La Cloche Lake Travel Tips and Border Crossing Info
Entry Tips for US Citizens
Citizenship: When crossing the border from the US into Canada you need proof of citizenship for each person, including children. These documents are especially important when returning to the US.
Passports: The rules for documentation required for travel to and from the United States have changed. Each person needs a passport book or a Passport Card. The US Passport book is valid for any travel to and from the US by land, sea, or air. The US Passport Card is only valid for land travel. If you do not have either of these documents, we recommend that you apply for them early because the waiting time to receive them can be lengthy.
The number of sites available for application for a passport has been increased. For example, in Ohio the Clerk of Courts offices now provide passport services. For more information on obtaining passports, check the U.S. Department of State, Passport page.
Other Entry Tips
A Duty-Free Store is usually located just after the toll booths at the border. You can buy duty-free beer, alcohol, and tobacco that you may import. Ask at the counter. If you take more than your limit, you must declare it and pay duty.
Small Firearms are not permitted in Canada. All other firearms (including air rifles, cross bows, etc.) must be declared. Mace is also not permitted.
Radar/laser detectors are illegal in Ontario. If you have one, put it in the glove compartment or otherwise disable it.
Photo Courtesy of Mark Ducharme,
www.mrdphotography.net
At Sault Ste. Marie the Ontario Travel Centre, near the exit from the bridge, offers many traveler services. It is open daily. For most of the year it is open between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. From May 13, 2011 until June 10, 2011 it is open from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Then from June 11, 2011 until Labor Day it is open from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Two very convenient services are currency exchange and fishing licence sales.
For location of other Travel Centres you may go to the Ontario Tourism Travel page.
You may exchange your currency on arrival at the Ontario Travel Centre mentioned above. Often a bank will provide the best rate, or use your bank cards for cash at bank ATMs. There is a Royal Bank branch, with ATM, on Hwy. 17 in Massey. Credit card charges are also a convenient exchange mechanism. Your card provider will make the conversion at the current rate plus a conversion charge when you are billed.
Speed limit signs in Ontario are in kilometers/hour. To convert, multiply kilometers/hr by 0.6 to get miles/hr.