International travel question

[tnweill]

I was asked to go on a fishing trip to Canada next week out of the clear blue yesterday. The problem is, I don't have a passport and obviously wouldn't be able to get one issued in time. I've tried to search to see if I do in fact need a passport to enter Canada and then re-enter the U.S., but haven't found an answer. Would I be able to get by with a birth certificate or picture ID? I've heard conflicting answers on this, so I'm looking for some help here! Thanks.

[nohopspanther]

You can go to the federal building in downtown Chicago and do the passport paperwork in the morning and get your passport that afternoon.

[JonnyLungs]

If you are traveling by land or sea, you don't need a passport. Photo ID and birth certificate are good enough until summer of 2009. Technically you don't need one if you're flying to Canada, but you need one when coming back to the USA.

 

Info here