Editor’s Note: This post is written by a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.
An International Portal
As an international border looms closer, some RVers prepare for the crossing without much thought to stop and explore the town at the border. In this latter sense, a quick stop involves topping off fuel, converting currency, and other pre-crossing preparations. But sometimes, the jewel of a border town awaits those who take a little time to stop, explore, and embrace all that is local to an area.
Sault Ste. Marie is a gateway city in the United States and Canada that embraces the St. Mary’s River as it traverses the Great Lakes of Superior and Huron. Entry into Canada from the U.S. side will take you to Ontario, and entry from Canada will take you into the Upper Peninsula (UP) in Michigan. Native American, Railroad, and Great Lakes shipping history and culture converge here in both cities and embrace travelers who take a moment to saunter, stop, and explore these age-old cities.
On the U.S. side, Sault Ste. Marie exudes a resilient, decades-old charm that harkens to the past but has yet to fall into the disrepair evident in many industrial-era cities and towns across the U.S. today. If anything, the demands of Great Lakes life and industry ensure the past and present meld seamlessly as generations of workers and residents carry on traditions and face the challenges of the Great Lakes lifestyle with verve and zest.
There’s just something about the U.P. that beckons some to stay. If you walk around town and talk to residents, you’ll likely find those whose families have lived and worked in the city and around the U.P. for multiple generations. Some residents are descendants of railroad workers. Other residents stem from Native American tribes or shipping industry families.
Shipping Culture
It’s hard to meander anywhere in the U.P. without running into imagery and other reminders of the former Edmund Fitzgerald. A mere glance at the mural of the Edmund Fitzgerald downtown may invoke lyrics in your mind as sung by legendary Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot, such as “… Superior they said, never gives up her dead when the gales of November come early …”.
The treacherous waters of Lake Superior have claimed more than 350 ships over the years, spanning the shipping trade between the Great Lakes cultures, and the culture of Superior continues to evolve. Every day of the year, residents and visitors will hear the bang, bang, bang of the pile drivers pounding the latest lock into place at Sault Ste. Marie.
Yes, Sault Ste. Marie, on both sides of the border, is a seagoing town. Decades of lock construction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allow ships the size of the Edmund Fitzgerald to traverse the locks, which make trade between the other Great Lakes and Lake Superior possible.
See and Do
Take a Tour of the Locks
Lock tours are the most popular attraction at Sault Ste. Marie. These engineering marvels connect Lake Superior to the lower Great Lakes.
The locks are critical to seagoing commerce on Lake Superior. Before the construction of the locks, natural rapids ran from Superior into Huron, making trade by ship between the other Great Lakes and Superior impossible. You can still see the rapids flow alongside the locks in the St. Mary’s River from Portage Avenue on the U.S. side of Sault Ste. Marie.
Today, 1,000-foot freighters pass effortlessly 7000 times yearly through the Soo locks, which span Superior and Huron. These freighters, working tugboats, pleasure craft, and cruise ships are familiar sights at the locks.
Tour boats can take you through the locks. During your tour, you’ll likely see massive container ships in transit.
It’s easy to find the launch points for lock tours. Just drive along Portage Avenue, which runs parallel to the waterfront, and you can’t miss the signs directing you to sign up.
There are two lock tour companies: The Famous Lock Tours (the Yellow and Blue boats) and The Original Lock Tours (the white and blue boats).
Experience the Tower of History
Standing tall in the heart of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, the Tower of History offers visitors an unparalleled view of this historic city. At 210 feet high, the Tower provides panoramic vistas that will captivate and inspire.
Take an elevator ride to the top of the Tower of History and step out onto the observation deck. From here, you can see for miles in every direction. Gaze upon the vivid red and white ships passing through the Soo Locks, watch the St. Mary’s River flow, and take in the lush green forests in the city and the surrounding area. You’ll see the sister city of Sault Ste. Marie is on the Canadian side right before you.
If you love photography, the Tower of History is a must-visit location. Capture stunning landscape images below, with the vibrant colors of the ships, water, and trees creating a dramatic contrast. Sunrise and sunset offer theatrical lighting for your photos in this location. You can even see the traffic on the International Bridge between Canada and the United States to assess any traffic jams in and out of the U.S. or Canada before attempting a crossing.
