Sault Sainte Marie

Cradled on the banks of the St. Marys River, Sault Ste. Marie nestles at Ontario’s northern gateway where Lake Superior and Lake Huron converge. Known to locals simply as "the Soo," this spirited city is a crossroads of cultures and landscapes. Its deep-rooted Anishinaabe heritage blends seamlessly with a legacy of French voyagers and steel town grit, creating a welcoming, fiercely proud community. The city’s waterfront boardwalk hums with activity year-round, while recreational trails wind through boreal forest just steps from downtown. Algoma’s riotous autumn colours draw camera-toting hikers to the renowned Agawa Canyon Tour Train, a daylong rail journey that reveals the wild heart of the Shield.

Steeped in history, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site marks the breathtaking interface between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, while the gleaming Art Gallery of Algoma and Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre showcase both local creativity and the area’s pioneering spirit. The city also boasts beloved annual events, from the spring Maple Syrup Festival to vibrant summer Pow Wows. In September, the Northern Lights Festival illuminates the night with performances that transcend genres, echoing the city’s storied connection to music and the arts. From fresh-caught Great Lakes fish at a riverside bistro to cozy cafes serving local fare, Sault Ste. Marie’s dining scene is as inviting as its landscapes. Whether paddling through rapids, cycling along forested trails, or catching a play at the Sault Community Theatre Centre, visitors find the Soo’s sense of place unmistakably genuine and endlessly intriguing.