Discover Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie offers a variety of ways to discover the city: historic sites, hands-on activities for children, trails for outdoor recreation, and experiences on the water. This lets you shape your stay around your family’s interests instead of settling on just one type of outing. For a cultural stop at the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, there’s also a convenient option: a city bus stops right outside the museum.

History, Métis culture, and culinary experiences

The Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site combines a remarkable chapter in the history of engineering with its waterfront setting. Built in 1895, the canal’s lock was the first to be operated by electricity. Boats can pass through the canal in the city centre on the St. Marys River, taking in the scenic views and historic surroundings along the way. This makes the site appealing to travellers who enjoy combining a boat ride with a glimpse into the canal’s history.

Another cultural destination is the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, which is open year-round. It offers historic culinary experiences around the hearth in the historic Summer Kitchen. This visit combines cultural history with food, so you don’t have to limit yourself to a conventional museum tour. The Sault Ste Marie Métis Heritage Centre on John Street preserves the history and culture of the local Métis community. Visitors interested in Métis history and traditions will find a dedicated focus here alongside the city’s historic sites.

Out and about with children and enjoying the outdoors

For children, the Sault Ste. Marie Museum’s Discovery Gallery offers an entertaining, interactive learning space focused on hands-on learning. The Children’s Learning Centre at the Bushplane Museum also gives children of all ages hands-on learning experiences, including arcade-style game consoles, interactive exhibits, and real aircraft cockpits set apart for visitors. The two offerings have different areas of focus and give families ideas for discoveries where children do more than just watch.

For outdoor activity, the family-friendly John Rowswell Hub Trail is a popular multi-use trail that follows a 22.5 km loop through Sault Ste. Marie. Hiawatha Highlands has hiking, cycling, and cross-country skiing trails. Visitors can walk along the paths on Whitefish Island. The island is a historic gathering place where Anishinaabe communities have met for generations. To reach Crystal Falls on foot, you can use the parking lots near the Hiawatha Highlands clubhouse on Landslide Road as a starting point.

There are also a variety of ways to spend time on the water: Sault Ste. Marie has hiking, cycling, and paddling trails. An easy paddling route on the St. Marys River is listed as 1 to 10 km long.

When looking for a vacation rental in Sault Ste. Marie, let the focus of your trip guide your decision: Are you mainly interested in cultural history, activities for children, or time on trails and the water? The city offers specific options to suit all of these interests.

Discover more places

If you’d like to add more places to your travel plans: Blind River, Goulais River, Algoma Mills, Michipicoten, Iron Bridge, Richards Landing, Thessalon, White River.

For the broader travel overview: Algoma District.