Ontario Visit

[+mjholley]

I am from IL and want to visit Canada next April and do some caching.

Can anyone recommend a hotel?

[+hugman]

What part of Ontario do you plan to visit? Ontario is roughly the size of California.

[+scouterjenn]

Also, how much are you looking to spend and what sort of features? For instance you can get your basic hotel room or you can get a larger hotel room (mini-suite) with fridge and sometimes cooking facilities. When I stayed in Ottawa for a week we rented a 2-room suite for myself, my husband and two kids with a small kitchenette. It wasn't that expensive relative to other costs and saved us money on eating out as we were able to do breakfast and dinner in the hotel. It's hard to do lunch when you're seeing the sites unless you pack a picnic. Is it for one person or for multiple? Costs are different for more than two people unless it's kids under 12 or 13 in alot of hotels.

[+dfx]

What part of Ontario do you plan to visit? Ontario is roughly the size of California.

actually it's more than twice as big.

[+Tequila]

What part of Ontario do you plan to visit? Ontario is roughly the size of California.

 

Actually it is almost 3 times the size of California. 415,000 square miles vs 158,000 for CA.

[+northernpenguin]

What part of Ontario do you plan to visit? Ontario is roughly the size of California.

actually it's more than twice as big.

 

From Wikipedia:

 

Ontario -- 1,076,395 km2 (415,598 sq mi)

California -- 423,970 km2 (163,696 sq mi)

 

Which makes it 2.53 times the size of California.

 

Alaska is the only US state that has a larger area than Ontario (1,481,347 km2)

Ontario is 1.6 times the size of Texas.

 

If you want to drive from Windsor, Ontario to the Ontario/Manitoba border, plan on spending 1 day, 4 hours continuous driving time.

[+Tequila]

 

If you want to drive from Windsor, Ontario to the Ontario/Manitoba border, plan on spending 1 day, 4 hours continuous driving time.

 

Which is a longer than it takes to drive to Florida.

[+mjholley]

Not sure what part but I am going to come up thru Michigan cross the pond in to Canada and start my Geocaching right there at GCQ50V and work my way North. The holtel doesn't have to be 4 star place but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. 80 to 100 dollars a night would be a good price.

[+northernpenguin]

Not sure what part but I am going to come up thru Michigan cross the pond in to Canada and start my Geocaching right there at GCQ50V and work my way North. The holtel doesn't have to be 4 star place but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. 80 to 100 dollars a night would be a good price.

 

So you're entering at Sault Ste. Marie, and heading north. You're going to run out of civilization very quickly on that tangent. Not much in the way of hotels north of there. Vacation properties and Hunt camps are more the norm north of there. If you end up in Timmins, there's hotels there.

[+northernpenguin]

Well, ok you might find one in Wawa. I've always found that to be an expensive place though. Just wait till you see the price of gasoline there!

[Mr.Yuck]

Not sure what part but I am going to come up thru Michigan cross the pond in to Canada and start my Geocaching right there at GCQ50V and work my way North. The holtel doesn't have to be 4 star place but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. 80 to 100 dollars a night would be a good price.

 

No interest in entering from Michigan into Windsor or Sarnia? Lots of caches those two places, then you head east, and you're in the cradle of Canadian Civilization, with thousands of caches to choose from.

 

You'll be needing a passport also, seeing as Illinois doesn't have enhanced drivers licenses. I too am American, but I've appointed myself an honorary Canadian for life.

[+mjholley]

Not sure what part but I am going to come up thru Michigan cross the pond in to Canada and start my Geocaching right there at GCQ50V and work my way North. The holtel doesn't have to be 4 star place but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. 80 to 100 dollars a night would be a good price.

 

Ok Thanksfor the info. I will check on Timmins and see what's out tha way.

As you can tell I have never been to Canada so it's all new to me.

[+Juicepig]

Ok Thanksfor the info. I will check on Timmins and see what's out tha way.

As you can tell I have never been to Canada so it's all new to me.

