169 - Helpful Area Information
For a helpful travel guide with 4-color maps to the entire area (mostly on the Michigan side) including Whitefish Bay up to Brimley, call the SAULT CONVENTION & VISITOR BUREAU (800-647-2858; 906-632-3366, open weekdays 8-5. It's downtown at 536 Ashmun next to the Soo Theatre. Its outstanding
website is geared to visitors and includes an excellent calendar of events, and very good listings of accommodations, shopping, and attractions in Sault Ste. Marie (not in Brimley, however). Send for an area guide, or download it. Comparative Midwestern haze and air quality statistics and photos are fascinating. The Soo's is quite clean. . . . . The SAULT STE. MARIE CHAMBER of COMMERCE (906-632-3301) is a membership organization for business interests in the American Sault Ste. Marie. Its walk-in office, loaded with travel brochures as a courtesy to visitors, is at 2581 I-75 Business Spur, in the hexagonal building where the I-75 Business Spur turns north into town. It distributes info only about its members. The chamber is open weekdays from 9 to 5. . . . The MICHIGAN WELCOME CENTER (906-632-8242) is by the last U.S. I-75 exit on I-75, at 943 Portage Ave. West. From town, take Portage Avenue (the street by the locks) west over I-75. Printed information about all of Michigan is here, but especially on area and Upper Peninsula attractions. Open Mon-Fri 8:30-5. . . . . For EASTERN UPPER PENINSULA sights and recreational highlights, including birding, paddling, bicycling and more, see thegreatwaters.com. . . . At the Canadian end of the International Bridge, the ONTARIO TRAVEL INFORMATION CENTRE (705-945-6941) is an extremely helpful source of all kinds of travel information, from customs and local info, road reports, and currency exchanges to provincial and national parks. Info can be mailed. The center issues fishing and camping permits. Look for the Ontario Travel Info sign to your right coming off the bridge, just past customs. E-mail local tourism people at ontariotravel.ssm@ontario.ca Open 363 days/year. Summer hours from early June thru Labor Day: daily 8-8. From mid-May to early June: 8-6. Winter hours: 8:30-4:30. The centre gives out the Sault Tourism guide/magazine with maps (the only ones to show attractions), ads, and annotated attractions. It can be seen online at saulttourism.com/
DOCUMENTS FOR CROSSING THE BORDER
It's hard to believe the rigamarole now required to get to and from Canada post 9/11, especially for Americans coming back into their country. But if you think of all the environmental, security, and immigration issues, it's striking that it used to be so casual. For instance, in June, 2011, the Port Huron customs' extensive search of a family's suitcase revealed three khapra beetles—the most destructive known pest to stored grains—in a decorative fan purchased in India. Long searches are not necessarily trivial! Only pets with vaccination licenses can cross the border. See below for details. Everyone should expect to carry proof of citizenship in some form. Auto passengers, even children, should expect a question or two.
Getting into Canada isn't necessarily as simple as it once was, either. For questions, call (800) 461-9999 or visit cbsa.gc.ca
1. U.S. PASSPORT. Permits travel over almost all the world. Visit travel.state.gov/
For first-time passports and many questions, contact the National Passport Information Center. Form DS-82 and most other info is on pages 1 and 2. It's a unit of the U.S. State Department, travel.state.gov. Once forms are filled out, find out where to apply for a passport nationwide—at an authorized nearby post office, library, or government office. Visit iafdb.travel.state.gov.
2. ENHANCED DRIVER'S LICENSE. Available at the Michigan secretary of state's office: (888) 767-6426. Bring birth certificate. Lets you reenter from Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, not Europe or Asia. Bring proof of valid social security number, proof of U.S. citizenship (passport, birth certificate with raised seal, other), proof of Michigan residency. They will take your photo for your ID. Each child should have a birth certificate, social security card, and proof of residence, for instance a report card, school ID, or transcript. $45 at first. $38 to renew. $30/child. Valid for 4 years. Average 14-day turnaround.
3. NEXUS CARD. An alternative inspection program and passport alternative (5-year duration) that lets pre-screened travelers to get expedited processing at U.S and Canadian border entry points with (usually) fewer questions from customs and immigration. Thus border agencies can focus on higher-risk travelers and goods. See cbp.gov/
CANADIAN HOLIDAYS. Stores close:
New Year's Day
Family Day, third Monday in February
Good Friday, Easter Monday
Victoria Day, Monday before May 25. Summer kickoff.
Canada Day (formerly Dominion Day), July 1
Civic Holiday, first Monday in August
Labor Day, first Monday in September
Thanksgiving, first Monday in October
Christmas
Boxing Day Dec. 26. Only in Sault, Sudbury.
DUTY for returning U.S. residents on purchases in Canada: within any 30-day period, Americans are allowed $250/person per trip or $800 (including a liter of alcohol) after a 48-hour stay. Duty fees are charged according to specific items in an incredibly complicated manner.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE. It's easiest to change money at the currency exchange at the International Bridge, named ICE or International Currency Exchange (705-254-6800). It charges a flat fee of $2.95 for transactions that may include several currencies.
