Sault Ste. Marie with Kids: 10 Family-Friendly Things To Do in Northern Ontario’s Adventure Capital

In the heart of the Great Lakes, framed by ancient Canadian Shield mountains, rugged coastlines and premier beaches, Sault Ste. Marie provides an idyllic backdrop for outdoor adventure and family fun. Whether it's discovering rich Canadian history or frolicking in nature’s playground, this Northern Ontario city has all the ingredients to deliver a great family outing. Here are just a few of the options to choose from. 

Must-Visit Seasonal Festivals and Family-Friendly Events in Sault Ste. Marie

If your visit lines up with winter, February brings Bon Soo, Sault Ste. Marie’s long-running winter carnival, which features family-friendly activities, outdoor events and seasonal fun across the city. Summer visitors won’t want to miss Rotary Fest, typically held in mid-July, when the waterfront comes alive with live music, food vendors, midway rides and fireworks. These annual festivals add even more reasons to plan your trip around the season and experience the city at its liveliest.

Ride Through the Wilderness on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train

Anyone visiting Sault Ste. Marie should choo-choose to embark on an unforgettable train ride. The Agawa Canyon Tour Train departs from the train depot in downtown Sault Ste. Marie and takes passengers on a 114-mile excursion winding its way through unique Northern Ontario landscapes. GPS-triggered commentary enriches the experience with storytelling of the Ojibway, fur traders, explorers, and entrepreneurs who once traversed this vast wilderness.

You can feel when the train starts its descent into the canyon at mile 102. As the rail line hugs the top of the canyon wall, riders descend 152 metres over the next 16 kilometres to the floor of the Agawa Canyon. Created more than 1.2 billion years ago, this impactful landscape was designed by faulting, widened and reshaped by the last ice age that retreated 10,000 years ago.

When the train pulls in at mile 114, passengers disembark for an hour and a half exploration time at Agawa Canyon Park. Only accessible by train, visitors can enjoy the park and the many trails leading to lookouts and cascading waterfalls, and climb 300 stairs for a panoramic view above the tracks on the Lookout Trail.

From Land to Air: Explore Aviation History at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre  

Aviation history lives at the Bushplane Museum! Rated the #1 attraction according to TripAdvisor, the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre is housed in the original 1924 hangar of the Ontario Provincial Air Service and is a must-visit attraction for aviation enthusiasts, families, and history lovers alike. Get hands-on with twenty-four classic bush planes and explore tons of interactive exhibits from sending Morse Code like a 1940s ranger to climbing a fire tower to spot and report a forest fire. Sit in the cockpit of a real vintage Saunders ST27 passenger plane and take part in the thrilling flight simulator located at the entrance of the Children’s Centre, or enjoy an action-packed Forest Fire Fighting Adventure in 3D, Wildfires in the Wildfires Theatre. The inspirational Jane Goodall exhibit is not to be missed, along with learning about the history of women in aviation in the Passion and Persistence exhibit. The museum’s featured family-friendly exhibit, Not a Job But a Calling, is a fascinating look at the vital roles of Ontario’s forest rangers and conservation officers. Discover the tools they used, hear first-hand accounts from those who lived the experience, and learn about the Ontario Forest Ranger School.

Discover Live Insects and Interactive Exhibits at Entomica Insectarium

When you’re done learning all about bush planes, step into the world of insects and bug out at Entomica. This insect-based science centre and natural history museum is located inside the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, so you won’t have to travel by bush plane to get there. This interactive centre takes a hands-on approach to learning and educating, giving curious minds the chance to explore a wide collection of live exotic insects from around the world, showcased in stunning vivariums. Friendly Bug Wranglers are crawling everywhere and love to share their knowledge with little curious critters. They’ll be on hand to help with getting up close and personal with creepy crawlers and make your family visit one to remember.

See Top Attractions with the Big Ben Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour in Sault Ste. Marie

One of the best ways to get around and explore the many landmarks and activities in The Soo is with the Big Ben Bus Tour. This ‘hop on hop off’ all-day, double-decker bus tour gives visitors the freedom to see the sights and sounds at their leisure with tickets valid the entire day. Stops include the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre / Entomica, the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, Bellevue Park, Agawa Canyon Train Station, Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site on Canal Drive and the Swing Dam.

Play, Splash, and Explore at Bellevue Park

Bellevue Park is Sault Ste. Marie’s massive 17-hectare park. It offers a variety of family-friendly fun, including an adventure playground, splash pad, floral beds and a display greenhouse, Friendship Trail, picnic shelter and a sensory playground—the first of its kind in the city. The equipment has been chosen for the playground purposefully to enable children to be independent, safe, and active while using a variety of features that target imagination. Enhanced accessible play options eliminate barriers to play, provide sensory stimulation, and promote family bonding. You can read more about the features at Bellevue Park here. 

