The Only U.S. City That Americans Need a Passport to Enter

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There are all sorts of quirky rules and laws around the world. Some are just old laws that never got changed, even when times did. Like the law in NYC that says it’s illegal to flirt (or rather, it prohibits men from turning around on a street and ‘looking at a woman in that way’). It’s been on the books since the early 1900s that public flirting could get you a $25 fine. And if you’re caught twice, the second offense would require the offender to wear horse blinders when they are outdoors.

Other laws, although just as quirky, make 100% sense if you think about it. Take Point Roberts, Washington, for example. If you’re an American citizen and drive there, you must have a passport or other appropriate ID.

Why You Need a Passport for Point Roberts

Point Roberts, with a population of roughly 1,238, is located on the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula, south of Vancouver, British Columbia. It was created when the US and the UK settled the Pacific Northwest American-Canadian border dispute in the mid-19th century (that settlement was, of course, the Oregon Treaty). The two countries agreed that the 49th parallel would define the boundary between the U.S. and Canada, and Point Roberts, part of what is now Washington State, is south of the 49th parallel.

However, as a peninsula, Point Roberts is surrounded by water (the Pacific Ocean) on three sides and land (Canada) on one. They don’t have a commercial airport, so your choices are land, boat, or private plane/helicopter.

How to Get to Point Roberts

If you’re in the mainland United States and want to drive to Point Roberts, you must show your passport to enter Canada via Route 5 North, which becomes Route 99 once you cross the border. Then take Route 17 south, exit to surface streets, and show your passport again to enter Point Roberts.

If you plan to go to Point Roberts, you can also use a U.S. passport card, an enhanced driver’s license, tribal identification, NEXUS, or certain military documents.

And should you decide to arrive by boat, private plane, or helicopter, the same I.D. requirements apply, and customs agents will be in place to check them.

Things to Do in Point Roberts

So now that you know how to get to Point Roberts, what’s there to see?

According to the town’s official website, Point Roberts is great for nature lovers, boat enthusiasts and tranquil getaways. It boasts several beaches and hiking trails, as well as weekend markets, making it a nice place to spend some quiet time.

The town’s population grows to roughly 4,500 in the summer months.

How it’s different from Alaska

Of course, Alaska is completely cut off from the continental U.S., due to Canada, just like Point Roberts is. So if you wanted to drive there from the mainland U.S., yes, you would need a passport. But Alaska has over 2 dozen commercial airports (and 100+ general aviation airports), several of which are serviced by airlines that fly and from the mainland…so easy to get there, no passport needed, as long as you’re a U.S. citizen.

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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary