Page 106 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019
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LAKE SUPERIOR PROVINCIAL PARK • DESTINATION ONTARIO
Sault Ste. Marie is a small city but
Sault Ste. Marie- a wonderful urban fi nd at the heart
of the Great Lakes. It is a perfect
Algoma starting point for outdoor
adventures in next-door Algoma
Country, which stretches through
the central-north part of Ontario.
BY JOSEPHINE MATYAS
The city, known for its International Bridge America’s largest freshwater lake. In the city, alongside sparkling lakes, unspoiled forests
border crossing and the recreational locks travellers can refuel and stock up on supplies and the rocky granite of the Canadian
connecting Lake Huron to Lake Superior, for the road trip. Some driving routes are Shield. Autumn is one of the best times to
off ers many boating opportunities. It is a marked by interpretive panels tracing the visit, when the woodlands are ablaze with
convenient gateway for visitors arriving by footsteps of the Group of Seven, Canada’s colour (www.agawatrain.com ).
air, roadway and boat from the U.S. famed 20 century landscape painters. The dazzling beauty of Agawa Canyon
th
Downtown is located directly on the Park inspired the Group of Seven artists to
riverbanks, with a waterfront boardwalk FESTIVAL FUN paint their vibrant landscapes; a number of
that is popular with walkers and anglers The people in Sault Ste. Marie know how to sketches are on display at the Art Gallery of
who can cast their line a stone’s throw from celebrate and they open their doors to visitors. Algoma (www.artgalleryofalgoma.com ).
the main street shops. Northern Ontario’s The multi-day WTF Festival in June The interactive Canadian Bushplane
third largest city also specializes in urban changes its focus and theme each year. In Heritage Centre fi lls a large airplane hangar
outdoor spaces, including a wintertime 2019, WTF stands for “With the Family,” with dozens of bushplanes, water bombers,
skating trail and the mostly-paved 22.5-km with a lineup of family-friendly entertain- a 3D fi lm and fl ight simulator (www.
(14-mi.) John Rowswell Hub Trail that skirts ment and activities (www.wtff estival.ca ). bushplane.com ).
the St. Marys River shoreline and is a The annual ROTARYFEST, in July, blends The Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic
popular workout route for cycling, roller- carnival rides, music and a popular ribfest Site consists of two of the oldest stone
blading and walking. (www.rotaryfest.com ). buildings northwest of Toronto. Year-round,
Not far from the city, the rural beauty of A cold weather feast of outdoor costumed interpreters show visitors the
th
Algoma Country serves up some of Ontario’s activities, Bon Soo includes live music, culture and norms of domestic 19 century
best hiking, paddling, fat biking and snow sculptures, disc golf, a polar bear life in the region. The property’s rooms and
wildlife watching. At Searchmont Resort, swim and bum slides in the popular Winter gardens are restored and maintained in
the diverse terrain, long runs and impres- Playground (www.bonsoo.on.ca ). period style (www.ecnhs.com).
sive 213-m (700-ft.) vertical drop make it a Algoma’s natural wonders off er countless
playground for alpine skiing, snowboard- MUST-SEE ADVENTURES opportunities for fl y-in fi shing, hunting,
ing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and AND ATTRACTIONS wildlife watching and nature opportunities,
snowmobiling (www.northernontario. Sault Ste. Marie, fondly called the “Soo,” is a in warm months as well as colder ones.
travel/algoma-country ). bustling place, with something happening
in every season.
DRIVING ROUTES The scenic Agawa Canyon Tour Train
Sault Ste. Marie is a popular starting point is an interactive Canadian Signature
for the scenic drive north along the breath- Experience, operating late June through
taking shoreline of Lake Superior, North early October. The historic rail cars glide
