Sault Ste. Marie
Around Sault Ste. Marie
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Michigan · 36k people
Sault Ste. Marie
Locals say The Soo · “The Soo”, “Sault”
Where the big lake meets the locks.
LSSU goldLSSU blue
Welcome to The Soo, where the St. Marys River brings ships from across the Great Lakes right to your doorstep. Whether you're here for the locks, the snow, or the pasties, you'll find a community that knows how to enjoy every season. Grab a hot coffee and join the conversation!
Clubs for Sault Ste. Marie
No clubs for Sault Ste. Marie yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Sault Ste. Marie. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Sault Ste. Marie. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Soo Locks World's busiest lock system; watch freighters pass between Lake Superior and Lake Huron.
- Tahquamenon Falls State Park Home to the Upper and Lower Falls with amber-colored water.
- Museum Ship Valley Camp A retired Great Lakes freighter turned maritime museum.
- Tower of History 21-story observation tower with views of the locks and river.
- International Bridge Spans the St. Marys River, connecting Michigan to Ontario.
- Lake Superior State University Lakeside campus with historic buildings and a hockey rink.
- Outdoors Watch freighters pass through the Soo Locks
- Outdoors Ice fish on the St. Marys River
- With kids Take a boat tour through the Soo Locks
- With kids Tour the Museum Ship Valley Camp
- Evenings LSSU Lakers hockey games
- Evenings Live music at downtown pubs
- Locals love Lockside viewing areas
- Locals love Ice fishing spots
Through the year
- International 500 Snowmobile Race February The I-500, a 500-mile snowmobile endurance race on a one-mile oval track.
- Soo Locks Festival June Summer celebration with a parade, live music, and activities by the locks.
- Newberry Blueberry Festival August Blueberry-themed treats, crafts, and a small-town street fair.
- Luce County Fair August County fair in Newberry with livestock, rides, and local exhibits.
- Soo Locks International Bridge Walk September Annual walk across the International Bridge to Canada, open to pedestrians.
The Soo has a harsh continental climate with long, snowy winters and short, mild summers. Best time to be out is June through September for water and trail activities, though winter brings its own fun. Best: Summer (June–August) is ideal for outdoor activities with mild temps and long days.
Talk like a local
- “The Soo”
- Local shorthand for Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
- “Yooper”
- A resident of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
- “pastie”
- A meat pie filled with beef, potato, and onion.
- “cudighi”
- A spicy Italian sausage used in sandwiches.
Getaways
- Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Cross the bridge for Canadian shops, restaurants, and the Agawa Canyon Tour Train.
- Elliot Lake, Ontario Quiet lakeside town with hiking and rockhounding.
- Petoskey, Michigan Victorian charm, Petoskey stones, and Lake Michigan beaches.
- Alpena, Michigan Shipwreck diving and the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Local flavour
Teams
- Lake Superior State Lakers NCAA Division I (hockey), Division II (other)
- Soo Eagles NOJHL
Eat and drink
- pasties Upper Peninsula meat pie
- whitefish Lake Superior fish, often smoked or fried
- cudighi Italian sausage on a bun, UP specialty
Where people go
- Soo Locks world’s busiest lock system
- ship watching freighters passing through
- ice fishing shanties on frozen bays
- lighthouses Lake Superior beacons
- cross-country ski trails winter sports in the UP
Heritage and traditions
The Soo is proud of its role as the gateway between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, with the world's busiest locks, and its resilient, close-knit community that thrives in the harsh northern winters.
Say it like a local: “You betcha” — Yes, of course
Festivals
- LSSU Winter Carnival February Ice sculptures, winter games, and campus fun
- Sault Tribe Annual Powwow July Native American dance, drumming, and crafts
Landmarks with a story
- Fort Brady 19th-century army post, now part of LSSU campus
- Soo Theatre 1920s vaudeville house, now a performing arts center
Food traditions
- Pasty Cornish miners' meat and potato pie, a UP staple
- Whitefish Fresh from Lake Superior, often smoked or fried
- Cudighi An Italian sausage sandwich unique to the Soo, served with mozzarella and sauce
- Smoked fish Local smokehouses cure whitefish and trout
Music and arts
- Soo Theatre Historic venue hosting plays and concerts
- Native American art Traditional crafts and drumming at powwows
A little history
- 1600s Fur trading era
- 1855 Soo Locks opened
- 1962 International Bridge opened
- 1940s WWII shipbuilding
- centuries Ojibwe heritage
Rivalries
- LSSU Lakers vs. Michigan Tech Huskies Longstanding hockey rivalry between UP schools.
- LSSU Lakers vs. Northern Michigan Wildcats Another fierce UP hockey rivalry.
- Soo Eagles vs. Soo Thunderbirds Cross-border junior hockey clash between Michigan and Ontario.
- Game day LSSU Lakers hockey
- Game day International 500 Snowmobile Race
- Outdoors Snowshoeing
- Outdoors Snowmobiling
- With kids Attend a LSSU Lakers hockey game
- With kids Visit the Soo Locks Visitor Center
Yooper dialect with a mix of Finnish, French, and Canadian influences; 'eh' is common, and locals pronounce 'Soo' as 'Soo'.
Only here
- The Soo Locks are the busiest in the world by tonnage.
- The International Bridge connects the US and Canada.
- Cudighi sandwich is unique to the Soo.
- Ships pass between Lake Superior and Lake Huron here.
New here? A few tips
- Dress in layers and invest in a good winter coat.
- Learn to drive in snow and ice.
- Try a pasty and a cudighi sandwich.
- Visit the Soo Locks and take a boat tour.
- Bring your passport to cross the International Bridge to Canada.
Make this page better
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Nearby
Every areaSault Ste. MarieOntarioWhere the big lake meets the true North.Tip of the MittMichiganWhere the lakes meet the pinesAlgomaOntarioWhere the Shield meets the Lake.Elliot LakeOntarioLocal rooms for Elliot Lake.PetoskeyMichiganWhere the Great Lakes meet the pines.Eastern U.P.MichiganWhere the forests meet the Great Lakes.AlpenaMichiganGreat Lakes charm on the Sunrise Side.Traverse CityMichiganWhere the cherries meet the lake
Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.