Things to Do in Sault Ste. Marie

Canadian bushes and wilderness are world famous. And in order to reach the remote corners or help unscheduled passengers stuck in Canadian wilderness, there are special aviation aircrafts known as Canadian Bushplanes. Thus, here is a heritage centre that exhibits these aircrafts in order to educate and enlighten people about their operation and workings. This centre houses at least 30 aircraft displays, two theatres, flight simulators, and interactive children's activities to engage you and your young ones. From the gift shop, you can purchase aviation gift items for children as well.

The best way to know a city is to walk through it. When you are in Sault Ste Marie, make sure you walk through one of the most beautiful places in the city which is its Boadwalk area located along St. Marys River. This walk run through the Great Lakes Power plant on Canal Drive to Roberta Bondar Park before making a halt at the Civic Centre on Foster Drive. As you walk along, you will find interesting plaques that mention the history of this region. It is a haven for cyclists and rollerbladers who come here for fun as well as exercise. From here, you can have some of the best views of the waterbody and the city that borders it.

It is quite interesting to see how tradition and modernity nestle together at Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site. What makes this canal historic is that it was part of the shipping route from Atlantic Ocean to Lake Superior. And what makes it quite modern is that today it is laced with all technical innovations. Built in 1895, this canal also earns the accolades of being the longest lock in the world and that too the first one to run on electricity. Today, people come here for recreation and to marvel at its manmade beauty staying close with nature.  

One of the most exciting centres in Sault Ste Marie, the OlG Casino was opened in 1999 to earn its share in charity. Its big gaming area, a happening bar and a restaurant are some of the features that will invite you to this dazzling casino. This venue remains lively with 438 slots, 13 table games and included features like poker, blackjack and roulette. While you are in this city and are enjoying its bountiful nature, make sure to visit this casino to have a fair share of fun during your trip. 

One of the most expansive stretches in Sault Ste. Marie, the Bellevue Park offers you a glimpse of nature in this bustling city. Spread over an area of 17 hectares, this park is an ultimate choice when it comes to summer family picnics or spending some time in the lap of nature. It has a playground, exquisite floral beds and a greenhouse to keep you engaged. During summers, the park becomes even livelier as several movies are shown at Shadows of the Mind Film Festival.

A visit to the local markets is probably one of the best way to know any culture like an insider. Visit the Mill Market of St. Marie, a market that bustles with vendors and buyers engaging into sale and purchase of local produce. The vendors here include Northern Ontario’s farmers, ranchers, fishermen, artists and artisans. From culinary spreads to artefacts, you will find everything of interest here. Infact, the market gets livelier with weekly entertainment programmes, held to engage the footfall here. Check out this market for a fun with family affair.

Get ready for a historically engaging experience with Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site where you get to witness two of the oldest stone buildings-the Ermatinger Old Stone House and the Clergue Blockhouse. A visit to this place will be fruitful to enter an interaction with the history of Canada. The Ermatinger Old Stone House offers you a glimpse into the domestic and professional life of Charles Oakes Ermatinger and other residents who resided in it between 1808 and 1870. History buffs would love to embark on this time lapse journey that will introduce them to the cultural elements of the bygone era.

There are a number of venues in Sault Ste. Marie that are high on entertainment quotient. The Essar Centre belongs to this category. It is a sports and entertainment centre that holds regular events and programmes to attract the sports buffs. Recently opened, this centre is laced with all the modern technologies and offers an ultimate experience to people who visit it. Inside, there is an arena called "Memorial Square" which will prove to be of interest to you. While you are in this lively city, keep a tab on the events taking place here and visit for ultimate fun and excitement. 

Fort Creek Conservation Area might have been established with a purpose to address the flood control concerns of the residents here, however, with time, it has become one of the most haunted recreational areas around the city. With a big stretch of green space, this is an ideal space for picnicking and camping. People come here to explore the wildlife habitat and to engage into rejuvenating activities like hiking, snow shoeing, tobogganing or cross country skiing. A visit here will offer you a sojourn away from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

To know the history and heritage of Sault Ste. Marie, a visit to this museum will leave you enlightened and educated. Originally meant to be a Post Office between 1904 to 1906, this museum resides under an architecturally interesting structure built with cut stone walls, Romanesque arched windows, a grand oak stair case and a three-storey skylight. The building also has a distinctive clock tower worth seeing. Inside there are exhibitions to keep you educated about the local history and culture. 

Take a day out and visit the nature in its most wild self at Gros Cap Conservation area. The manifestation of nature that you find here is quite different and unusual from the benign form that you see at other places. The park is a part of a batholith which can be defined as a huge igneous intrusion extending to an unknown depth in the earth's crust. Here you will see the rugged landscape with rock faces and cliffs offering you a glimpse of nature in its raw form. There are trails inside where you can hike and take long walks. The park overlooks Lake Superior, offering you stupendous views. 

Sault Ste. Marie has a thriving entertainment scene that reflects well through its malls and nightlife. While this city in Canada is known for its natural beauty, its cultural and nightlife is equally interesting to look at. The Station Mall is the second largest shopping mall in not just the city but in the whole of Northern Ontario, making it a prime destination for shopping. There is also a movie theatre inside that attracts a lot of cinema buffs. Spend some time here to indulge into a great shopping experience. 

Enter the world of art and aesthetics with Art Gallery of Algoma, a place where you shall come across various facets of this visual representation. This is a non-profit organisation that disseminates art through various activities and local exhibitions. This gallery focuses primarily on local art by offering opportunities to artists. However, even the international art and artists are also given a space here to represent and thus to be recognised. With a collection of over 4000 works of art, this gallery offers an eclectic touch to the city. 

Spend a day full of fun and frolic at the Mockingbird Hill Farm that offers you a sojourn in the lap of nature. Established by Farmer Bob, this place is visited by the locals whenever they feel like moving away from the bustle of the city. There are a lot of activities here that will attract children a lot. There is a menagerie of animals that includes pigs, sheep, goats, cows, chickens, cats and dogs etc. The centre of attraction is the Corn Maze for which there is a separate entry ticket. There are high corn stalks through which you need to walk and come out successful. Visiting this place is the best idea for spending your summer or autumn afternoon. 

Named after Canada’s first female astronaut Roberta Bondar, this park is actually a venue meant for recreation. People visit this place in order to attend events, concerts and festivals away from the bustle of the city and in the lap of nature. There is every facility to make your event a happening one including dressing rooms, kitchen and others. A gigantic white Pavilion is set up to offer shade during the events happening at daytime. It can accommodate at least 1,750 people.