Ten Ways That the U.S. and Canada are the Same
Greetings from Vancouver, British Columbia! Today, we’re talking about the similarities between the U.S. ad Canada. We’ve seen a lot of videos about the differences between the U.S. and Canada, but we thought it would be fun to talk about the differences, because the U.S. and Canada are pretty close.
US and Canada Similarity #1: The Price You See Isn’t the Price You Pay
Both the U.S. and Canada add sales tax on top of the prices you see when shopping or eating. In Vancouver, there’s the GST, which is about 5%, while Ontario has the HST, which is 13-15%, and in the U.S. it varies from zero in some states, to as much as 15%. Sales tax will vary by province and territory in Canada, and it will vary by state and city in the U.S. The type of goods purchased can also affect the tax rate.
US and Canada Similarity #2: A 15-20% Tip is Expected at Restaurants
Once again, the price you see on the menu isn’t the price you will pay. In addition to tax in some areas, you are also expected to tip in both the U.S. and Canada. 15% to 20% is a standard tip for good service in both countries.
US and Canada Similarity #3: Excellent Service
Because servers rely on tips for their income, both countries have very friendly servers, and the people in general are friendly. It’s very easy to get recommendations from locals, who are eager to share their favorite restaurant, local food, or entertainment options.
Read: 10 Things That SHOCK Tourists about Visiting Canada
US and Canada Similarity #4: Sports are Huge
Both countries love their sports teams. Hockey, football, baseball and basketball are all revered in the U.S. and Canada. Sports bring people together from both countries, and can cause some friendly rivalries, too. Not all sports are equal in both countries, though. Hockey is practically a religion in Canada, after all.
US and Canada Similarity #5: Select Regions Would Prefer to Be Independent
Both countries have certain regions that would be happy to separate themselves a bit, or entirely, from the rest of the nation. In the U.S. there is Texas, which is pretty unique and often mentioned in the same sentence as “secede.” In Canada, Quebec is very different from the rest of Canada, with a distinct European culture.
US and Canada Similarity #6: Pride and Patriotism is Strong
Both Canadians and Americans are super proud of their country, and love to show this off in their clothing choices. Canadians and Americans both love to wear clothes with a flag on them. Whether it’s the Maple Leaf or the Stars and Stripes, it’s often pretty easy to pick out the Canadians and Americans traveling abroad, thanks to their patriotic clothes.
US and Canada Similarity #7: Country Music
Both countries love country music. If you take a road trip across Canada, or the United States, especially in the more rural areas, you’ll hear a lot of country music stations on the radio. Country music is pretty unique to the U.S. and Canada, as you won’t hear a lot of it in other countries.
US and Canada Similarity #8: Huge Distances Within the Country
Both the U.S. and Canada are huge countries, and this often throws tourists for a loop when planning their vacations. Travelers who are used to smaller European countries always want to see the “whole” US on a road trip and really underestimate travel times and distances. Both countries are well over 3,000 miles from coast to coast.
Watch: Things Tourists Should NOT Do When They Visit The USA
US and Canada Similarity #9: Natural Beauty Abounds
Both countries have so much natural beauty, and it’s very diverse from region to region. Of course, we share Niagara Falls, one of the best waterfalls in the world. There’s also the Rocky Mountains, which extend from Canada into the U.S. Both countries have spectacular coastlines, interior badlands, Great Lakes, and miles of prairie land. The National Parks of both countries are amazing, and well worth the trip.
US and Canada Similarity #10: Boxed Macaroni & Cheese
Although it goes by a different name in each country, that blue and gold box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (or Kraft Dinner) is well loved by Americans and Canadians alike. So whether you call it KD or Mac & Cheese we all love that blue box delicacy!
For more travel posts and videos about the U.S. and Canada, check these out: