Canadians like to golf and shop, and they often come to the Butler County area to do so.

Jack Cohen, president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said his organization since its inception has targeted Canadians as potential tourists.

“The biggest reason is golf,” he said. “Lots of those folks can golf a lot earlier down here than they can in Canada because of the weather, and it’s only a five-hour drive from Toronto.”

With golfers now gearing up for the season, Canadians will start to think once again about coming south this spring.

Tourism bureau employees for years have been traveling to annual golf shows in locations such as Toronto and Niagara Falls to court more Canadians.

Cohen added that many people from north of the U.S. border come to the county to shop because of lower taxes than in Canada.

“This is also directly south for them, so people driving to Florida or points south come right through Butler County,” Cohen said.

Debra Bennett, sales manager for Conley Resort in Penn Township, said the resort gets a significant number of Canadians looking for better weather in which to golf.

“We see Canadians mainly in the spring and the fall,” Bennett said.

She said the resort does promote itself in the Toronto and Niagara Falls areas.

“I have groups that have been coming from Canada for 25, 26, maybe 30 years. Same weekend, same week,” Bennett said. “They make it a tradition.”

Besides golf, shopping is a major attraction.

Beth Black, executive director of the Grove City Chamber of Commerce, said the Grove City Premium Outlets is a major attraction for Canadian visitors.

“That’s the main reason that they would be coming to Grove City, for the Grove City Premium Outlets,” Black said.

She said the mall’s location on Interstate 79 makes it an ideal stop.

“It’s definitely a good location. It’s easy to get to. Most Canadians come down from Erie,” Black said.

Although the mall is a major reason visitors from the north stop in the region, they sometimes take side trips into Grove City itself on repeat visits.

“If it’s a return visit, it’s almost like they get braver and are willing to explore,” Black said.

She said GPS technology also has led to more people going off and exploring. Walmart and County Market are the main stops for Canadians who venture past the outlets, as well as some specialty shops in downtown Grove City.

Stacey Glenn, director of sales and marketing for the Hampton Inn and Suites and for the Holiday Inn Express on Route 208 in Springfield Township, Mercer County, said Canadian shoppers make up about 80 percent of the hotels’ weekend business from May to December. Most of them come from southern Ontario.

She said market research has shown the favorite leisure activity for Canadians is shopping, and they like to travel to do it.

“We’re in the perfect spot,” Glenn said.

She said shopping at the outlets is popular for Canadians because the Canadian dollar is stronger than the American dollar.

Glenn said most of the Canadians who come to the hotels are individuals or families. Some charter bus groups do come, but she said they mostly stay in Erie and drive down to the outlets.

Additionally, Glenn said that golf groups stay at the hotels as well, often couples or groups of women.