While you’re in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this summer, consider a stop in Sault Ste. Marie, a quaint border town famous for its shipping locks.
The city sits along an international border on the St. Marys River in the northeast corner of the state’s Upper Peninsula. Home to the Soo Locks, a famous stop in the Great Lakes shipping industry, Sault Ste. Marie draws in tourists to watch freighters pass through between Lake Superior and Lake Huron.
The area also features downtown shopping and dining, historic museums and architecture, rich outdoor recreation opportunities, with French heritage and a vibrant Indigenous culture.
“Sault Ste. Marie is a place where you can drink in the atmosphere, look up at the stars, and walk in the footsteps of those who came before you,” the Sault Ste. Marie Visitors Bureau says. “It is a diverse waterfront community with a wealth of things to see and do, including year-round recreational activities, historical sites, the world-famous Soo Locks, Tahquamenon Falls, spectacular lighthouses, and pristine natural environments.”
Here’s what to know.
Where is Sault Ste. Marie?
Sault Ste. Marie is an eastern Upper Peninsula city, sitting on an international border with Canada across the St. Marys River. The town of about 13,000 residents is a popular tourist destination, bringing in thousands of visitors each year.
Enjoy recreation on the St. Marys River
Sault Ste. Marie borders the St. Marys River to its north. The waterfront offers a variety of activities, including boat tours, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding and lighthouse cruises.
Further upstream, Whitefish Bay is a popular area for swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and bird-watching. The bay is famous for its shipwrecks and is home to the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.
Watch freighters at the Soo Locks
The city is home to the Soo Locks, a significant Great Lakes shipping hub on the St. Marys River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. The locks consist of two canals and four locks that allow vessels of many types/sizes to traverse the 21-foot drop in elevation on the river.
Upbound ships enter the locks from lower end and massive doors are closed. Water flows in through pipes from the Lake Superior side to fill the locks and raise ships to the lake level. Ships heading toward Lake Huron enter from Lake Superior and, once the doors are closed, water drains out through pipes and drops the ship to the lower lake level.
From viewing decks alongside the locks, you can watch “lakers” and “salties” (ocean-going vessels) as they travel the seaway between ports and navigate the rise/drop of the water levels.
Explore the Soo’s historic downtown
The city’s downtown district features historic buildings, with a variety of restaurants, museums, specialty stores and galleries. Attractions to check out include the GarLyn Zoo, Alberta House Arts Center and the Soo Theatre.
The Water Street Historic Block offers a view of the city’s past with 19th century buildings and structures. The historic architecture spans multiple eras, from early French settlements to 20th century government buildings. Museums and historic homes feature local history, including the River of History Museum and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.
Visitors can dine at local restaurants, bars and cafes. Options include crepes, Greek cuisine, coffee and tea, burgers, Mexican cuisine, beer and fish and chips.
Experience local Indigenous culture
The Sault Ste. Marie area is the ancestral homeland of the Anishinaabeg people and is home to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
A stop by the tribe’s Baaweting Anishinaabe Interpretive Center and Resource Library offers a chance to learn more about local Indigenous heritage and culture.
The tribe will also host its 43rd annual Baaweting Homecoming Powwow July 4-6 at the powwow grounds off Shunk Road on Ice Circle. If it’s your first time stopping by, check out these tips on powwow etiquette before you head out.
Take a day trip over to Canada
Bring your passport or enhanced driver’s license and you can travel across the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada.
The Ontario town features downtown shopping, galleries and museums. Head to the waterfront and surrounding countryside to enjoy parks and beaches, with activities like biking, fishing, hiking, paddling, rock climbing, kayaking and canoeing.
Visitors can explore dining from local restaurants, bars and pubs, cafes, breweries and wineries. Options include Asian, British, Indigenous and Italian cuisines.
How did Sault Ste. Marie get its French name?
The French-origin name comes from Sault de Sainte Marie, meaning the rapids of Saint Mary, according to the Sault Ste. Marie Visitors Bureau. French settler Jacques Marquette, a Jesuit missionary, named the area in 1668, pulling from the region’s rapids and Mary the mother of Jesus, a key figure in the Catholic faith.
What is the area’s Indigenous name?
The area’s Indigenous name is Baawating, meaning the place of the rapids, per Tourism Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario.
The Detroit Free Press contributed.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: This northern Michigan town features Soo Locks. 5 things to do in Sault Ste. Marie
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
