We are going to Canada!

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by fusedlight

The only REAL requirement is to have a passport. Not needed to go INTO Canada, but you need one to come home.

Word of caution on that point! Canada and U.S. border requirements may be different on paper, but, are in practice, the same.

Up until a few years ago Canadians and American's did not require a passport to cross over in either direction by land.

Technically, Canada Border Services does not require U.S. citizens to present a passport (you can use a birth certificate and photo ID) to enter Canada by land (you will need a Passport if traveling by air though) - but be WARNED you will face a great deal of questions and stand a very high chance of being turned away at the Canadian border if you dont have a Passport or equivalent travel document (Nexus, Fast or Enhanced Drivers licence - all the same stuff a Canadian can also use to get into the US by Land instead of a Passport) to get back into the U.S. We love our US visitors but you are restricted as to how long you can stay - so if they suspect you are planning on staying longer than allowed, which they will if you dont have any documents that will take you back into the US you will be turned away.

[Cricket]

We ordered passport cards which are good for land and sea entry only. Don't worry, we will only be there for a couple of days! My son is a rockhound....i didn't realize there were fields of them for the picking?!?

[fusedlight]

Originally Posted by Cricket

... My son is a rockhound....i didn't realize there were fields of them for the picking?!?

TONS of rocks! Some places are "fee" sites where you pay an entry fee, or a fee-by-the-kilo, or fee-by-the-mud-bucket, and some places are "Have at it!". Where will you be going?

[Cricket]

I have no idea where to go for that....either suggestions from you guys or an internet search will likely determine my destination.

[fusedlight]

Thunder Bay:
Digital Rockhound's Companion Site: Thunder Bay Amethyst Mines
and see my video...
Collecting Amethyst at Thunder Bay - YouTube
(BTW... a lot of the places are real rip offs! The one we go to is great.)

Bancroft:
Rockhounding in Bancroft Ontario Canada

Sudbury:
Sudbury Rock & Lapidary Society

Of course, rocks are where you find them!

[emers382]

Just realize Cricket that Bancroft and Sudbury are nowhere near Thunder Bay.

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by emers382

Just realize Cricket that Bancroft and Sudbury are nowhere near Thunder Bay.

In fact you would have to drive past the exit to Manitoulin island to get to Sudbury. Google says it is about twelve hours of driving from Thunder Bay, to Sudbury. Most of it is really beautiful, less so as you get closer to Sudbury.

[fusedlight]

Indeed... Sudbury and Bancroft are in a different world.

[CindyL]

Don't rely on Google Navigator through Verizon. Learned the hard way when the signal disappeared as soon as we crossed the border. Each vehicle now has a Tom Tom. I learned not to rely on Google Navigator even in downtown Chicago. The signal can't get through the buildings.

We also found returning to be easy, as we did it before the sun was up. We had seen the line and were prepared. No problem going into Canada; slower getting back, so we hit the crossing early.

CindyL

[fusedlight]

I use DeLorme Street Atlas wtih a GPS receiver. Installed on my little Window's Netbook, I've got a never-out-of-range GPS system:

Street Atlas USA with USB GPS Receiver Bundle - DeLorme

[Briantb]

if you like gouda cheese.. try Thunder Oak cheese farm on Boundary Rd just south of TBay off hwy61 2km..signs

Fort William Historical Park now has an RV Park for 35 a night electric and water hook ups.. dump station

[fusedlight]

Sweet! I'll have to remember that. Darn site less expensive than the KOA on the other end of town. Then again, that KOA had a spectacular new roadcut right across the trans-Canada. We picked up around 50kg of killer rocks. It's probably paved over by now.

[Nancy]

Brian, Thanks for the Gouda and Ft William info.

We use a Gouda place outside of Duluth. They have non pasteurized cheese. I do like Gouda a lot.

Nancy

[fusedlight]

Well, if we're going to start talking about Gouda... the REAL good stuff has been aged for a year. Crunchy and salty and yummy! When I was working in The Netherlands my (then) young son asked for a half kilo for his birthday. Good Kid!

[Cricket]

Thanks so much for all the ideas! I feel like i have a personal team of customized travel planners!

[emers382]

You are welcome. That's the great thing about this forum, not only getting lots of good advice about FG trailers, but good travel info as well. With all the suggestions perhaps you'll have to extend your holiday in and around Thunder Bay from the couple of nights you first mentioned.

Yes - the Thunder Oak cheese farm is great Glad to hear there's camping available right at Old Fort William - that would make a great base from which to explore.

With all the advice almost makes me wish we were moving back to Thunder Bay rather than Manitoba this year!

Adrian