 

Might want to look into it a bit. Canada is a fairly large place, and hotels are few and far between in North Ontario-i-o-i-o

[mrsdawson]

I live in Sault ste marie. The water tower inn is a beautiful place to stay....we also have the best western, Days inn,Howard Johnson , Super 8 etc......be sure to do some local caching, there are plenty in the area!

[+narcissa]

Not sure what part but I am going to come up thru Michigan cross the pond in to Canada and start my Geocaching right there at GCQ50V and work my way North. The holtel doesn't have to be 4 star place but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. 80 to 100 dollars a night would be a good price.

 

No interest in entering from Michigan into Windsor or Sarnia? Lots of caches those two places, then you head east, and you're in the cradle of Canadian Civilization, with thousands of caches to choose from.

 

You'll be needing a passport also, seeing as Illinois doesn't have enhanced drivers licenses. I too am American, but I've appointed myself an honorary Canadian for life.

 

Except that Sarnia and Windsor are gross.

[+t4e]

far better than Detroit

[+narcissa]

far better than Detroit

 

True, but that's setting the bar pretty low.

And Detroit has some pretty awesome urbexing opportunities.

[+northernpenguin]

Except that Sarnia and Windsor are gross.

 

Both highways lead right into London. I like London - check out Victoria Park on any summer weekend and it's a blast. I particularly like Home County Folk Festival around the 18th of July every year. The Delta Armouries hotel is quite nifty and there's a bazillion caches there (in London). Check out the parklands around the Thames with a bike or roller blades. Check out the Westminster Ponds.

 

Windsor is near Point Pelee, a great National Park to visit and there's a bunch of great caches nearby. If you're around there in late Sept be sure to check out the Monarch butterfly migration - millions of butterflies - more of them than leaves on the trees!

 

Seriously, don't knock Southwestern Ontario. There's lots of great spots to visit, as a cacher or otherwise.

Edited September 6, 2010 by northernpenguin

[+narcissa]

 

Both highways lead right into London. I like London - check out Victoria Park on any summer weekend and it's a blast. I particularly like Home County Folk Festival around the 18th of July every year. The Delta Armouries hotel is quite nifty and there's a bazillion caches there (in London). Check out the parklands around the Thames with a bike or roller blades. Check out the Westminster Ponds.

 

Windsor is near Point Pelee, a great National Park to visit and there's a bunch of great caches nearby. If you're around there in late Sept be sure to check out the Monarch butterfly migration - millions of butterflies - more of them than leaves on the trees!

 

Seriously, don't knock Southwestern Ontario. There's lots of great spots to visit, as a cacher or otherwise.

 

Sure it's lovely, as long as you don't mind the air pollution and the crime rate. And forget about getting a job there. But yeah, other than that, it's great.

[+dfx]

[+northernpenguin]

 

Seriously, don't knock Southwestern Ontario. There's lots of great spots to visit, as a cacher or otherwise.

 

Sure it's lovely, as long as you don't mind the air pollution and the crime rate. And forget about getting a job there. But yeah, other than that, it's great.

 

By population, Ottawa ranks as a far more dangerous place than London does. Source: Macleans Magazine, 2007 data. I can't remember the last time I got mugged in Windsor, Chatham, London or Woodstock because I haven't been mugged there yet. Even though I visit Chatham at least once a month.

 

For Air Quality, pretty much everything from Sudbury to Ottawa to Windsor have the same air quality. Most of Southern Ontario's air pollution problems originate in Michigan, and from the 401. Now, if you're standing beside the ethanol plant in Chatham, or beside the chemical plants in Sarnia I can understand this point.

 

Employment prospects are typically uninteresting to a tourist, as they don't often intend to stay for very long.

[+narcissa]

 

By population, Ottawa ranks as a far more dangerous place than London does. Source: Macleans Magazine, 2007 data. I can't remember the last time I got mugged in Windsor, Chatham, London or Woodstock because I haven't been mugged there yet. Even though I visit Chatham at least once a month.

