Several years ago, I crossed the border into Canada at Sweetgrass, MT. on my way to Alaska. But I had applied for and received a full passport from the local American Express office at home, along with a list of things I couldn't take with me (like hand guns) and $500 Canadian dollars. Away from the border, Canadians won't know the exchange rate any more than I would know it in Cincinnati, Ohio where I live.
A hint if you decide to go. If the border guard asks you a question, he already knows the answer, so don't lie. He asked me if I'd ever been fingerprinted. I said probably when I joined the Navy years before, but I couldn't remember. My fingerprints were in the passport. DUH.
When entering Alaska, re-entering Canada and the U.S on the way home, I was waved on thru and wondered why until I realized that I had Ohio license plates front and rear.
The biggest thrill was seeing all of Mt. McKinley (Denali). Normally, the peak is shrouded in clouds, but not the day that I went by. I got some great pictures.
BTW, Starbucks is everywhere. In Canada, it was Tim Horton's when I drove thru Canada years ago, but its been gobbled up by Starbucks now.
