I want to visit Canada?

Question

I am in a Chicago-Suburb in Illinois. I am looking to take a small road trip with two friends and stay two nights in Canada. Get a new experience and everything. Where would be a decent place to visit that won't take all day to get to? Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

Hi...I live in Windsor.  You are right, depending on where you are from Chicago, north, south, etc., you are at most about 5 hrs. from Windsor.  I have driven back and forth a few times.  As long as you are not expecting a "Chicago experience", restaurant and nightlife-wise, you should have a fun time in Windsor.  You don't give your age, but if you are in your 20's to 40's you will find lots of downtown bars loaded with mostly young Americans.  Ouellette is our main street and in the nicer weather especially it is loaded with people walking from place to place.  The dead of winter, when you're coming, is a little different but there is still plenty of nightlife.  We have a huge casino here about 3 blocks from all the bars and clubs, and even if you're not a gambler it's worth checking out.  They've been getting some big names in...Chris Rock was there last night.  It's a Caesar's property...Caesars Windsor.

It's very safe here and you will have no trouble walking around the streets, day or night.

To cross the border, you need the following documentation:  (1) valid, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver's licence, and (2) your original birth certificate.  Not one or the other, but both.  OR, if you have a passport, all the better...but, as long as you have the above, a passport is not mandatory until at least June, 2009.  They keep putting it off.  So you will be OK that way.  I cross the border all the time...I was just over to the States today in fact, and I have no passport yet.

So, keeping in mind that Windsor is no Chicago (in other words, don't get your hopes up), I think you will have a good time.  It is just a nice size;  not too big city, and not too small.  Population: about 200,000.

Have fun!

Answer 2

My wife and I have traveled to Thunder Bay, Ontario (on the west shore of Lake Superior) many times over the last 23 years and found it to be a great drive (from Rochester, Minnesota) and an excellent town to visit.

Good restaurants and interesting history all around.

Go to Duluth, MN and head north from there.

Or drive up to Green Bay, get on Michigan Hwy #2, head east along the north shore of Lake Michigan to I-75, then

North to Sault Ste Marie (Soo Saint Marie) - Michigan, and Ontario both.

Or head east on I-90 or I-94 to Detroit, Michigan.  You are within about 8 hours of Windsor, Ontario.  

If you want Casinos, night life and good food, Windsor would be the place to go.  And, you will find that when you take either the tunnel under or the bridge over the Detroit River, you will be heading South, which gives you the answer to the question - Driving south from Detroit, what is the first foreign country you come to?  - Canada.

Which brings up one last item - be sure that everyone has their State issued photo id, and for good measure a birth certificate along.  If you each have US passports, they might now be required as well.  You need to check with US Customs - before you leave.  They may let you out of the US ok, but you might not be allowed to come back in.

Check it out before you go.