 

For Air Quality, pretty much everything from Sudbury to Ottawa to Windsor have the same air quality. Most of Southern Ontario's air pollution problems originate in Michigan, and from the 401. Now, if you're standing beside the ethanol plant in Chatham, or beside the chemical plants in Sarnia I can understand this point.

 

Employment prospects are typically uninteresting to a tourist, as they don't often intend to stay for very long.

 

Wasn't the original comparison here about Windsor and Sarnia vs. Sault Ste. Marie? Ottawa isn't near any of those. And even if Ottawa was relevant to this thread, I certainly wouldn't be one to gloss over its numerous flaws.

 

We were talking about possible entry points into Ontario from Michigan. Given the choice, I'd take the Soo, hands down. Sarnia and Windsor are gross.

[+northernpenguin]

 

Wasn't the original comparison here about Windsor and Sarnia vs. Sault Ste. Marie? Ottawa isn't near any of those. And even if Ottawa was relevant to this thread, I certainly wouldn't be one to gloss over its numerous flaws.

 

We were talking about possible entry points into Ontario from Michigan. Given the choice, I'd take the Soo, hands down. Sarnia and Windsor are gross.

 

Yes, it was. And the points about entering at Windsor/London - then CONTINUING ON to the GTA or Central Ontario. I picked Ottawa out of a hat of towns to compare the "crime rate" to. Fact is Southern Ontario is one of the safest places in the world, and the crime rate in Essex, Huron, Lambton counties is quite low.

 

You can cross at the Soo, see the pretty leaves in September and nothing else. I hope you booked your hotel last year because both of them are full or reserved for the "leaf peepers" by now. But make sure you stop by the Algoma Railway (again, you did buy your tickets last year, right?)

 

You call Windsor and Sarnia gross, I strongly disagree. Yes there are parts of each town I would not hang out, counting a billfold. Windsor, for example, is absolutely fabulous along the river. There is a sculpture park within walking distance of the casino and a great walking path.

 

Now if your only experience is the Ambassador Bridge or the Blue Water Bridge, and the industrial sections of town associated with the actual border crossing I can understand how you would arrive at a skewed vision of these cities.

[+narcissa]

Now if your only experience is the Ambassador Bridge or the Blue Water Bridge, and the industrial sections of town associated with the actual border crossing I can understand how you would arrive at a skewed vision of these cities.

 

My partner is from Windsor. He takes an even dimmer view of it than I do.

[+Bullfrog Eh-Team]

Go North my friend ! There are numerous caches in the 'Soo', and there are many along the most beautiful highway in all of Canada - the North Shore of Lake Superior - to Thunder Bay. We left 'the Big Smoke' of the 'Lunch Bucket Town' many moons ago, and spent 35 years in Wawa. Retired, and then emigrated only south as far as the Algonquin Highlands, of Central Ontario.

We recently did a return trip, geocaching through the true Northern Ontario as far as Dryden and Fort Francis - before returning through five central US states (then Illinois) and back to Ontario (5500 km. in all). Welcome to Canada, at least this small portion. Remember we have nine other 'Provinces' to explore too !

[+soundguy72]

Sarnia and Windsor are gross.

Windsor and Sarnia may be "gross" but there are more decent, honest people in those towns than in Ottawa. Sarnia and Windsor are industrial towns... one works to fuel the country, the other provides the wheels. The main industry in Ottawa is to screw the entire country!

[+The red-haired witch]

Windsor and Sarnia may be "gross" but there are more decent, honest people in those towns than in Ottawa. Sarnia and Windsor are industrial towns... one works to fuel the country, the other provides the wheels. The main industry in Ottawa is to screw the entire country!

 

I...

 

No, I think I better let a moderator handle this comment, I won't be able to stay polite. Obviously the country would run much better without all those pesky public servants

 

Can we go back to recommendations for an Ontario visit?

 

I think there are lots of great caches in the Ottawa area. Urban, Park, Wilderness, all types are nearby. You also get the possibility of grabbing a cache or two in the neighboring province of Quebec if you have a goal of finding caches in all states and provinces. If you start in Southern Ontario and drive towards Ottawa, you'll never run out of caches to find along the way, many geocachers travel those roads and there are lots of caches to make a roadtrip enjoyable (and very long if you can't stop yourself from stopping at every cache )

[+mtn-man]

Can we go back to recommendations for an Ontario visit?

