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No, US Citizens Don't Need a Passport to Visit Canada...yet

Doesn't it seem that planning a trip gets more complicated every year. With the newest USA passport regulations in effect, US citizens are facing new paperwork confusion along with the ever changing security regulations.

It won't help with getting through the airport with your shoes on, but debunking the myths of the latest passport regulations will make vacation travel to Canada a bit easier.

There has been plenty of publicity warning US nationals that they need a passport to visit Canada and the Caribbean after January 23, 2007.

It seems to have gone unnoticed that you don't in fact need a passport to visit the Canadian Rockies or any other beautiful spot up north. Until at least January 2008, all you have to do cross the 3000 mile border by land, not air - and that, according to travel company Fresh Tracks, can actually be a good thing.

Driving or taking a leisurely train ride through the scenic landscape, instead of flying over it, can add to the fun of a holiday trip. By taking domestic flights to northern cities in the United States, Americans can still cross the border without the expense and hassle of getting a passport. Government issued photo identification (such as a driver's license) and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) are all that is currently required for land borders.

So if you want to visit the Canadian Rockies then it's as simple as flying into Seattle. Rail buffs can take Amtrak right into Vancouver. The train station is just five minutes from downtown - much closer than the airport, and the true rail enthusiast gets to experience an extra train ride. There are also a number of bus departures per day and renting a car is always an option. The three hour drive is well worth the splendor of scenic western Canada.

If you want to hear the thunder of Niagara Falls, or the excitement of Toronto then flying into Detroit is the answer. VIA Rail Canada operates trains to Windsor, Ontario, which is just across the border from Detroit. Rent a vehicle and drive through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel or across the Ambassador Bridge - it's that simple. At the border crossing just show your ID and proof of citizenship and enjoy your Canadian adventure.

Canada houses a bit of Europe right in North America and it's easy to reach from New York - no passport or long flight required. Amtrak operates a daily rail connection from Penn Station on West 34th Street in Manhattan to downtown Montreal. If you want to wander outside of Montreal you'll find Quebec City, Ottawa, and Toronto all within an easy VIA Rail trip of Montreal or rent a car to drive through the countryside for some great scenery that includes waterfalls, rivers and forests plus restaurants serving fresh local foods and religious shrines where pilgrims travel for healing miracles.

Enjoy exploring Canada by land and get to know your neighbor to the north with no passport required.

Check for Passport Information for international travelers.

Related Web Resources
• Do I need a passport to travel to Canada?
• The U.S. Electronic Passport
• New Travel Requirements for US Citizens