Oh, Canada!


visiting canada from vermont, or vacationing at the Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast near Jay Peak is easy

Located just 11 miles / 19 kilometers from the U.S.-Canadian border, a stay at the Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast can truly be an international vacation.

For U.S. residents, bringing along your passport gives you entree to the many shops, restaurants and sites in Quebec just across the border — and with Montreal just 90 minutes away, a day trip to “La Métropole du Québec” is easy.

For Canadian guests, traveling to and from the Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast Inn near Jay Peak is easy, with several small checkpoints available along the border to keep you from waiting in too long a queue.

Here’s some information to help you enjoy a great cross-border vacation regardless of nationality:

For our Canadian guests

Visiting Vermont from Canada, and staying at the Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast Inn near Jay Peak, is easy.A valid Canadian passport, Enhanced Drivers License (EDL), FAST or NEXUS card is required to enter the United States via car. Residents of Canada with other citizenships should check with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in advance of your trip to make sure you have necessary documentation.
U.S. border agents this spring began checking dog food for lamb byproducts. You should make sure any dog food you bring is in the original packaging and the ingredient list shows it does not contain lamb. Should you have to surrender you dog food at the border, let us know so we can make sure your dog gets fed until you can obtain replacements in the U.S.
  • Personal exemptions for goods bought in the U.S. depend on the length of your stay. If you stay less than 24 hours, no personal exemptions apply. If you stay over 24 hours, you can claim a C$200 exemption on goods purchased.
  • After 48 hours, you can claim a C$800 exemption including alcohol purchases. If you wish to purchase wine or beer from the Phineas Swann and have it packaged and added to your bill at checkout, please feel free to let us know.
  • Canadian citizens age 15 and under require proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate or original Canadian citizenship card).
  • Be aware if you have a criminal record, you may be denied entry into the United States.

Directions and Checkpoints:

Visiting Vermont from Canada, and staying at the Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast Inn near Jay Peak, is easy.From Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal & Western QC: Take Autoroute 10 East out of Montreal. Take exit 78 toward Bromont. Take QC-215 S and QC 139S through Sutton to the Abercorn/Richford Crossing. Once through, follow  VT139 which becomes VT105 S. After 6.4 km turn left onto VT-118. The Phineas is 11 km on your right.

From Quebec City & Eastern QC: Take Autoroute 20 Ouest. Take exit 143 toward QC-211 S. Take QC-139 S through Sutton to the Abercorn/Richford Crossing. Once through, follow  VT139 which becomes VT105 S. After 6.4 km turn left onto VT-118. The Phineas is 11 km on your right.

For our U.S. guests

Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast Inn guests visiting canada from vermont is easy.To drive into Canada, you will need a valid U.S. passport, FAST or NEXUS card, or Enhanced Drivers License (EDL) issued by New York, Vermont, Michigan or Washington to enter and return from Canada.
Visitors should not bring firearms, explosives or fireworks, and if you bring alcohol or tobacco you will need to declare it.
Here are some additional tips:
  • Canadian border guards are charged to look for missing children, so don’t be disturbed if they ask you additional questions about yours. If you’re traveling with other people’s children, make sure you have a letter from them giving you permission to take them into Canada.
  • You can bring in two 750ml bottles of wine or one standard bottle of liquor or approximately 24 cans of beer without paying a tariff.
  • You can bring in up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars for personal use without paying a tariff.
  • When you reach the border checkpoint, help out by passing your passports to the driver side of the vehicle. Remove sunglasses and turn off radio and cellphones.
  • You can bring your dog into Canada, but you must have a certificate showing they’ve received a rabies vaccine within the past three years.
  • Be aware if you have a criminal record, you may be denied entry into the Canada.
borderlarge2Directions and places to see:
To Sutton: Sutton offers a large variety of quaint shops and restaurants. To get there, take VT-118 , then turn right on VT-105. When you get to Richford, stay straight onto VT-139, which will take you in 2 miles to the Richford/Abercorn crossing. Follow QC-139 for 7 miles to Sutton.
To Frelighsburg: This town offers several nice restaurants and architecture that will remind you of Europe. Take VT-118 W, making a left and then immediate right as it crosses VT-105. Follow until it merges with VT-108 N. Take this 2 miles to the West Berkshire/Frelighsburg crossing. Frelighsburg is four miles ahead.

Want to visit Canada, but no passport?

border-largeIf you’d like to set food in Canada, but don’t have a passport, we have a neat way for you to visit. The town of Derby Line, Vermont, is actually situated straddling the border between Vermont and Canada. When you visit the town, you can stand in the Opera House or Haskell Free Library and see the black tape on the floor designating the line between the two countries. Or stand in the street straddling the white line. Derby Line is just 50 minutes from the Phineas Swann.