Yikes. No kidding. I am going to hopefully slip into Ontario from Detroit in the next 60 days. I would even be interested in hearing some good points. Rather than focusing on how bad it is there (geez), perhaps folks could help the person looking for some recommendations out a bit by pointing them in the right directions to go (there are some right directions to go, right?).

[+Taoiseach]

You call Windsor and Sarnia gross, I strongly disagree. Yes there are parts of each town I would not hang out, counting a billfold. Windsor, for example, is absolutely fabulous along the river. There is a sculpture park within walking distance of the casino and a great walking path.

 

Now if your only experience is the Ambassador Bridge or the Blue Water Bridge, and the industrial sections of town associated with the actual border crossing I can understand how you would arrive at a skewed vision of these cities.

 

I was born and raised in Windsor. I don't have very many nice things to say about it. Lion's Pizza is pretty good, and... um... Festival Epicure...

 

mtn-man, if you want a positive about the area though, try Mexican Town - It's a restaurant in Detroit, and it's absolutely my favourite anywhere!

[+narcissa]

Windsor and Sarnia may be "gross" but there are more decent, honest people in those towns than in Ottawa. Sarnia and Windsor are industrial towns... one works to fuel the country, the other provides the wheels. The main industry in Ottawa is to screw the entire country!

 

1. Nobody was saying anything about the people in Sarnia or Windsor. It's unfortunate that the air in those cities is brown, their rivers catch on fire, but the people there aren't any better or worse than the people in similarly-sized cities elsewhere in Ontario. In fact, my partner grew up in Windsor, and he's quite lovely.

 

2. Nobody was comparing Sarnia or Windsor to Ottawa. The comparison was between entry points from Michigan into Ontario.

 

Ottawa is about an hour away from the closest border crossing - which is into New York State.

 

3. The main industries in Sarnia and Windsor are (or used to be) large automobile manufacturers that were so badly run that they needed government bail outs to stay afloat. Are we to judge the character of Sarnia and Windsor's residents on the actions of a small handful of people? I certainly don't think so. Why would you judge the people of Ottawa on a similar basis? It's completely illogical.

[+narcissa]

Can we go back to recommendations for an Ontario visit?

Yikes. No kidding. I am going to hopefully slip into Ontario from Detroit in the next 60 days. I would even be interested in hearing some good points. Rather than focusing on how bad it is there (geez), perhaps folks could help the person looking for some recommendations out a bit by pointing them in the right directions to go (there are some right directions to go, right?).

 

Yes, the right direction to go is the one he originally planned. Enter at Sault Ste. Marie, drive up to Wawa, take the 101 to Timmins. Gorgeous Northern Ontario landscape, not much traffic, and caches!

 

He might even see a moose. And Timmins has a webcam!

[+Taoiseach]

their rivers catch on fire

 

Now, now, dear... The Rouge is in Detroit

 

[+narcissa]

their rivers catch on fire

 

Now, now, dear... The Rouge is in Detroit

 

 

Oh right, the red glow on the riverfront in Windsor is from the casino.

[+northernpenguin]

Well, I just walked the trail along the river in Windsor from the Casino to the Ambassador bridge yesterday. It was a beautiful walk with great views of the Detroit skyline. The sculpture park is a fabulous place with lots to explore and see.

 

If you do cross at Windsor, set aside a couple hours to wander the downtown. There are so many unique places there that a waymarker will easily run out of memory in the camera.

 

Also explore Jackson Park, as it sure looked neat too!

Today I'm heading to Point Pelee National Park, with my camera.

 

My wife is from Chatham, most of my family is from Wallaceburg.

I'm done arguing with two people who dislike the place. I like it, and enjoy it, and would happily recommend a passing tourist stop there and explore.

[+t4e]

 

Can we go back to recommendations for an Ontario visit?

