Moving my kid

Live near and work in Detroit. If you cross the Border during daylight hours here it can be a hassle, and eat up an hour or more of travel time. You'll probably have to take the bridge, not tunnel, if you have a trailer.

But if you do make it through here and want to find a place for chow, let us know. This RN would be glad to show you around.

If it's an option, the Port Huron/Sarnia border is usually pretty quiet

OK so I have lived in Detroit and driven to Montana and back so I know some of the route. Also helped a few friends move between US and Canada.

Regarding Customs/Border cross back over into Canada in Detroit or at the Port Huron, MI/Sarnia, On bridge. Either will be fine. In all cases of moving folks between countries the best plan is to have your daughter put together a packet showing her former residence and future residences being secured or at lease identified and most importantly some proof that she will have work where she is going. I not then you may have to fudge things and say that she is moving with her new fiance. Passports for all travelers is a must. Crossing into the US be clear on your time in country. If they know she intends to live back in Canada but that you are just taking the scenic route then they will be cool.

As far as the search goes. You have no assurance of anything making it easier for you. They may just randomly flag you for a full search and there you go. I had it once when I was travelling from work in Toronto to Detroit. They took the car apart and told me it was just how it is. Random searches in addition to the targeted or suspicious ones. If they know you are on a mission to get to your daughters new home they are most likely to just waive you on.

The western US is just like the nowhere lands of Canada. Stop for gas everytime you see a gas station. Also, in Montana they still sell some octane gas that is below what is normally Regular. So read the pump!!!.

Stop in Minneapolis/St Paul area, lots of good food and nice area. This is the beginning of somewhat regular civilization. From here on you can pick and choose your gasoline stops.

Plan a stop around here before attacking the Chicago mess. 7675 Walton St Rockford, IL 61108. Nice small town where I used to go for work.

Hit Chicago after midnight and before 5 am. There used to be a ton of construction but now there is just a half ton. Once you pass into Indiana things should be clear.

You have to chose if you want to go into Michigan or run the toll road in OH. I always took the MI route as it was more scenic.

In MI you will have to be careful of hitting Kalamazoo at rush hour things get a little bound up around there. Then you can either charge through to Canada or stop in Ann Arbor, Mi to see the new Motor City. Ann Arbor, Mi area is the home to Toyota R&D, Mitsubishi USA automotive HQ, Hyundai North American Tech center and Nissan R&D center. The EPA has or had a facility nearby the Univ of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor which is why the auto companies moved in near by.

NOTE: I96 was under construction last I knew so from Ann Arbor you need to take 94 or go M-14 to north on 275/96 to East 696.

Now entering Detroit will be a piece of cake the economy is so depressed that rush hours are not really rush hours anymore. So you can take your time to go see the Chrysler HQ in Auburn Hills, Ford in Dearborn and GM in downtown. I don't think there is much to see at any of them, just office buildings. Henry Ford Village is great if they have events going on. Check the website before you go.

The Detroit Institute of Arts is a FANTASTIC museum of art. It is often overlooked by Detroiters same as the La Tour Eiffel in Paris. 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202 Great collection of world famous artwork. If the weather is nice and it is daytime go downtown to near the GM HQ where there is a boardwalk along the Detroit river. It is right next to the tunnel to Canada so you can take a photo of Canada which is SOUTH of Detroit. There is also Belle Isle which can be nice and calm in some parts and a bit too rowdy for me in others but it is now a STATE park and Michigan State Troopers don't mess around so it may be nice everywhere now.

So if you cross into Canada from Detroit you should know your homeland from there. I have family in Toronto so I have been there many times and like it. Also been to Ottawa which is small but nice in the warm months. Montreal is very nice especially during the F1 Race.

Hope that helps.

Looks like the north route would be the best/easiest. According to my Rand McNally map there is almost a direct route. Although some of it may be in the wilderness.

If it were me, given the choice to experience the great openness of the Canadian wilderness or drive on crappy interstates through Chicago and Detroit I know what I would choose. It's not like you are going in the dead of winter or anything. Avoid those E36 M3holes, save yourself the hassle of two border crossings and all the tolls you will encounter on this side of the border.

Tough choice, I did the northern route last year and just drove to wisconsin and got back... Yesterday ;)

My main concern would be border crossing hassle and time. There is nothing inherently bad with the northern route. What are you towing with?

