I should also add that I've heard that some of the Canadian guards at land crossings can be jerks, too. I've never had a problem, but I've had other Canadians tell me that they have had worse luck with the Canadian guards than the American guards.

I just like to avoid land crossings in general. I've had much better experiences in airports.

They won't let me post links yet, but go to ezbordercrossing.com and search for the new york/rouses point crossing and it should come up. That's the one we used going up to Montreal sometimes.

I'm not exactly sure how you would get there coming down from Canada though. I grew up near Plattsburgh and had relatives living in Rouses Point, and I was younger then so I didn't pay attention that well. This crossing would take you into Rouses Point instead of I-87.
But you said you were going to VT, right? In which case that crossing would be ideal because it's very close to the Champlain Bridge. A gps might be able to help you?

The map they show on that webpage (on my link anyway) is for the Highgate Springs/St. Armand/Phillipsburgh border crossing though, and I don't really know why. That one might be ideal for you too, since it looks like it's in VT according to the map.

Sorry if I wasn't much help! There are phone numbers you can call and hopefully get directions and the information you need.
You'll definitely need a passport. They've gotten really pissy up there about that since 9/11.
Good luck.

Wow thanks, very helpful actually! I am originally from the west coast and don't really know the area.

Would you say VT (Burlington) or Plattsburgh is a better trip? I just want to shop around, have a nice meal, speak in my native language for the first time in a year, LOL

I never really went to Burlington much, but it's a bigger city than Plattsburgh is and undoubtedly more things to do there. Plattsburgh isn't huge and there isn't a ton of stuff to see or shop at unless you wanted to go to a very small mall. Try googling things to do in Burlington and you should get some hits. I know they have Church Street Marketplace, and I went there once when I was younger but can't remember too much!
Burlington will be a longer drive for you, but I think it would be more worth the trip. Depending on which way you go (more directly or more of a round-about-way) from Canada, you could pass by Plattsburgh if you wanted to stop by it.
There are ferries that go between NY and VT. The northernmost one at Plattsburgh/Cumberland Head, and it takes you to Grand Isle, VT which is only 25 miles north of Burlington. That ferry is only 12 minutes long and lovely on a nice day.
There's another ferry that runs further south in Port Kent, but it's closed during the winters. Search for Lake Champlain Transportation or ferries and you should get some info on it.
So you've got a lot of options. Come down from Canada directly into VT, or come down into NY, and cut over to VT right away in Rouses Point. Or come down into NY and drive down to Plattsburgh and take the ferry over to VT.
If you ever want to go during the warmer seasons and you wanted to see NY a little, you could go down to the Port Kent ferry and over the lake which drops you directly into Burlington.
Lots of choices :)