 

 

sure, come to Kitchener-Waterloo area, beautiful place and the home of Oktoberfest celebrations one of the largest Bavarian festivals in North America

 

http://www.oktoberfest.ca/

Edited September 14, 2010 by t4e

[+Amazon Annie]

I imagine you'd want to go to Niagara Falls some time during your visit....

 

I just noticed on the GC site that they have a 'hotels' page where you can pick a place and they'll list the hotels.

 

They also list things like "Points of Interest" (but I checked Hamilton and there isn't anything interesting in Hamilton since all the POI's are in other cities).

 

http://www.geocaching.com/reviews/hotels-in-hamilton,on,ca

 

Don't know if that will help you.

 

http://www.geocaching.com/reviews/hotels-in-on,ca

 

~Annie

[+Mike & Jess]

Did anyone ask what type of caching the OP was looking for?

Southern Ontario will offer more urban caching (parks, lamp post, etc)

SSM, Wawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay will have their urban caches, but will offer a lot more in the rough bush caches as well.

[+Bullfrog Eh-Team]

Did anyone ask what type of caching the OP was looking for?

Southern Ontario will offer more urban caching (parks, lamp post, etc)

SSM, Wawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay will have their urban caches, but will offer a lot more in the rough bush caches as well.

'Urban' caches in Wawa ? Not recently! - the original seven were archived. But, one of the more prolific Ontario cachers works out of Marathon. Check out his caches (by JLeeCollins) all along the north shore route. His 'Green Caddy' cash at Marathon is quite obvious.

And BOTH caches where Terry Fox had to conclude his famous Marathon of Hope run, near Thunder Bay, are 'must do' ones, overlooking the Sleeping Giant. Especially the cache alongside the 'Tranny-Canady', where his recurring cancer actually concluded his 'Marathon of Hope'.

 

Most comments in this thread seem to confirm your initial choice to enter Ontario, from Illinois (and Michigan) through a 'North' gate rather than either Windsor or Sarnia. A wise choice in my humble opinion. But, you might also consider your other North Ontario entrance options through Minnesota. They're great too !

[+t4e]

 

Southern Ontario will offer more urban caching (parks, lamp post, etc)

 

 

 

where did you get that idea from?

[+northernpenguin]

 

Southern Ontario will offer more urban caching (parks, lamp post, etc)

 

 

 

where did you get that idea from?

 

Yes Southern Ontario has more urban caches. There's more "urban" areas down this way, that's a fact. There are *plenty* of day hike caches to visit that will give no feeling of urban-ness however.

 

The Bruce Trail, Grand Valley Trail, Thames Valley Trail, Ganaraska Trail are examples of locations where caches are not located under lamp skirts or parking lots. Yes, some of these trails pass through urban areas - most of these trail sections do not.

 

You do have the advantage that when you break your leg stepping off these above mentioned trails, your cell phone will probably work for the 911 call. You do not need to plan your caching outing weeks in advance.

 

--

 

The thing is, and what this thread has completely missed is this:

 

The entire Province provides ample opportunity for tourists, and geocachers to have a lot of fun and see a lot of interesting sights - regardless of their preference. We missed an opportunity here to showcase our Province to a visitor and instead are focusing on regional differences (how Canadian of us).

 

I can't wait to see all the people who are going to read this thread next May while looking for a Canadian side trip while they're in the area for Geowoodstock. We should be highlighting what we love about our respective parts of the Province, not trying to shout down the other parts of the Province.

 

Wouldn't be surprised to see a spike in cachers in Cleveland next June, instead of London or Niagara.

[+narcissa]

 

I'm done arguing with two people who dislike the place. I like it, and enjoy it, and would happily recommend a passing tourist stop there and explore.

 

I dislike Windsor and Sarnia because they're gross.

 

I don't dislike South-Western Ontario in its entirety. My original comment was "Sarnia and Windsor are gross." I stand by that comment, but I did not intend for it to be extrapolated beyond its most basic interpretation. Sarnia and Windsor are gross.

 

It was kind of fun to go to the waterfront in Windsor and have Taoiseach point out all the sad, sketchy Detroit buildings that are abandoned and crumbling. But it was still gross.

