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Canadian snowbirds primed to flock south as US opens border

R. Glenn Williamson, Canada's Arizona honorary consul and founder and CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council, soaks up the morning sun at the Arizona Biltmore resort Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, in Phoenix. Williamson says he's looking forward to the return of Canadian snowbirds to the state now that vaccinated people from other countries can enter the U.S. by land starting Nov. 8.
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
R. Glenn Williamson, Canada's Arizona honorary consul and founder and CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council, soaks up the morning sun at the Arizona Biltmore resort Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021, in Phoenix. Williamson says he's looking forward to the return of Canadian snowbirds to the state now that vaccinated people from other countries can enter the U.S. by land starting Nov. 8.

The Biden administration’s decision to allow vaccinated people to enter the U.S. by land for nonessential travel starting next week has many Canadians packing up their campers and making reservations at their favorite vacation condos and mobile home parks.

Restrictions imposed by both countries during the coronavirus pandemic, and their own concerns about possible infection, kept millions of Canadians from traveling south to warmer climes like Florida, Arizona and Mexico last winter.

Some RV parks and camping sites are already booked solid as Canadians compete with Americans who embraced RV travel during the pandemic.