UPside of Life: Sweet, sweet Sault Ste. Marie

There is no arguing that Sault Ste. Marie--commonly referred to as the Soo--should be on the itinerary of anyone who wants to experience the Upper Peninsula to the fullest.

First and foremost, it's a convenient stop for our neighbors to the south, who simply have to cross the Mackinac Bridge and stay on I-75 to find one the U.P.'s largest cities.

But it's an equally nice weekend or day trip for U.P. residents who are looking for a getaway close to home.

One of the nice things about visiting Sault Ste. Marie is that there is never a lack of things to do. From shopping to entertainment to sightseeing to grabbing a scrumptious bite to eat, Sault Ste. Marie has a great experience waiting for its visitors--and that's just on this side of the U.S.-Canadian border.

People visiting Sault Ste. Marie is nothing new for the city, which is Michigan's oldest settlement (actually, the oldest in the entire Midwest). The key to having a great time is being willing to check out some of the great sites like the Soo Locks, the Museum Ship Valley Camp and, of course, downtown and its historic buildings, capped off with the Tower of History.

In addition, visitors should add entertainment into their trip--plan on catching some local sports, like the outstanding Division II collegiate athletics at Lake Superior State University, or visit the Soo Theatre (look for a feature on this location in next week's edition) or simply visit the St. Marys River and the multitude of parks that are in the area. Of course, for those who want to enjoy the Soo's nautical nature, you can take a Soo Locks tour, or grab a ride on a four-hour St. Marys River Lighthouse Cruise, which is about as relaxing as they come and full of beautiful sites.

When your stomach starts growling and you need a bite to eat, there are few better places in the Upper Peninsula to find yourself besides Sault Ste. Marie. A favorite destination is the Antlers Restaurant, which features some outstanding eats (we suggest the wild game lasagna or the Rudyard burger), or grab a bite at the Lock View Restaurant, which has one of the best fish fry Fridays in the entire Upper Peninsula. If you're looking for the area's top breakfast, the restaurant of choice seems to be Studebaker's Restaurant and Lounge, where breakfast is served all day and has a weekend morning buffet.

Sault Ste. Marie has been--and will remain to be--a destination in the Upper Peninsula that is a must-see for both tourists and Yoopers. It's a gateway to all that we've become up here, and a representative of our great country as one of this state's three crossing points into Canada. No matter what you're in the U.P. for--business, leisure or because you live here--making a trek to Sault Ste. Marie is worth the time.

Sam Eggleston is the managing editor of the U.P. Second Wave and a full-time freelance writer. He was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula. His favorite thing about Sault Ste. Marie, beyond its history, is the great people who live there. Eggleston can be reached via email.

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