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infiniti04
May 25th, 2012, 10:19 AM
Hello

Has anyone been to Sault Ste Marie in Ontario and can advise on best things to do apart from campaigning. We are planing to go there in the long weekend of Canada day. I am researching myself but thought of getting some ideas from someone who has already been there.

Thanks
Pete_Coach
May 25th, 2012, 06:42 PM
Hello

Has anyone been to Sault Ste Marie in Ontario and can advise on best things to do apart from campaigning. We are planing to go there in the long weekend of Canada day. I am researching myself but thought of getting some ideas from someone who has already been there.

Thanks
Going for the Politics in The Sault? :lol:


(gotta watch the automatic spell checkers)
Arrgh
May 26th, 2012, 12:03 AM
It's not a big city. Was a largely Algoma Steel based industrial town, then Algoma gone. Main attraction is the fall leave colors near Wawa.

It's at the junction of the 3 big lakes. Lots of boating and fishing nearby, and beer drinking. Slightly better housing on the mountain. Not too much else.
l69norm
May 26th, 2012, 02:34 AM
Casino, bush plane museum looks interesting. There's probably a big Canada Day event as well

Isn't HWY17 north of SSM suppose to have the most scenic areas in ON?
hornjo
May 26th, 2012, 08:04 AM
Take the boat tour of the American and Canadian locks.
It is about a 2hr trip.
http://www.soolocks.com/index.phtml
There are casinos on the Can and US sides.
mc_molineux
May 28th, 2012, 05:29 PM
Isn't HWY17 north of SSM suppose to have the most scenic areas in ON?
Yes, it's spectacular.

There is also a scenic train ride that you can do from SSM. http://www.agawacanyontourtrain.com/

I haven't done it but have heard good things.
infiniti04
May 29th, 2012, 10:19 AM
Thank you everyone for your advice. I did not knew about the soo locks tour and when read about it, it looks to be really nice.
infiniti04
May 29th, 2012, 02:45 PM
Does anyone knows cottages information near sault ste marie for the canada day long weekend?
mt99808
May 30th, 2012, 03:45 PM
I grew up there and still visit frequently but haven't lived there in over a decade. It all depends on what you are into. As someone mentioned the Agawa Canyon Train tour seems to be a popular tourist attraction though I've never been on it. There is a great ski resort about 45 minutes north of the city called Searchmont that also offers summer activities such as mountain biking, hiking, canoe/kayak, fishing etc. It is far enough from the city you get the true north experience. Closer to the city for biking/hiking I would recommend Hiawatha park. As far as the locks, there are locks on both sides of the river but I believe the Canadian side are still not operational. You can watch boats go through the American locks in Sault Michigan or take a boat tour that takes you through the locks as well as in and around Lake Superior and the St. Mary's River. There are 3 casinos in the area, 1 on the Canadian side and 2 operating on Native Reserves on the American side. I prefer the American ones as they have more ammenities, promotions, good dinner buffets, free drinks while playing, etc. That being said they do have that "northern michigan" atmosphere like you wouldn't expect in a Canadian or Vegas casino. I'm ok with it because I grew up around it but I could see how somebody not from the area would think they travelled back in time 30 years.

As far as cottages I don't have any info on rentals but I will say if you rent one on Lake Superior the weather could really be hit and miss. Temperatures can get really cool around the big lake and the water can be really rough at times if you have little ones. That being said it could also be 30 plus and calm as can be. I'd recommend one of the many inland lakes but I guess that is more of a personal preference.
Biff88
May 31st, 2012, 10:59 PM
Last time I was up in the Soo was about 20 years ago. The Agawa Canyon train ride is very good. This can be one day of your trip. The ride up 17 north of the Soo is really nice too. See if you can find a motel/hotel along 17 with a shallow beach as the water of Lake Superior can be quite cool if you are not used to it. I remember seeing a nice fireworks display downtown for Canada Day, so that is another thing to look forward to. And of course drive into the US/Michigan just to see what it looks like on the other side :lol:
hornjo
Jun 1st, 2012, 11:05 AM
I was born in the Soo, but haven't been back since 95.
As a kid, I remember going to Point des Chiens(sp?).
It is a little past the airport.
Nice beach and rather shallow, many sandbars.
Northwest of the Soo is Batchawana Bay, it is another nice area.
Biff88
Jun 1st, 2012, 10:04 PM
...
Northwest of the Soo is Batchawana Bay, it is another nice area.

That was the beach that I was thinking about, but couldn't remember the name.
everylittlecent
Jun 2nd, 2012, 08:52 AM
Yes, it's spectacular.

There is also a scenic train ride that you can do from SSM. http://www.agawacanyontourtrain.com/

I haven't done it but have heard good things.

dont bother. we too got caught in the hype and took it a few yrs back in the summer. train ride is 2 hrs to get to the canyon where you get a couple of hrs to explore and have lunch and then another 2 hrs back. maybe in the fall it might be better but nothing to see in the summer IMHO.