Canadian's Checklist for Travel to the USA

This is the basic checklist that I had for our family trip driving from Canada down to Florida and back.
We put on 9,500 kms!

1. Passports
2. Travel Insurance
3. Notify Credit Card Company of travel
4. Exchange Cdn for US money
5. Book townhouse/ accommodation ahead of time for your stay at the destination.
6. Bring an atlas/maps (travel centres are very helpful too)
7.Update cell phone plan to a travel plan (no roaming charges)
8. Camera's and extra storage capabilities ( you may take more photos than you think!)
9. Adapters for the vehicle for above devices
10. GPS?
11. Emergency phone numbers in your phone and in an address book, etc.
12.  Tell someone where you will staying, etc.  
13. House sitter or watcher.  
14. Inform someone where your will is (well, this is my thing)
15. Bring Sunscreen and after burn care products.  Also bring some basic medical supplies.
16. Purchase tickets for the attractions you really want to see.
17. Pack your best attitude and HAVE FUN!

Crossing the Canada/ US border

With Passports in hand, we made our way to the border crossing at the International Peace Gardens near Boissevain, MB.  It is on Highway #10 in Canada and Highway #3 in North Dakota.

I had made a copy of everything we packed just in case they would like to see it.  The crossing guard asked us a few questions "Where are you from?"  "Where are you going?"  "What do you do for a living?"  "What is the purpose of your trip?"  "Do you have any weapons, etc etc"  then he took Gregg's mango's.  Yup, anything with a pit.  The apples were okay because they were actually from Washington.  Gregg thinks/hopes the guard got to enjoy the mango's for lunch.

All loaded up with a car topper and a giant cooler on a trailer hitch set up.

Very quick crossing and we were off by 12:30 pm!  Windy, 5C weather, but we were more than thrilled!  A little later than we had planned, but we had dropped our dog off with my folks and had a nice visit with them too.

A little breezy at the Turtle

Our first stop was Dunseith North Dakota.  I remember going to Dunseith with an Aunt and Uncle for the HUGE Dale's burgers.  They'd feed 4 people with one burger.  Specially made buns and all.

Gas price was $3.69/gallon and we filled up for $59 US.

Look at all the flavors of Extra Dessert gum!  Best selection we found!

Mei bought some of these later on, and well, thumbs DOWN

Well ~ cross the border and you can purchase a sword at the truck stop.  Gregg loves this sort of thing.

We have had tremendous amounts of fun with this trick lighter.  It is shockingly great fun!  Come on over and we'll let you light the next bonfire !

Gregg got an adapter for the car/music and we got Uncle Si plastic cups for $1

Why would there be two toilets stuck in a little bathroom?  We got a good laugh over this one!

No French writing on these wrappers

... and the journey has officially started!  We are beyond excited and eagerly anticipating the next stop!