The Tower of History is more than just a vantage point. It is also a journey through the rich history of Sault Ste. Marie. The base level of the tower houses exhibits that tell the story of the region’s past. You’ll learn about the Native American cultures that first inhabited the area, the French explorers who arrived in the 1600s, and the development of the modern city.
The Tower shares a parking lot with the Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church. It’s easy to park your LTV there while you tour the Tower. The tower and the church are at 356 E. Portage Avenue.
Initially, the Tower was built with Church funds to bring parishioners closer to God. Eventually, the church transferred ownership of the Tower to the city.
Check Out the Street Art and Shipping Museums
Several museums in town feature the shipping industry and seagoing life on the Great Lakes.
You’ll find interpretive panels along Water Street in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, that describes the history of the area. Along the way, you’ll encounter three historic homes that date back to the early 1800’s.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum is a must-see locale if you are interested in this haunting topic. Bird’s Eye Adventures offers guided tours and kayak rentals for those who wish to experience the local waters at their own pace.
Food
When you stop by for a tour of the city, you’ll encounter specialty businesses that offer foodstuffs as quaint as the area itself. Pasties, homemade Fudge to include a sugar-free version, and fresh greens and vegetables right off the farm accompany the U.P. style American comfort food of the area, which may entice your palette.
Sault Ste. Marie offers many eateries. We will only cite some of them here as we only tried two places. Many told us to try a Pastie during our visit to the U.P.
We stopped at Penny’s Kitchen to order a Pastie. You can view the one we ate below if you don’t know what Pastie looks like.
If you don’t know what a Pastie is (and we didn’t), here is our description: A Pastie is a traditional baked pastry pie filled with savory ingredients. The most common fillings include diced beef, potatoes, onions, and rutabaga. The filling is wrapped in a rich dough and baked until golden brown, creating a satisfying and portable meal. Brown gravy is offered as an accent.
Pasties originate from Cornwall, England, and are now a local favorite in Michigan’s U.P. Pasties were originally designed as a convenient and nourishing meal for miners in the U.P. who needed something easy to carry and eat.
Penny’s offers a wide variety of entrees that are sure to satisfy the most demanding palette. Prices are reasonable, and offerings are extensive. Lehto’s is, by reputation, supposedly the best place to get a Pastie in the U.P.
Where to Camp
Several campgrounds are available for RVers in Sault Ste. Marie or near the city. We cite two prominent sites below.
If you’re a member of the Elks (The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks), you’ll find Lodge #552 downtown off of Portage Avenue, alongside the Saint Mary’s River. This setting offers unobstructed waterfront views of the river and the riverfronts of both sides of the border.
Lodge #552 offers four RV waterfront campsites on a small peninsula with 30 amp and water hookups. Elk members pay $30 per night, and use is restricted to Elk members only. Dry camping in the Lodge parking lot costs members $20 per night.
If you’re not an Elks member, the Soo Locks Campground is just a few city blocks down Portage Avenue from the Elks Lodge. This campground offers full hookups, water views, and full campsite support services.
Nearby Sights
Sault Ste. Marie is chock full of interesting sights. You’ll find old historic buildings, murals of the Native Americans, Shipping and Railroad eras, and panoramic views of the locks and the area. With a short drive along the coast in either direction, you can see the crystal-clear waters of the Great Lakes of Superior and Huron.
The Point Iroquois Lighthouse
Many sights in the U.P. may suit your preferences. A 35-minute drive due west from Sault Ste. Marie will take you to the Point Iroquois Lighthouse in the Hiawatha National Forest. You can tour the lighthouse and ponder the expanse of Lake Superior from high ground. The U.S. Forest Service manages two campsites near the Hiawatha National Forest.
There’s So Much More
If you have the time, there’s much more to see, do, and explore in the UP. A ferry to Mackinac Island tops the bucket list of many travelers. Various Native American cultural activities occur throughout the year.
The Kewadin Casino and Hotel in town entertains and offers, we’re told by the local Convention and Visitors Bureau, parking for RV customers. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is about an hour’s drive west of Sault Ste. Marie. You’ll find RV sites near this locale in the Hiawatha National Forest or in Munising, Michigan.
Last but certainly not least, Sault Ste Marie. On the Canadian side, Sault Ste. Marie appears to be as beautiful and interesting, if not more so, than the U.S. side of the border. We didn’t have the time to visit.
There’s so much to see and do in these border towns. Visit to discover what you may like about these attractive areas in the U.P.
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