Canadian Travel

Some points accept the cards and some don't. It's not a federal agreement on either side but agreement between states and provinces, so the rules vary across the country.
Easier to just get a passport, the hardest part is the little picture ;-) Should something happen and you needed to fly back home, you won't be able to without a passport. I don't think you can cross anywhere with a birth certificate any more. Certainly not WA/BC. I've never found customs to be a problem either way as long as you are cooperative and follow the rules....and I cross multiple times each year.

Pop,

You should contact ICE. Not all points of entry to the US will accept an enhanced drivers license.

Getting a passport is just more of a regular G$PITA, You should consider it. This will get worse now that five states will issue drivers licenses to non-English speaking illegal aliens.

We are in a border area and DW has family in London, so we are over there pretty regularly. Canadian customs is no problem - just don't try to sneak any firearms in. US Customs is almost always a pain and particularly so in Detroit for some reason.

Matt

We're happy to have you. You can get into Canada with nothing more than a drivers licence and a birth certificate.

The passport is required to get back into the US.

For driving to Canada the passport card works fine. You can't use it for air travel. With the great exchange rate on Canadian Money you will find Canada is on sale this year.