 

As for "my" part of the province, meh. Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! I know we'll be hitting Cleveland when we go to GeoWoodstock. Erie, PA is quite lovely as well. I wouldn't recommend that someone cross two or three states to come into Canada for a bit of geocaching during GeoWoodstock. From PA you either have to go through NY, or through OH and MI to get to Ontario - unless you take the ferry from Sandusky, and it's a little pricey. There's lots of great geocaching in all of those states.

 

Sorry for not rah-rah-ing Ontario, I'm a little more pragmatic about things. Even geocaching.

Edited September 17, 2010 by narcissa

[Mr.Yuck]

 

I'm done arguing with two people who dislike the place. I like it, and enjoy it, and would happily recommend a passing tourist stop there and explore.

 

I dislike Windsor and Sarnia because they're gross.

 

I don't dislike South-Western Ontario in its entirety. My original comment was "Sarnia and Windsor are gross." I stand by that comment, but I did not intend for it to be extrapolated beyond its most basic interpretation. Sarnia and Windsor are gross.

 

It was kind of fun to go to the waterfront in Windsor and have Taoiseach point out all the sad, sketchy Detroit buildings that are abandoned and crumbling. But it was still gross.

 

As for "my" part of the province, meh. Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! I know we'll be hitting Cleveland when we go to GeoWoodstock. Erie, PA is quite lovely as well. I wouldn't recommend that someone cross two or three states to come into Canada for a bit of geocaching during GeoWoodstock. From PA you either have to go through NY, or through OH and MI to get to Ontario - unless you take the ferry from Sandusky, and it's a little pricey. There's lots of great geocaching in all of those states.

 

Sorry for not rah-rah-ing Ontario, I'm a little more pragmatic about things. Even geocaching.

 

Oh-oh. Was that me? All I said was you could enter at Windsor or Sarnia, and head east to the cradle of Canadian civilization. You know, London. The Brantford Power trails. The Bruce trail. The GTA, etc... I've never even been to Windsor! The closest I've been to gross Windsor is gross Sarnia. I did say they both have a bunch of caches though.

 

I have heard lots of chatter that many GW attendees would like to hit Ontario to add Canada to their stats. I assumed the three Buffalo area bridges, about 100 miles from GW. The Sandusky ferry (which I never knew about) would work I suppose, but it currently looks like about $25 one way.

[+t4e]

 

Southern Ontario will offer more urban caching (parks, lamp post, etc)

 

 

where did you get that idea from?

 

Yes Southern Ontario has more urban caches. There's more "urban" areas down this way, that's a fact. There are *plenty* of day hike caches to visit that will give no feeling of urban-ness however.

 

 

my comment was not intended to deny the fact that there is more urban caching in Southern Ontario

 

i took offense in the examples given

 

with a bit of research and use of google maps urban caching can be very enriching

there are so many caches that highlight historical places, landmarks, architecture etc

 

take this for example, i seriously had no idea about this and i lived in Toronto for a while, but there are lots more

 

Every Cache Moves

 

sure there are a lot of LPC's and uninteresting caches in an urban setting but seems to me a bit narrow minded to only point those out and assume there's nothing else good

 

as for dissing certain cities i don't agree with that, as a tourist every city has its beauty and something to explore, i don't care for the politics, industry and other issues that are more of a concern to residents

Edited September 17, 2010 by t4e

[+Bullfrog Eh-Team]

Not sure what part but I am going to come up thru Michigan cross the pond in to Canada and start my Geocaching right there at GCQ50V and work my way North. The holtel doesn't have to be 4 star place but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. 80 to 100 dollars a night would be a good price.

 

Apparently several posters missed the OP's second post that indicated he would be coming into Ontario through Michigan and would do GCQ50V first ? A quick check shows he indeed intended to visit through the 'Soo' gateway (neither Sarnia nor Windsor!). Sad to read all the 'South' bashing - but very nice to read about the positive caches there too. To answer his original post, I'd recommend the Water Tower Inn ! - and then the Wawa Motor Hotel ! From there, he can go further North, or East through Gold Country.

