This week, we head into the beautiful Upper Peninsula of Michigan to take a boat tour of the historic Soo Locks in Sault Ste Marie!
We have dreamed of visiting the Upper Peninsula (UP) for years. And while we only had a single night in Sault Ste Marie, this was a great start to our first UP adventure. We can't wait to visit Sault Ste Marie again and spend more time in this beautiful region.
And, by the way, did you know that Sault Ste Marie is the oldest city in Michigan and one of the oldest cities in the United States??
Unfortunately, we were only able to spend one night on our first visit. But we definitely made the most of our time. We will 100% visit again and will share more tips then. But here are a few to get you started...
Even if you only have an overnight here, plan to do something during your stay. This is a small town that is easy to get around in. At minimum, get out and drive the town or take a walk, maybe have a bite to eat at one of the local restaurants.
If you have time, we highly recommend taking a boat tour of the Soo Locks. It's a great way to soak in some history and learn stories from the area while enjoying some time on the water and a trip through the locks.
If you can't get a ticket for a boat tour, but still arrive early enough, head to the Soo Locks Visitor Center to watch the locks in action.
If you have more time, bring your passport so you can also cross the International Bridge and explore Sault Ste Marie, Ontario in Canada!
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How Did Sault Ste Marie Get Its Name?
Sault Ste Marie was named by French Jesuit missionary, Father Jacques Marquette in 1668. The original official name was Sault de Sainte Marie which translates to "the rapids of Saint Mary". The "e" on the end of the word Saint indicates the word refers to a female in the French language.
Sault Ste Marie sits between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Superior sits at about 21' higher in elevation than Huron, causing rapids on the St Mary's River here. In fact, the need to get out of the river and portage canoes by land to avoid the rapids helped to lead to the development of this area on both sides of the river. And, of course, the change in water elevation is the reason the locks were built.
More important than knowing how the city got its name, however, is knowing how to pronounce it correctly... don't say "Salt Saint Marie"... the proper pronunciation is "Soo Saint Marie" (rhymes with too).
Where is Sault Ste Marie, MI?
You'll find Sault Ste Marie in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan on the shore of the St Mary's River (the waterway connecting Lake Huron and Lake Superior). The community is the United States home to the Sault Ste Marie International Bridge which spans the St Mary's River and enters sister city, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada.
Hey y'all! We are Native Texans and (since 2018) Full-Time RVers sharing the adventures, challenges, and joys of RV life as we travel. We love camping and hiking in State and National Parks, discovering history, visiting interesting and quirky places, and exploring small towns. We're on a mission to experience life, not just live it with our dog, Star, and our cat, Astro. You can learn more about us on by visiting our About Us page. Thanks for joining us as we RV America Y'all!