If you use your credit card in Canada, your credit card company will charge you an extra 3%. Sometimes shops will give discounts for cash purchases in dollars. Exchange rates: see ontariotravel.net, then "travel tools" (above).
SALES TAX IN ONTARIO: the HST or "harmonized sales tax" is 13%, without any rebates.
GASOLINE CONVERSION: There are 3.78 liters (roughly 4) in a gallon. So if you pass a gas station with a sign saying 135, that's $1.35—times four makes it $5.40 a gallon. See michigangasprices.com or ontariogasprices.com.
KILOMETERS AND MILES: A kilometer is .62 of a mile, but .6 will do. 25 kilometers are 15 miles. See onlineconversion.com for this any other helpful conversions.
For info on the INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE FARES and more, see michigan.gov/
The U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL combined site/information is at cbp.gov. A clearly written resource for foreign travel: cpb.gov/
CBP deals with enforcing immigration and drug laws, keeping out terrorists and their weapons, and overseeing trade—which includes plants and animals and things like jewelry made with unsafe levels of lead. Pets should have vaccination certificates. Taking live plants, exotic pets, soil, wildlife, or firewood is prohibited. Pharmaceutical drugs should be only in their original prescription packaging. Permitted fruits change from day to day. For food restrictions, ask at the Canadian store where you are buying food.
BEFORE CROSSING TO CANADA: declare all goods you will leave behind, including all gifts. Other agencies may also be involved: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (usis.gov) might deal with human trafficking, for example. Animal and Plant Inspection Service, aphis.usda.gov, inspects animals and plants.
AT THE CANADIAN BORDER: All firearms must be declared at the Canadian border. HANDGUNS cannot be taken into Canada. Owners of other firearms must declare their purposes, fill out paperwork, and pay a fee. Other imported goods: please check with the Canadian Border. For detailed information on Canadian restrictions, contact the Canada Customs Service at (705) 941-3063. Visit cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/
WAIT TIME TO CLEAR U. S. CUSTOMS: It almost always takes longer to re-enter the U.S. from Canada over the bridge. In summer 2011 back-ups have been up to an hour but may be just a few minutes. If possible, avoid crossing back to the U.S. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. In general, mid-day is bad. Waits won't be as bad when a new truck lane on the American side is completed to get the trucks out of the way. To find out estimated times for clearing customs, call 24-hour bridge staff at (906) 635-5255. For real-time photos of lines waiting to clear customs—to give an idea of crossing time—see the web cam at saultbridge.com.
PUBLIC LAND: Most public land near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, is part of the HIAWATHA NATIONAL FOREST (906-635-5311). The Sault Ste. Marie Ranger District office is at 4000 Bus. Spur I-75, out between the State Police Post and Cascade Crossing Mall. Open Tues, Thurs & Fri 8-4:30. Closed Mon & Wed. For information other times, or if the office is permanently closed (under discussion), call the St. Ignace office on U.S. 2, (906) 643-7900. The big maps of the Hiawatha National Forest's two sides, for sale here, can be quite helpful. The 24-hour lobby also has a complete range of handouts about recreational opportunities for the entire Hiawatha National Forest. . .The MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT of NATURAL RESOURCES Sault Ste. Marie office (906-635-5281) is in town at 2001 Ashmun at Marquette, by Walgreen's. It sells hunting and fishing licenses and distributes some info about state forest campgrounds and trails, fishing, hunting, and more. . . . The CITY of SAULT STE. MARIE, MICHIGAN owns and operates many recreational facilities, including parks, the only boat launch on the upper St. Mary's River, cross-country ski trails, a marina, the Sherman Park beach, and more. Sherman Park, a beautiful swimming area, is at the west end of Easterday, the major east-west street through Lake Superior State University. Or go west off the last U.S. exit. See the city's site, sault-sainte-marie.mi.us, for these extras. Scroll down past city business to see, print out "recreation." . . . . Two ONTARIO PROVINCIAL PARKS that are favorite camping spots are near Sault, Ontario: Pancake Bay Provincial Park and the very large Lake Superior Provincial Park on the way to Wawa. Get information about them at ontarioparks.com and "parks locator" or by calling (800) 668-2746 or by stopping at the Ontario Travel Information Centre by the International Bridge (705-945-6941).
GUIDES and GROUP OUTINGS: The Sault Naturalists meet regularly, are active in environmental advocacy, and take weekly field trips in season. They are affiliated with Ontario Nature, Nature Canada, and the Audubon Society of Michigan. Their expanded site, soonats.pbworks.com, is full of interesting and illuminating information, including upcoming events, links, and information for birders, and sightings. Trip leaders are often professional wildlife specialists. It's nice to get a binational perspective on conservation issues. . . . Caribou Expeditions (800-970-6662; caribou-expeditions.com) offers kayak instruction, rental and sales, and tours into the backcountry north of Sault Ste. Marie. It's based on Goulais Bay, half an hour north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. . . . Based in Sault, Ontario, the Voyageur Trail Association (877-393-4003; voyageurtrail.ca) is akin to the North Country Trail but on a more limited scale. Its wilderness trail, partly completed, is planned to go along Lake Superior's north shore from Thunder Bay to Sault Ste. Marie and then east to Sudbury. So far the trail is completed from Goulais Bay (north of Sault Ste. Marie) to Elliot Lake on the North Channel. Scroll down for calendar.
