Sudbury Living - Summer 2008 - 57

Getaways: West he next time you ﬁnd yourself driving west along Highway 17, stop at the Serpent River Trading Post. Located right on the highway at Cuttler, the cultural centre and trading post is worth a visit. The timber log gallery is a showcase for unique Indian arts and crafts. A little farther along the highway, take a side trip up Highway 108 to Elliot Lake. Climb the Fire Tower Lookout for a 360-degree panoramic vista of Elliot Lake, the North Channel of Lake Huron and Manitoulin Island. The view from this replica of an old-fashioned ﬁre ranger’s lookout station is spectacular. From there, visit Sherriff Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, with its 182 hectares of wetlands. Birds and wildlife abound in the marsh, bog and shoreline areas. Three major trails to viewing stands give a “bird’s eye view” of loon and goose nesting platforms and bird boxes. Before getting back on the road, take a tour through the Elliot Lake Nuclear and Mining Museum. Catch glimpses into the area’s history of uranium ore mining and logging, plus wildlife and marine displays and artifacts. Next stop is halfway between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. Blind River welcomes all travellers with an interesting collection of lumber and logging memorabilia at Timber Village Museum. The museum is open every weekday afternoon in June, with extended daily hours in July and August. Sault Ste. Marie makes a wonderful destination for summer fun. This jewel of the north offers an impressive selection of outdoor activities including hiking and biking, sea-kayaking, boating and ﬁshing. Take a walkabout in Bellevue Park or spend the day at the Roberta Bondar Park and Tent Pavilion. Pick up an Attractions Passbook for admission tickets to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Ermatinger-Clergue National Historic Site, Sault Ste. Marie Museum, and the Art Gallery of Algoma. The passbook also offers discounts at Lock Tours Canada Boat Cruises, Sprucehaven Petting Zoo and Museum Ship Norgoma. Plan your visit to Sault Ste. Marie around any one of the many local summer festivals such as Sault Dragon Boat Festival, Echoes Drum Festival, Rotaryfest, Arts at the Dock and the Hilton Beach Summer Festival and Community Night. Take a spectacular journey through the heart of the Canadian Shield, on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train. This is a one-day, 114-mile, fully-narrated adventure for the whole family. On your return, make the most of “Stay and Play” packages at Crimson Ridge Golf Course and the Sault Ste. Marie Charity Casino. T Take a side trip to Manitoulin Island The world’s largest freshwater island is a twoand-a-half hour drive from Greater Sudbury. A haven of cultural attractions and a breathtakingly beautiful location, Manitoulin Island attracts visitors from all over the world. Before heading to the Island, check the summer schedule of De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre. De-ba-jeh-mu-jig is a communitybased group that produces and performs original material in one of only two professional Aboriginal performance theatres in Canada. As soon as you cross the swing bridge at Little Current, feel time slow down. This is a wonderful place to relax and get away from life’s responsibilities for a few days. Lake Manitou is 48 kilometres by 16 kilometres of deep, pristine water. An angler’s delight, this crystal-clear lake is ﬁlled with lake trout, jumbo perch and northern pike. Bridal Veil Falls in Kagawong is a scenic favourite. It offers a welcome picnic stop with a viewing area and a walking trail to and under the waterfall. For those who wish a more challenging climb, the Cup and Saucer Trail is 18 kilometres west of Little Current. This local hiking delight offers a short lower trail, a steeper upper trail and an adventure trail along the top that showcases a panoramic vista of the North Channel. The Mississagi Lighthouse near Meldrum Bay offers a lovely view of Lake Huron on short trails that trace the shoreline. The local tourist sites are an easy drive from anywhere. The Holy Cross Mission and Ruins, in Wikemikong, is a popular stop overlooking the water. The original mission was founded in 1648, dedicated as a church in 1852 and destroyed by ﬁre in 1954. In Manitowaning, visit the Assiginack Museum. Originally a stone jail, and later a government building, the museum was built in 1878. Displays inside the building include porcelain, pottery and glassware left by the earliest settlers. There is also a blacksmith shop, pioneer home and schoolhouse on the museum grounds. The Little Schoolhouse and Museum in South Baymouth is a converted one-room schoolhouse of old. The building offers a fascinating look at the history of the area, including the neighbouring ghost town of Michael’s Bay. Summer 2008 Sudbury Living 57

Sudbury Living - Summer 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sudbury Living - Summer 2008