hit it first as we drive east. We may not have tie for Toronto, but can keep it as an option if we are making good time.

Thanks for your input!

Keren

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Originally Posted by Road Runner

I think it makes the most sense to do Nigra Falls before Toronoto, since Niagra Falls is south/west of Toronoto, so we'll hit it first as we drive east. We may not have tie for Toronto, but can keep it as an option if we are making good time.

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Actually, it would make a lot more sense to go to Toronto first, if you are going to be seeing both. The Falls are a good hour drive out of the way on the direct route from Chicago to Toronto. However, The direct route from Toronto to Rochester goes right through Niagara. You would probably have more/cheaper lodging options around Toronto.

But I think you may be pushing things a bit to try and fit both areas into one day.

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

Actually, it would make a lot more sense to go to Toronto first, if you are going to be seeing both. The Falls are a good hour drive out of the way on the direct route from Chicago to Toronto. However, The direct route from Toronto to Rochester goes right through Niagara. You would probably have more/cheaper lodging options around Toronto.

But I think you may be pushing things a bit to try and fit both areas into one day.

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Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

Hi All,

I'm on day 3 of my road trip. Utah has been amazingly beautiful. Tomorrow we drive through Wyoming, along route 80. Any suggestions for brief excursions through scenic routes? Cute towns to stop in? Authentic local eateries/diners/saloons to stop into? And does anyone know of any rodeos going on now in towns along that southern route?

Also, anyone know of any drive-in movie theaters around Nebraska?

Thanks,
Keren

Glad to hear you're having a good trip!

According to a cursory search, in Nebraska:

Sand Hills Drive-in, Alliance
2617 County Route 57

Kearney Drive-In Theatre
End of East 28th Street, Kearney, NE

Starlite Drive-In Theatre
Hwy. 275 E, Neligh

Thanks for the info, Tim! Way to to rise to the occasion! Unfortunately, due to the irregularity of internet access while on the road, I posted that request but was subsequently unable to actually check responses untill tonight, where I currently am, in Iowa. We're driving to Chicago tomorrow, hopefully via some caves at the eastern edge of Iowa tomorrow morning. So we may have to find our drive in movie somewhere east of Iowa. We still need to work out the route we'll take from Chicago to Boston. We've had to readjust our plans, after spending more time in Utah than anticipated, and generally moving slower in the morning than we'd assumed we'd be able to. B\We'll have to cut out Niagra Falls, Toronoto, and our side trip to visit friends in Indiana. Oh well, we've enjoyed what we've seen, especially Utah and Wyoming.

Thanks, again.

Happy travelling!

Keren