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Dwayne1m Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011 Posts: 3538 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 7:05 pm Post subject: Niagara Falls |
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I'm thinking of taking my son to Niagara Falls before winter sets in. Neither of us have a passport. Do any of you guys know what can and can't be done without a passport in that area? I know you can't cross the border without one, but can you do things on the river, like Maid of the Mist without a passport? Which side can you walk under the falls? I'm not real anxious to spend $300 for 2 passports if I don't need them. |
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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67ctbug Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2016 Posts: 3619 Location: CT
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 7:36 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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If your son is under 16 I don't think he needs a passport. _________________ '67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
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KentPS wrote: |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76760 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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You should get a passport regardless of the trip. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
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busdaddy Samba Member
Joined: February 12, 2004 Posts: 51057 Location: Surrey B.C. Canada, but thinking of Ukraine
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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You might want to check with USBPS, last time I checked Canada doesn't require a passport (confirm that yourself, things change), The US may let you back in with some other form of credible ID. But I agree with Glenn, that's a handy document to have on hand for many things aside from travel. _________________ Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.
Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
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Слава Україні! |
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notchback Insensitive Jerk
Joined: December 16, 2003 Posts: 7024 Location: Behind the Zion Curtain
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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Get a passport card. It is valid for use to cross the Canada and Mexico borders. It's $30 versus $110 for the passport. You also have to pay your Execution (Acceptance)Fee (to your county or whoever processes it for you) which is about $35 each. You'll have a total of $130 into it for 2 people.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/apply-renew-passport/card.html _________________
zeen wrote: |
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FU#3
Last edited by notchback on Wed Aug 08, 2018 8:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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*Darren Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2013 Posts: 917 Location: MD
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 8:06 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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Bingo. Beat me to it. Yup, get a card. |
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calvinater Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2014 Posts: 3306 Location: 802
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 3:16 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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In vermont we have what is known as an enhanced drivers liscence suutable for travel to canada and mexico bring your sons birth certificate passports for minors are only good for five years not ten _________________ "Albatross"! |
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ToolBox Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 3439 Location: Detroit, where they don't jack parts off my ride in the parking lot of the 7-11
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 9:20 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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Minors do not need a Passport, a BC is needed and a Notarized letter allowing you to take him out of the country from his mother/father is a good idea. The Passport/enhanced DL/Passport card is for re entering the US.
Both of my kids have had Passports since birth and it makes it much easier visiting/transiting Canada, we live in a border community.
The US side is a dump except for the island State Park. |
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Dan Hiebert Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2016 Posts: 169 Location: Northern Maine
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 10:12 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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Not only did I used to live 6 miles from Niagara Falls and visited frequently, I also happen to work for CBP. First I'll confirm that the U.S. did not see the tourist value to Niagara Falls, the Canadian side is much more appealing, still a typical tourist trap, but lots of fun stuff besides the falls. There are amenities to the U.S. side, but not much. The State park is best bet. The better view of the Falls is from the Canadian side. As for traveling to Canada, if you are both US citizens and can prove it, you can travel to and from Canada with little difficulty, CBP is not going to deny a US citizen entry back into the U.S. Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, it's just easier and quicker if you have a passport, passport card, or if you're in a State that issues them, an enhanced driver's license, don't need all of them, just one. Otherwise, a driver's license or other government issued ID and birth certificate will expedite matters. A minor (under 16) only needs a birth certificate, if not traveling with parents, a letter from the parents. I would recommend parking on the U.S. side, and if you decide to go to Canada, walk over. Always much less traffic in the pedestrian lanes. |
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chickengeorge Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2004 Posts: 5634 Location: Spokompton Warshington
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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Dan Hiebert wrote: |
CBP is not going to deny a US citizen entry back into the U.S. |
I can confirm this. Last time I was up, the wife and I forgot passports. The agent asked us a couple of questions like where we worked and whatnot. The agent we had was a retired teacher, so her and my wife started talking about teaching (she's a teacher as well) and then the agent just said, "have a safe trip". I was like, "That's great that you're letting us in, but I have to get back too, because I kind of live here.". She said, "If I let you in, they will let you back".
So, we went and they did. |
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Bob Loblaw Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2008 Posts: 865 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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Unrelated:
The answer to the question of the most exotic place I've ever gotten laid?
Underneath the Rainbow Bridge at Niagara Falls. On the Canadian side.
1984. Good times.
Hi Shawna! _________________ sent from a phone using poor grammar and spelling |
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Dan Hiebert Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2016 Posts: 169 Location: Northern Maine
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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And the side to walk "under" the falls is the U.S. side, from the State Park on Goat Island. "Cave of the Winds", access by elevator from the visitor center. If memory serves me right, the "old" Maid of the Mist tours were only from the Canadian side, but that company lost the contract. The new one was in the process of building a facility to also launch from the U.S. side, between the Niagara Falls bridge (Rainbow) and the aquarium, it wasn't done when we moved away in early 2015. Should be by now, I'd think. |
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Dwayne1m Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2011 Posts: 3538 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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Thanks for all the info. I'm 56 and I've been out of the country a grand total of 2 times. Once in the Bahamas, and the other was the Falls, but both were about 30 years ago, so spending a big amount on a passport doesn't make much sense to me at this time. I don't see myself going abroad any time soon. My son is 25 and now my daughter(20) might go with too, so the passport fee is increasing. From my time up there 30+ years ago I don't remember much to do on the American side other then the Bridal Falls and the aquarium. I didn't do Maid of the Mist so I don't know which side offers that. I vaguely recall touring the power plant at the base of the falls. I kinda remember going up in the restaurant that goes up in the air and slowly rotates. Maybe that isn't there anymore. That was on the Canadian side. |
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crukab Samba Chef
Joined: December 13, 2002 Posts: 6114 Location: Vermont
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:46 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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calvinater wrote: |
In vermont we have what is known as an enhanced drivers liscence suutable for travel to canada and mexico bring your sons birth certificate passports for minors are only good for five years not ten |
Yep, I've had one for a few years, handy when living near-ish to the Boarder. _________________ Tom
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ToolBox Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 3439 Location: Detroit, where they don't jack parts off my ride in the parking lot of the 7-11
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 8:36 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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See if the Real ID you can get in Penn is good for crossing the border. |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32432 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Bob Loblaw Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2008 Posts: 865 Location: Vancouver Island, Canada
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 2:37 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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djkeev wrote: |
I hear you might need one to buy food soon........
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LOL! _________________ sent from a phone using poor grammar and spelling |
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ach60 Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2001 Posts: 4139 Location: Santa Maria
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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I can remember going to Niagara Falls in the 60’s as a kid, and being completely un-impressed.
The mist really obscures a lot of what you can see, and at night I remember they shine colored lights at it.
My brother gave me a book to read about a Niagara Falls project they were doing to keep the Falls from eroding into a pile of rubble.
That was actually interesting!. You can do plenty of things on the American side, at least you could in the 90’s.
It’s a nice afternoon trip as an adult, but as a 10 year old, it was boring.
P.S.
I don't like Yosemite, traffic makes it a shit hole.
We did the whole Half dome trek, came back it was dark, I was dead tired.
I ate and went to bed, around 10 PM I went to the bathroom.
I followed the ugliest women I'd ever seen going into the bathroom.
She turned out to be a Bear. _________________ Good Luck
Al |
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Zeen Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2004 Posts: 1308 Location: The Sunny Part of Michigan
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls |
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....slowly I turned _________________ The consequences of your decisions should not be confused with fate. |
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