Canada border crossing

[wtwo3]

This might be a really, really dumb and oddly specific question.....

We're travelling to Toronto this weekend. It's an 8+ hour drive not including stops... we've made the drive many times but that was pre-children. Now with an 11 month old and a 5 year old, we're considering splitting up the drive and spending a night in the Detroit area.

When researching Airbnb/hotels, it seems Windsor has much nicer Airbnb options than the Detroit area.

So here's the question. We love the food in Dearborn, MI. Are we allowed to pick up food a restaurant in Dearborn, and transport it across the border and into Windsor? Would prefer to eat at the airbnb as opposed to at the restaurant.

[freakystyly]

As far as I know food for personal consumption is fine. Fruits and veggies may cause issues but as long as you are honest with the border guard I don't see any issues coming up. Likely the worst case is a lost meal.

https://inspection.canada.ca/food-sa.../1389630282362

[2008M36MT]

Just stay in Detroit and enjoy the food. Seriously the best Middle Eastern food. Besides why go to Canada? I went to Montreal once and was seriously unimpressed. Would not go back. I hear Toronto may be better.

[LivingInSalt]

Originally Posted by 2008M36MT

Besides why go to Canada? I went to Montreal once and was seriously unimpressed.

lol this is some kind of statement

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by 2008M36MT

Just stay in Detroit and enjoy the food. Seriously the best Middle Eastern food. Besides why go to Canada? I went to Montreal once and was seriously unimpressed. Would not go back. I hear Toronto may be better.

Well that's the thing.... want food from Dearborn.... but lodging options much nicer in Windsor.

The end destination is Toronto so kind of have to go to Canada to get to Toronto....

[freakystyly]

Hope you have a great trip!

Last time I was in Windsor was when they had the Redbull air races down the river, that was seriously fun to watch with the skyscrapers in the background.

[Gritty]

Originally Posted by LivingInSalt

lol this is some kind of statement

A weak statement!

I lived near Montreal in Ile Bizard for a number of years and have great memories of Montreal.

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

Hope you have a great trip!

Last time I was in Windsor was when they had the Redbull air races down the river, that was seriously fun to watch with the skyscrapers in the background.

Last time I was in Windsor was to go to the ballet.

[Jetmart]

No problem bring food back especially if it looks like left overs from a restaurant.
I bring food from Dearborn into Canada all the time.

[infinitekidM2C]

Fried chicken doesn't travel well. Just sayin

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

Fried chicken doesn't travel well. Just sayin

Middle Eastern food does though

[dradernh]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

This might be a really, really dumb and oddly specific question.....

We're travelling to Toronto this weekend. It's an 8+ hour drive not including stops... we've made the drive many times but that was pre-children. Now with an 11 month old and a 5 year old, we're considering splitting up the drive and spending a night in the Detroit area.

When researching Airbnb/hotels, it seems Windsor has much nicer Airbnb options than the Detroit area.

So here's the question. We love the food in Dearborn, MI. Are we allowed to pick up food a restaurant in Dearborn, and transport it across the border and into Windsor? Would prefer to eat at the airbnb as opposed to at the restaurant.

When living in New Hampshire, we crossed the border at multiple points on many occasions over a 20-year period. There was never a single question of any kind regarding foods of any kind, and I'd guess your experience has been the same during your previous crossings. IIRC, dutiable items and firearms were the principal concerns. I think you should buy the food you want and plan on enjoying it in Windsor. Have a great trip!

[LivingInSalt]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

Fried chicken doesn't travel well. Just sayin

What on earth are you saying?!

You’ve never had cold fried chicken? It’s great.

https://www.southernkitchen.com/stor...od/8063513002/

[LivingInSalt]

Originally Posted by Gritty

A weak statement!

I lived near Montreal in Ile Bizard for a number of years and have great memories of Montreal.

Even if it could be accepted that Montreal might not have been a great experience for them, it would be like saying a tourist visited Houston and thought it kind of sucked, so why would they ever visit the US again?

[M5Rick]

Been to Montreal couple of times, i can imagine it would be a little strange to some Americans as I thought I was in France in some instances lol you either like it or it doesn't agree with you but knowing a little French makes it more enjoyable.

[tdott]

I believe cooked food isn't a problem.

It's more of a raw fruits and veggies/plants kind of thing they look out for.

Originally Posted by 2008M36MT

Just stay in Detroit and enjoy the food. Seriously the best Middle Eastern food. Besides why go to Canada? I went to Montreal once and was seriously unimpressed. Would not go back. I hear Toronto may be better.

Is that the only time you ever left your small town?

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by 2008M36MT

Just stay in Detroit and enjoy the food. Seriously the best Middle Eastern food. Besides why go to Canada? I went to Montreal once and was seriously unimpressed. Would not go back. I hear Toronto may be better.

Eh? You need to try pretty hard not to enjoy Montreal. Doing business there is a nightmare but for a weekend away the city has virtually everything bar swimmable beaches.

Toronto is a visually dour McCity. It has it's charms, as does every city, but I cannot fathom why you'd come here as a tourist, there really is nothing special to see or do here.

[ASAP]

Hopefully the Canada border crossing is not as bad as the immigration process at Toronto Pearson airport lol...or frankly anything to do with that airport including any sort of transit.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Toronto is a visually dour McCity. It has it's charms, as does every city, but I cannot fathom why you'd come here as a tourist, there really is nothing special to see or do here.

Not really as tourists... we're just going to Toronto to see family that we haven't visited in a good 7-8 years.

That being said every time we HAVE gone to Toronto we've done nothing but visit family. So haven't really gotten a chance to see much of the city. May also check out Niagara falls. Last time I was there I was a child fresh off the boat who could barely speak english.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by ASAP

Hopefully the Canada border crossing is not as bad as the immigration process at Toronto Pearson airport lol...or frankly anything to do with that airport including any sort of transit.

I've actually never flown into Toronto. From what I recall, border crossing at Detroit/Windsor is a mixed bag. Usually hasn't been so bad going into Canada, but coming back into the States has always been an issue for me.

We've had much better luck crossing over in Sarnia. People seem to be much nicer up there.

[Alfisti]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Not really as tourists... we're just going to Toronto to see family that we haven't visited in a good 7-8 years.

That being said every time we HAVE gone to Toronto we've done nothing but visit family. So haven't really gotten a chance to see much of the city. May also check out Niagara falls. Last time I was there I was a child fresh off the boat who could barely speak english.

Sorry that sounded like i was targeting you, i meant proper tourists, i figured it was a family thing for you.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Sorry that sounded like i was targeting you, i meant proper tourists, i figured it was a family thing for you.

I will say though - living in the shitty midwest - there aren't a ton of options for good cities to visit. We live in Chicago.... there's not much around. Milwaukee... St. Louis.... Indianapolis.... Detroit.... not exactly compelling tourist destinations either.

So from that angle I can sort of understand if someone wanted to go visit a different city while living in the Midwest - Toronto might feel like a "different" option simply because it's in Canada. Not that it's ever compelled us to go visit as proper tourists

I do want to visit Montreal and Quebec City.... one day....