Going north and towing with a gas truck would suck, mainly gas, but also power wise. If using a gas vehicle for the trip, also consider fuel is ~$3.20 a gallon right now down there...

Streetwiseguy wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: Sell all on Saskatchewan kijiji. Replace with similar bought on NB kijiji. Fly.

I suggested that, when she was talking about spending $5k to have someone move her. I've talked her down to a 4x8 uhaul, and I think she could take what she REALLY needs in the trunk of her car. "They probably have furnished places available there, honey."

If an IKEA is near.. you don't need to bring much.

I'm so lost with all of this Canada geography talk... You guys are north of us, right?

Autolex wrote: I'm so lost with all of this Canada geography talk... You guys are north of us, right?

Sometimes.

There is a small part of Canada that is south of a part of the US.

No matter what you do, you're still headed for the east coast of Canada.

Crappy weather, strange accents, Ontario, all the crappy stuff.

Head the other direction, this country get much better as you go west. West of the Rockies is awesome.

Yes, we're bigger and we're on top.

Autolex wrote: I'm so lost with all of this Canada geography talk... You guys are north of us, right?

iceracer wrote: There is a small part of Canada that is south of a part of the US.

A lot of the US is north of Canada. The southernmost point of Canada is Middle Island.

The southernmost point of Middle Island is at a latitude of North 41°40'53", which is about the same latitude as the southernmost point in Michigan, and Mentor, Ohio. Twenty-seven U.S. states lie all or partly north of this point, as do European cities such as Rome and Barcelona. Thirteen states are entirely north of this latitude (Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine).[1]

In reply to JohnRW1621:

Cool. I learned something new today. Thanks.

If you stand at GM's World Headquarters(The Ren Cen) and look due South, the only thing you can see is Canada!

Trans_Maro wrote: No matter what you do, you're still headed for the east coast of Canada. Crappy weather, strange accents, Ontario, all the crappy stuff. Head the other direction, this country get much better as you go west. West of the Rockies is awesome.

I've been that way, when I was younger than she is now. Its ok out in the Rockies, but wow, do those stupid mountains ever get in the way of the view. Before I lived there, I didn't really understand what a prairie person is used to being able to see...

I think she's going to move on from the Maritimes, but I would never try to talk her out of it. If she were talking about going to work in Liberia, I'd lock her in the basement. No real harm in learning that there IS, in fact, a place less pleasant than Saskatchewan in January.

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

I94 is fine once you get past Chicago

John RW; You need to check your latitudes. There is no part of Canada that is below 41degrees 30 minutes. Detroit/Windsor comes close.

iceracer wrote: There is a small part of Canada that is south of a part of the US.

I went to college in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I did a semester 'abroad' at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. I went 300 miles south to go to school in Canada. I had to draw a map for some of my new Canadian friends.

iceracer wrote: John RW; You need to check your latitudes. There is no part of Canada that is below 41degrees 30 minutes. Detroit/Windsor comes close.

Except Peele Island and the farther south of there, Middle Island.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Island_%28Lake_Erie%29

JohnRW1621 wrote:

iceracer wrote: John RW; You need to check your latitudes. There is no part of Canada that is below 41degrees 30 minutes. Detroit/Windsor comes close.

Except Peele Island and the farther south of there, Middle Island. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Island_%28Lake_Erie%29

Yes Middle Island where they filmed the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Advan046 wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote:

iceracer wrote: John RW; You need to check your latitudes. There is no part of Canada that is below 41degrees 30 minutes. Detroit/Windsor comes close.

Except Peele Island and the farther south of there, Middle Island. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Island_%28Lake_Erie%29

Yes Middle Island where they filmed the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Wait, whut?

Didn't you know that New Zealand was in Canada? Americans really don't know their geography, do they?

Streetwiseguy wrote: No real harm in learning that there IS, in fact, a place less pleasant than Saskatchewan in January.

I just can't let this go.

Do you really think that's the case in New Brunswick?

Duke wrote:

Advan046 wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote:

iceracer wrote: John RW; You need to check your latitudes. There is no part of Canada that is below 41degrees 30 minutes. Detroit/Windsor comes close.

Except Peele Island and the farther south of there, Middle Island. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Island_%28Lake_Erie%29

Yes Middle Island where they filmed the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Wait, whut?

Duh NERD

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth