What it's like to take a road trip from the US to Canada right now

After months of closure, the US-Canada border is now open to travelers without quarantine. Writer Rebecca Soffer discovers whether the trip -- with unvaccinated kids in tow -- is worth the hassle of the tests and paperwork.

(CNN) — "We're driving to Canada." That was the first thing I said last month after reading that the Canadian government would open its border to nonessential travel for fully vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents on August 9, without requiring quarantine. "That sounds complicated," my husband replied. He had a point: We have unvaccinated 4- and 7-year-old sons and an 11-year-old labradoodle. But after 18 months of pandemic-juggling and bracing for another Covid-affected school year, I needed a break.