Niagara Falls - Day 3

September 14 2010 by Bryson Forbes

iStock_000004727069XSmall.jpgThis is the third in a three-part series on my recent trip to Niagara Falls. Click here to read parts one and two.

The plan for Sunday--the final day of our Niagara Falls adventure--was to wake up, have a big breakfast at the hotel, then head across the border to check out the back-to-school deals. (You may recall how much I love the vacation breakfast and fortunately, many Best Western locations offer it for free.)

After filling up on all sorts of breakfast goodies, we drove to the border--and we weren't alone. Though the line-up at the Canada-U.S. border--which is basically a bridge with a perfect view of the Falls--was 30 minutes, and the time it took to cross really flew by. Normally our kids would have been going stir crazy, but fortunately we inched along in the sea of vehicles and just admired the beautiful view.

My wife really likes the discount retailer Target, and while we were shopping there, she asked at least a half-dozen times why they've not come to Canada. I don't know the answer, but I'm quite confident the family budget would be in serious trouble if they ever do.

One particular piece of good news about the cross-border experience is the value of the Canadian dollar, which is within a nickel of par, which essentially means that price you see is the price you pay. Especially for Ontarians who are now paying 13 percent HST (harmonized sales tax), shopping in New York is a financial win. That state's rate is variable based on the purchase category, but is a maximum of 8 percent.

Keep in mind, however, the amount of goods you're allowed to bring back without paying taxes or duties if you're just in the states for a day trip. Here's a great guide to reference before taking your next cross-border trip: Guide for Canadian Consumers.

Our visit also included at stop at The Fashion Outlets of Niagara, an impressive group of brand- name outlet stores. We decided pretty quickly to plan another trip in the fall, and this time, we'll hit a hockey game and enjoy a larger personal allowance since we'll spend a night or two in Niagara Falls, New York. (Canadians are allowed to bring $250CDN in purchases back home when visiting for longer than 48 hours.)

All in all, we were quite disciplined on the trip, buying the kids some back-to-school clothes that totaled less than $100. I also picked up two bottles on my favorite wine.

As expected, the border was even busier on the way home after dinner on a Sunday night. Just about an hour later, we were home after a wonderful weekend away, and already making plans to go back soon.

Do you have any cross-border shopping tips to share?

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