[Mr.Yuck]

Not sure what part but I am going to come up thru Michigan cross the pond in to Canada and start my Geocaching right there at GCQ50V and work my way North. The holtel doesn't have to be 4 star place but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg. 80 to 100 dollars a night would be a good price.

 

Apparently several posters missed the OP's second post that indicated he would be coming into Ontario through Michigan and would do GCQ50V first ? A quick check shows he indeed intended to visit through the 'Soo' gateway (neither Sarnia nor Windsor!). Sad to read all the 'South' bashing - but very nice to read about the positive caches there too. To answer his original post, I'd recommend the Water Tower Inn ! - and then the Wawa Motor Hotel ! From there, he can go further North, or East through Gold Country.

 

Well yeah. But he indicated where he was coming from, and I just thought I'd recommend a shorter drive and more caches to choose from.

[+narcissa]

 

Oh-oh. Was that me? All I said was you could enter at Windsor or Sarnia, and head east to the cradle of Canadian civilization. You know, London. The Brantford Power trails. The Bruce trail. The GTA, etc... I've never even been to Windsor! The closest I've been to gross Windsor is gross Sarnia. I did say they both have a bunch of caches though.

 

I have heard lots of chatter that many GW attendees would like to hit Ontario to add Canada to their stats. I assumed the three Buffalo area bridges, about 100 miles from GW. The Sandusky ferry (which I never knew about) would work I suppose, but it currently looks like about $25 one way.

 

I would think that US passport requirements would be a much larger deterrent to a Canadian geocaching excursion than my forum ramblings about the grossness of two small cities.

 

As for the Sandusky ferry, Sandusky has Cedar Point! Why would anyone want to leave Sandusky?

[+t4e]

and why would a passport requirement be a deterrent?

 

a passport is required to visit any country in this world.

 

can be a lot worse trying to visit USA from here, especially for someone that is a national of any other country, you need to give fingerprints and pay to have them taken too

[+Taoiseach]

a passport is required to visit any country in this world.

 

Americans can enter Canada by land or sea without a passport. The requirement for Canadian citizens to present a passport upon entry into the United States by land or sea is very new, and there are exceptions. I, for example, do not need to present a passport unless I'm flying into the United States because I have an Enhanced Driver's Licence.

 

The problem is that Americans would need a passport if they wanted to return to the United States!

 

Also, under to the Schengen Agreement, anyone who holds a passport from a member state can enter another Schengen Agreement member country without presenting any papers!

Edited September 18, 2010 by Taoiseach

[+t4e]

the EDL is applicable to US citizens too

 

Overview of Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has worked very closely with the U.S. states and Canadian provinces to develop a secure, highly tamper resistant Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) that includes vicinity radio frequency identification (RFID) capability, a machine readable zone – optical character read (MRZ-OCR) and contains multiple layers of overt, covert and forensic security features.

 

The EDL is an acceptable stand alone Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document for entry into the United States at all land and sea ports of entry. The state EDL is only available to United States citizens legally residing in the state of issuance and the provincial EDL is only available to Canadian citizens legally residing in the province of issuance. When the EDL is presented by a United States or Canadian citizen traveler, no other documentation is required for purposes of proving identity and citizenship.

[+Taoiseach]

the EDL is applicable to US citizens too

 

Overview of Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has worked very closely with the U.S. states and Canadian provinces to develop a secure, highly tamper resistant Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) that includes vicinity radio frequency identification (RFID) capability, a machine readable zone – optical character read (MRZ-OCR) and contains multiple layers of overt, covert and forensic security features.

 

The EDL is an acceptable stand alone Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document for entry into the United States at all land and sea ports of entry. The state EDL is only available to United States citizens legally residing in the state of issuance and the provincial EDL is only available to Canadian citizens legally residing in the province of issuance. When the EDL is presented by a United States or Canadian citizen traveler, no other documentation is required for purposes of proving identity and citizenship.

 

Nevertheless, passports aren't necessarily required to visit any country in the world