Watch Ships Navigate the Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site

Built in 1895, the Sault Ste. Marie Canal was the world’s longest lock, the first to operate using electricity and the last link in an all-Canadian navigational chain connecting Lakes Superior and Huron. The Soo Locks are located on the St. Marys River and are part of the Parks Canada Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site.

Today, the Canal is a great spot for various activities. Let a Parks Canada interpreter introduce you to the canal’s fascinating history, rent a fat bike and venture off to Whitefish Island and South St. Mary’s Island (Attikamek Trail). 

For boat enthusiasts, taking in the sight of freighters and distinctive vessels, such as tall ships, sailboats, cruise ships, and military crafts locking into Lake Superior or Huron is a must. The observation platform is the best spot for this, located in the Soo Locks Park, which provides a fantastic vantage point to watch the locking process. The park also boasts a lit fountain, manicured gardens, a beautiful Japanese archway, and trees representing those found throughout the Upper Peninsula. 

A self-guided visit through the Visitor Centre gives a deep understanding of its history, construction and impact for Sault Ste. Marie. The historic 1899 US Weather Bureau Building is located to the left of the park’s main entrance and now houses the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. It offers a public exhibit and access to the Shipwreck Society’s noted Great Lakes Images and Papers Collection.

Hike Sault Ste. Marie's Waterfalls and Family-Friendly Trails in Hiawatha Highlands

It’s no secret that The Soo has a vast natural playground to explore and discover. For some family-friendly options, the Hiawatha Highlands is a 1214-hectare park boasting several trails, cascading waterfalls, and a pioneer farm and fish culture station. During the winter months, the park offers over 49 kilometres of ski trails, 12 kilometres of snowshoeing trails, and fat biking trails. Accessible from the Kinsmen Park parking lot at Hiawatha Highlands, Crystal Falls at Kinsmen Park stands at 80 metres and is one of the top Sault Ste. Marie waterfalls.

Explore Early Canadian History at the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site 

Two of the oldest stone buildings northwest of Toronto reside at the Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site.  Spanning 102-hectares, The Ermatinger Old Stone House has been fully restored to depict the domestic and professional life of Charles Oakes Ermatinger, who played a vital role in the social and economic life of Sault Ste. Marie. This historic site showcases the story of the Ermatinger family and how it weaves into Canada’s history with regard to the early settlers, voyageurs, soldiers, writers, and artists. Discover how Sault Ste. Marie was the gateway between the eastern settlement of Canada and the Western boundaries of exploration prior to the completion of the transcontinental railway.

This year-round cultural attraction consists of an interactive Heritage Discovery Centre where visitors are introduced to Stories Steeped in Stone and the War of 1812, and can take a souvenir home from the Post Gift Shop.

Explore Nature and Wildlife at Fort Creek Conservation Area

There is so much outdoor adventure to be had at Fort Creek Conservation Area. This outdoor classroom is the ideal setting to teach kids about nature. With a reservoir and two ponds in the early stages of growth, children can see how pond life develops and how the surrounding vegetation grows into a mature forest.

The Fort Creek Conservation Area boasts 77 hectares of green space, recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat. It provides a tranquil space in the heart of Sault Ste. Marie and highlights the beautiful Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest and wetlands. In the summer, there are tons of trails and diverse scenery to enjoy, while during the winter months, visitors can go snowshoeing, tobogganing or cross-country skiing.

The John Rowswell Hub Trail is a multi-use non-motorized trail system connecting many significant points of interest, including the waterfront walkway, Bellevue Park, Algoma University College, Sault College and Fort Creek Conservation Area.

Wildlife is abundant along the hiking trails, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for beavers, skunks, hares, mice, moles and even mink or fox. Birds run the gamut from the ruffed grouse, woodpeckers, ducks, great blue herons, and ravens to native songbirds. By the reservoir, you may see cormorants and raccoons and water residents include minnows, catfish (not native), painted and snapping turtles, insects and leopard frogs.

Experience Indigenous-Led Eco Tours and Cultural Adventures in Sault Ste. Marie

Thrive Tours is an Indigenous-owned and operated guided ecotourism company in Northern Ontario. They offer a chance to reconnect with nature through quality experiences and adventure through guided canoe, kayak, hiking, snowshoeing, year-round camping, storytelling, Indigenous food sharing and cultural workshops, and Indigenous arts. Their guided tours are curated to display the natural beauty and historical significance of the area while maintaining local Indigenous practices and philosophies—and are fun for the whole family!

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