How do you Americans like Canada? :P

[Canuck*soon]

Maidstone. Middle of nowhere. Hubby was the tech director at general Amherst up until three years ago when he retired.

Talk about the middle of nowhere, ..... South Woodslee here. You both are near my neck of the woods.

Love living in Canada, yet being 20 minutes from the border. It's the best of both worlds We are able to easily head over to the States to do a day of shopping, groceries, and get gasoline ... And you save ALOT. Many find themselves doing this as the prices are so much higher for everything here in Canada, and your budget only stretches so far.
(We like to shop at Kroger grocery store - great prices and selection- and your purchase earns money off at their gasoline station. We like shopping at the outlet mall in Birch Run Michigan, Kohls department store, Costco etc.)
We always show all of our receipts at the border and have never had a problem, you just have to stay within the guidelines.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Talk about the middle of nowhere, ..... South Woodslee here. You both are near my neck of the woods.

Love living in Canada, yet being 20 minutes from the border. It's the best of both worlds We are able to easily head over to the States to do a day of shopping, groceries, and get gasoline ... And you save ALOT. Many find themselves doing this as the prices are so much higher for everything here in Canada, and your budget only stretches so far.
(We like to shop at Kroger grocery store - great prices and selection- and your purchase earns money off at their gasoline station. We like shopping at the outlet mall in Birch Run Michigan, Kohls department store, Costco etc.)
We always show all of our receipts at the border and have never had a problem, you just have to stay within the guidelines.

can you buy meat/fishdairy products at the grocery store and bring it back, or can it only be non-perishable items. i thought you can't bring meat across the border...

 

[Canuck*soon]

can you buy meat/fishdairy products at the grocery store and bring it back, or can it only be non-perishable items. i thought you can't bring meat across the border...

Here is a bit about the current guidelines for bringing groceries into Canada from the USA -

Dairy products (e.g.: cheese, milk, yogurt, butter)
up to 20 kilograms per person with a value of $20 or less

Fish and seafood
up to 20 kilograms per person
all species except
pufferfish
Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)


Fruits and vegetables, including herbs: dried
up to 15 packages per person
but not more than 250 kilograms
Fruits and vegetables, including herbs: frozen or canned

fruits
up to 15 frozen packages or 15 cans per person
but not more than 250 kilograms
vegetables
up to 20 kilograms of frozen or chilled vegetables per person
Fruits and vegetables: fresh

one bag up to 4 kilograms of US number 1 potatoes per person and the bag must be commercially packaged
15 packages or less up to 250 kilograms of fresh fruits and vegetables per person (excluding potatoes)
must be free from soil, pests, leaves, branches and/or plant debris
some restrictions on some fresh fruit and vegetables from California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington
in British Columbia (BC): restrictions on fresh apples, stone fruit and potatoes
Use Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) to confirm if the product is allowed before bringing it into Canada.



Infant formula
commercially packaged
milk based or non milk based, (dry/liquid) formula
for personal use only
sealed
up to a maximum of 20 kilograms per person

Meat and poultry products (for example, jerky, sausages, deli meats and patties, fois gras)
up to 20 kilograms per person
packages must have identifying marks, indicating what the product is
proof of country of origin may be required

Meat and poultry: fresh, frozen and chilled
up to 20 kilograms per person

one turkey per person
packages must have identifying marks, indicating what the product is
proof of country of origin may be required

We have never had an issue bringing in any goods or groceries as they were within the guidelines.

 

[rhcohen2014]

wow, cool! thanks. for some reason chicken is SO expensive in ottawa. and since it's only an hour from the border, perhaps i'll do some shopping on my trip up and bring a cooler. cat food is ok too, right?

 

[Canuck*soon]

wow, cool! thanks. for some reason chicken is SO expensive in ottawa. and since it's only an hour from the border, perhaps i'll do some shopping on my trip up and bring a cooler. cat food is ok too, right?

As far as I know, packaged pet food is fine too. Here is the border info phone number 1800 461 9999

Depending on how long you are over in the States - there guidelines about how much you can bring back depending on how long you are gone. If you google cross-boarder shopping, there is a lot of info.

 

[fandv]

If we're bringing an item that's legally allowed inside Canada, and we declare (on the declaration card) that we're bringing it, will a customs officer request to open our luggage to verify the said item's existence?

 

[chala]

It should be noted that Canada is very large geographically and lifestyles vary a lot from province to province. For example, living in the Atlantic provinces is very different than living in a big city like Toronto or the prairie provinces. Many immigrants and citizens who rarely go outside their area of residence unfortunately have no idea how many Canadians live. It would be like someone who has lived in New York City all their life trying to explain what life is like in Texas. I couldn't help but smile when I read some of the experiences of those who are living in the bigger cities because those experiences are so different from us who are living in Atlantic Canada. Having a diverse culture is great and most enjoyable. I think it is a positive thing that the Canadian government encourages immigrants to maintain their culture when they move here and share it with others.

 

[jay7777]

In Edmonton
I can't find american cheese anywhere
There are no guard rails on the highways and it is common to see cars flipped over that drove off the highway in the winter
Everyone is sorry in Canada
Malls and grocery stores close much earlier in Edmonton than in the US
A lot more red light ticketing cameras
Watch out for the $250 jay walking tickets in Edmonton. Don't know anywhere in the us that jay walking is so strictly enforced

 

[rhcohen2014]

Watch out for the $250 jay walking tickets in Edmonton. Don't know anywhere in the us that jay walking is so strictly enforced

it's enforced in LA!

 

[kateee]

In Edmonton
I can't find american cheese anywhere
There are no guard rails on the highways and it is common to see cars flipped over that drove off the highway in the winter
Everyone is sorry in Canada
Malls and grocery stores close much earlier in Edmonton than in the US
A lot more red light ticketing cameras
Watch out for the $250 jay walking tickets in Edmonton. Don't know anywhere in the us that jay walking is so strictly enforced

I miss American cheese so much! I always bring some back with me after I go back to the states.... I didn't even love it that much when I lived in the states but now that I can't find it, I really miss it. I find that Canada doesn't really do cold cuts/deli meat well in general. I miss big NY deli sandwiches!!!

 

[jay7777]

Thought of another today driving around

Expected mothers parking spaces vs. handicapped parking spaces

 

[uskyoot]

I miss American cheese so much! I always bring some back with me after I go back to the states.... I didn't even love it that much when I lived in the states but now that I can't find it, I really miss it. I find that Canada doesn't really do cold cuts/deli meat well in general. I miss big NY deli sandwiches!!!

Here in Tennessee I can't find any good cold cuts or smoked ham hocks We bring them back from a German Deli in Oakville ON

 

[kateee]

Here in Tennessee I can't find any good cold cuts or smoked ham hocks We bring them back from a German Deli in Oakville ON

That sucks! I lived in NY my whole life... Delis are a way of life there

 

[uskyoot]

Now this would be a regional issue but what about HOCKEY!!!!!!!!!!! It's currently Montreal 2 Boston 1 in game 7

 

[screech339]

Now this would be a regional issue but what about HOCKEY!!!!!!!!!!! It's currently Montreal 2 Boston 1 in game 7

And your point is? Montreal has beaten Boston 3 : 1.