where to travel next year (help me out)?

Considering in most states it's the law anyway.

I don't see why you need to mention that you are a coaster fan, especially if taking your family along. You could just say that you and your family are visiting the park.

A family from Iowa going all the way to Canada to go to an amusement park = suspicious coaster people. It's not like they're coming from Buffalo, NY. ;)

djDaemon said:

CP Chris said:
...I got grilled for a good 3 minutes on my way back about where Toledo was. Apparently the answers "Ohio" and "about 45 minutes south of here" weren't good enough. Too many stupid silly games to deal with when I can just stay here and enjoy stuff in this country.

Of course you got grilled. Those are very general answers. And are you really suggesting that being questioned for 3 whole minutes is too much of a hassle when traveling between countries? You must not get out much. Here's a tip, then - never fly anywhere outside the US.

I'm not sure how that could be vague. It's not like there's another major city next door to Toledo to compare geographic locations to. Besides, it's only the freaking city listed on my driver's license, which the guy was scrutinizing quite closely.

I just hate the whole "you're guilty till you prove me otherwise" attitude that traveling through customs/airports has taken. I have zero interest in flying anywhere internationally, and nothing in Canada interests me enough to put up with the undue harassment, so I've stopped going. I'm flying this Friday for the first time since the "enhanced procedures" went into place. Depending on how that security theater experience goes, I have no problem with giving up (or at least boycotting) flying too until things change.

CP Chris said:
Besides, it's only the freaking city listed on my driver's license, which the guy was scrutinizing quite closely.

Exactly. When they ask where you're from, they're not making small talk - they're comparing your answer, and your reaction to the question, to what your license says. If your license says you're from Toledo, and you say you're from Canton (or if you stutter/start sweating/vomit uncontrollably), they know something might be up.

I just hate the whole "you're guilty till you prove me otherwise" attitude that traveling through customs/airports has taken.

Newsflash - even before 9/11, crossing the US-Canadian border could take 3 minutes, sometimes longer.

I have zero interest in flying anywhere internationally, and nothing in Canada interests me enough to put up with the undue harassment...

Avoiding international travel due to the screening process is just plain sad, and proves how spoiled Americans have become. It wasn't that long ago that traveling to another continent would take weeks. Now it takes mere hours, and because you have to stand in line for 30 minutes (which I'm betting you've done more than once to ride rolley coasters), it's not worth it? Yikes.

And seriously - "undue harassment"? Dude, you were stopped for 3 freaking minutes! On what planet does that constitute harassment? I've waited longer for french fries at McDonalds.

...I have no problem with giving up (or at least boycotting) flying too until things change.

While I'm certainly no fan of the TSA security theater nonsense, I find it sad that anyone would give up learning something about the World just because it takes longer to get through security. Again, I bet you've waited in longer lines at amusement parks more times than you can count.

CP Chris said:

I just hate the whole "you're guilty till you prove me otherwise" attitude that traveling through customs/airports has taken.

So we should just let everyone in the country, no questions asked, unless we actually see the bomb through the window?

I find it hilarious that we're talking about a hobby where people routinely wait hours for a 2 minute ride, but a three minute wait for international travel is simply unacceptable.

I also am amused that someone asking where you're from is "harassment."

Yeah, on the way back from the Bahamas, My brother & I were 'grilled' for a few minutes coming back into the US. They asked us how we knew each other, where we were from, where we worked, a bunch of stuff.

Didn't ask my parents a single question.

Doesn't mean I won't go back out of the country.

I'm flying this Friday for the first time since the "enhanced procedures" went into place.

I've flown several times since the 'enhanced procedures' went into place. It's all about your attitude going in. If you go in with an attitude, you'll be met with attitude. Go in excited to be going somewhere and you'll be fine.

Tekwardo said:
Yeah, on the way back from the Bahamas, My brother & I were 'grilled' for a few minutes coming back into the US. They asked us how we knew each other, where we were from, where we worked, a bunch of stuff.

That's horrific. I'd get the ACLU on the horn, ASAP.

I know, it took up about 4 minutes of our time!

I fly a half dozen times a year. The whole screening process is not that big of deal. It's hardly any different now than it has been for the last ten years.

My trip to England last Fall was my first international flight experience. Dealing with customs at either end of the trip was very easy, in fact easier than my last trip to Canada, but even that was nothing to swear off ever traveling again.

I read a few days ago that in some airports, they are testing a new piece of software in the naked-body scanners that will somehow disguise the naked parts of the image that gets viewed by TSA employees, because of the bad publicity they have been getting from all of this crap. Sounds good to me.

If anyone at the airport wants to see my weiner, they can have at it. I'm not just talking about TSA, either. Even the girl at the Sbarro and the guy who puts the bags on the plane.

I don't know if that is hilarious or creepy, kpjb. lol

Like I said, all the crap just isn't worth it to me, especially since I have no interest in visiting other countries anyway. If it's worth it to you, more power too you.

Not to get too far from the topic at hand, but reviewing the TSA's allowed/banned carry on items list today just made it even more clear how ridiculous this security theater crap is. You can't bring bottled water on the plane, but a 7 inch screwdriver in your carry on is perfectly acceptable.

I just carried on a huge bottle of water a couple weeks ago. You just can't carry it thru security.

CP Chris said:
especially since I have no interest in visiting other countries anyway.

This has to be just about the saddest thing I have ever read. Especially reading it on this board where people travel for hours just to ride a coaster.

There are some fascinating places in the world. Even if you are not into the cultural differences or how other societies conduct themselves (extremely different than the US) there are so many different landmarks to see. I mean who wouldn't want to see the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Taj Mahal, etc?

Other than financial constraints, it baffles me that some people would rather live inside their comfort zone than go out and experience something totally new and different and most likely have a really good time doing it. :)

Didn't you read the rest of the thread, though? It could take upwards of THREE MINUTES to go through customs. Sure that stuff you talk about is nice, but let's be reasonable.

Just be sure to memorize the GPS coordinates of your home city first, lest the border guard think "45 minutes south of here" is too vague. ;)

Visiting other countries is beyond awesome. I have been to Europe, Canada, Jamaica (twice), St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, and Antigua. I have never had any problems with customs/airport security whatsoever. I do love to travel and will hopefully get to visit more countries in the upcoming years.

I've been to many of those places, too, but I'm getting tired of spending minute upon minute upon possibly a few more seconds getting through customs. All those wonderful places which have some fantastic scenery and culture are just no longer worth the hassle of handing someone my passport and answering a couple of questions.

I remember driving back to the US from Niagara and being asked if I had any alcohol in the trunk. I said, 'None of your $#%! business' and laid down a 10 meter* patch of rubber as I checked my rear view to find a bunch of border patrol all surprised and angrily shaking their fists at me, until they realized it was futile to even try to chase me down and began smiling and shaking their heads as if to say 'aw man, that dude's good,' as I watched them fade into the distance...

...Then I came out of my stupor, politely said, 'No,' and they let me on my way.

The nerve of those people.

*I just came from Canada.