EVENTS: In Sault Michigan the International I-500 Snowmobile Race in early February is a huge (and dangerous) event in the snowmobile world. It's billed as "Nascar on Ice"—12" to 18" of ice. Beginning in 1958, local businessmen, wondering how long a snowmobile could run, modeled it after the Indy 500. See I-500.com. . . Engineers' Day on the last Friday of June draws 5,000 with a chance to walk across part of the Soo Locks to tour the Administration Building. 3,500 tour the landmark Cloverland/Edison Sault power plant. . . . Free Music in the Park at Locks Park is on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. from June
into August. . . . The Sault Tribe Powwow on the first weekend of July offers drumming and dancing on a high level, attracted by $30,000 in prize money. The Sault Tribe's Sugar Island Traditional Powwow, two weeks later, brings grand entries, open drum, and lessons. For both, see saultstemarie.com or call 800-647-2858. . . . The Sugar Island Music Fest is over 3 days around the second Saturday in August, with rustic camping ($15) and a variety of acoustic music, plus food and local crafts. It was begun to help finish paving Brasser Rd. between 1 ½ to 3 Mile. Visit sugarislandfest.com, consult saultstemarie.com or call (800) MI-SAULT. Get there by taking West Shore south from the ferry, turn left up Three Mile, go past church.
In ONTARIO in early to mid February, the Sault puts on Ontario's largest winter carnival, Bon Soo, 10 days of fireworks, professional snow sculptures, contests and dances at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion, traditional winter sports, snow volleyball, snowpitch, and a Polar Bear Swim. See saulttourism.com . . . . Ice hockey is just about a religion in much of Canada. The Soo Greyhounds are in the Ontario Hockey League, a very high-level junior hockey league. Who knows what future NHL stars you'll be seeing at its games? In 1977 the Greyhounds picked up the 16-year-old Wayne Gretzky, who became hockey's all-time "Great One." He first donned his "99" jersey with the Greyhounds. They play from late September into late March. (705) 253-5976 or info@soogreyhounds.com. . . . The Sault Symphony Bratwurst, Beer and Beethoven (ticketed) comes to the Bondar Pavilion on a Sunday in mid-June. . . . Canada Day, July 1, is celebrated with music, children's activities, and fireworks along the river boardwalk. . . . . Rotaryfest (rotaryfest.com) includes all kids of events and music at Clergue Park on the waterfront. The first weekend of August, Buskerfest (buskerfest.ca) fills downtown Queen Street with comics, juggers, performance artists, magicians, acrobats, and more. For details on all the above, contact visit@saulttourism.com, contact Ontario Travel Information Centre (705-945-6941). . . . . For the events listing: see the regional news website sootoday.com/
PICNIC PROVISIONS AND SPOTS
■ In Sault Michigan the giant 24-hour Glen's Market is the convenient all-around provisioning stop with a big deli section, on I-75 Business Spur at the Cascade Crossing center with Walmart. . . . More sophisticated deli fare can be had in town at Penny's Kitchen and Cup of the Day. See restaurants.
■ Along Lake Superior's Whitefish Bay near Bay Mills and Brimley, choice picnic spots are the Big Pine Picnic Area, Monocle Lake, and Brimley State Park. The Wilcox Fish House west of Bay Mills sells fresh fish and a whitefish dip.
■ In Sault Michigan, picnic tables at Locks Park and Mission Point are pretty whether or not there are ships to watch. Mission Point has grills, too.
■ In Sault Ontario the easy visitor choices for picnic fare are in the big Station Mall on Bay Street near the river. There's a produce market and good takeout fare at Tim Horton's (famous for soups and good sandwiches) and Gourmet Stop. Tim Horton's has other locations around town.
■ The fabulous Rome's Independent supermarket in Sault, Ontario brings Americans across the border again and again. It offers popularly priced foods that are mainstream in multi-ethnic, British-influenced Canada but somewhat unusual to Americans—cornetti and scones in the bakery, clotted cream and Scottish marmalade, convenience and frozen foods like mussels, French cream puffs, Indian mater paneer; and a deli with Indian takeout. The store has info on customs regulations. Rome's is at 44 Great Northern (east side) north of McNab. Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat 8-6, Sun 10-5. (866) 607-6301.
■ The picnic tables at the Sault St. Marie Canal/Parks Canada are a wonderful place to linger. The perimeter walk around St. Mary's Island affords the best view of St. Mary's Rapids.
■ Benches and picnic tables are all along the St. Mary's River Boardwalk from the locks to the Bondar Pavilion and beyond.
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