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If you’re planning a trip to Sault Ste. Marie, with your family, I’ve got the perfect 3-day itinerary for you. This itinerary is packed with the most fun Sault Ste. Marie’s kids’ activities, all of which our own family tested.
My sons and I embarked on this epic road trip, driving from Quebec to Calgary, a long trip across Canada. We decided to make this trip as fun as possible, so we stopped for a few days in various cities and towns, including Sault Ste. Marie.
Here is what our 2-night, 3-day stay in Sault Ste. Marie looked like.
Day 1: Arrive in Sault Ste Marie
We arrived in Sault Ste. Marie mid-afternoon. After an early morning and a long drive, our legs were ready to move, so we immediately drove to Hiawatha Highlands.
Hiawatha Highlands
Hiawatha Highlands is the perfect city getaway. It’s a beautiful place for year-round outdoor activities.
In the summer, you can hike, bike, and enjoy nature on its many trails. The area is great for winter cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and fat biking, with over 50 kilometers of groomed trails.
A popular trail is the Crystal Creek Trail, which takes you to Crystal Falls, a lovely waterfall perfect for a peaceful walk. The Hiawatha Highlands is also great for families, with easy trails and equipment rentals, making it a fun spot for anyone who loves the outdoors.
You can walk on one of the many hiking trails or enjoy the kids’ playground or pump track.
We decided to hike down to the small waterfall and dam. It was a short but steep walk to the water. On the way back up, we stopped at the kids’ playground for a little while before heading back to town.
Bellevue Park
Next, we headed over to Bellevue Park, one of the best Sault Ste. Marie kids’ activities. You’ll find a few kids’ playgrounds, walking paths, and even a splash pad in this urban park. Your kids will be entertained for hours, I promise!
My boys had so much fun trying all the different modules in the playgrounds, running from one module to the next. We stayed for a good hour or 2.
But then, our bellies were craving fun summer treats.
Elliot’s Ice Cream
So we headed to Elliot’s Ice Cream.
To wrap up our first day in Sault Ste. Marie, we treated ourselves to some delicious ice cream at Elliot’s. Because let’s be honest, what’s a vacation without some sweet treats?
We decided to be relatively conventional, with a blue raspberry-dipped vanilla ice cream. But after another customer ordered one of their Signature ice cream cons, I immediately regretted not getting one….
Maybe another time!
Day 2: Agawa Canyon Train Tour
On our second day, we were up early for a day-long train ride adventure through the Agawa Canyon. We arrived at the Agawa Canyon train station at 7:30 a.m. to board the train that would bring us through the rugged landscape of the Algoma district and Agawa Canyon Park.
The train ride offered stunning views, and it was a pretty comfortable ride. After 4 hours on the train, we finally arrived at Agawa Canyon Park, where we had 90 minutes to explore. We made sure to spend most of our time admiring the waterfalls. We walked to the Bridal Veil waterfalls as the Black Beaver waterfalls.
Remember to pack some coloring books or games for the kids, which, trust me, are lifesavers!
🚂 You can read our full review of the Agawa Canyon train ride here.
Day 3: Boat Ride and Museum Visit
We slowly started our day and drove to the Waterfront Boardwalk, where we waited to get on the Miss Marie Lock boat.
Miss Marie Lock Boat
The Miss Marie Sault Lock Tour Boat offers a unique way to experience the historic Sault Ste. Marie Canal in Ontario. This boat tour takes you through the lock system (similar to what you can see in Ottawa), where you can see how ships are raised and lowered between Lake Superior and Lake Huron.
It’s a fun and educational trip for all ages. The tour gives a close-up view of the engineering behind the locks and the surrounding natural beauty. It also provides interesting facts about the canal’s and the region’s history. It’s a must-do activity for anyone visiting Sault Ste. Marie wants to learn more about the area’s waterways and shipping history.
This boat ride was so much fun. We even made it to Michigan, USA. The boys loved watching our boat pass through the locks. It was probably one of the highlights of our visit to Sault Ste. Marie and in Northern Ontario.
🚙 You can find more things to do in Northern Ontario here.
Watching the kids being so amazed and intrigued by how the locks operate is a memory I will cherish for a long time.
After the boat tour, we headed to the marina for a casual picnic lunch. I was tempted by a Beaver Tail sweet, but we passed on it.
Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre
Last, we spent our afternoon visiting the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.
It’s a fantastic museum dedicated to Canada’s aviation and forest fire-fighting history. You can see real bushplanes and learn about their vital role in reaching remote areas of Canada.
The kids will LOVE sitting in a real bush plane!
The museum has hands-on exhibits where you can sit in cockpits, try flight simulators, and learn how water bombers help fight forest fires. A fun, interactive kids’ zone makes it a great family spot.
The museum offers a unique look at Canada’s bush flying history and is a must-see for anyone interested in aviation or the outdoors. It even has a children’s section.
It’s not just for aviation fans; the kids will love the interactive exhibits. Plus, they can even sit in a real bushplane!
But once the kids saw the Entomica Insectarium, located inside the Bushplane Museum, they only had eyes for the reptiles. This insectarium is amazing, but even if it’s small, there is a lot of hands-on. The kids were able to touch a few different insects.
Where to Stay When Visiting Sault Ste. Marie
There are many different lodging options when visiting Sault Ste. Marie. If you’re looking for a hotel, the Delta Hotels by Marriott Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront or the Holiday Inn Express – Sault Ste. Marie. But when traveling with kids, the The Water Tower Inn is an amazing option. There is an indoor and an outdoor pool that the kids will love.
However, during our visit to Sault Ste. Marie, we were with the campervan and stayed at the Sault Ste. Marie KOA Holiday, which was perfect. They have a nice playground for the kids, an outdoor door and a covered outdoor kitchen (for when it rains)
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, our 3-day itinerary filled with all the fun Sault Ste. Marie kids’ activities.
From nature walks to boat tours to ice cream treats, this trip will surely be a hit with the little ones. Sault Ste. Marie is an excellent stop on a cross-Canada road trip.
At least it was for us!
