Sault Ste. Marie

After learning about the history of Sault Ste. Marie a couple years ago, I always wanted to check it out. So when the opportunity arose to go there, I decided to spend my birthday exploring the cities on both the US and Canadian sides.

I wasn't sure what to expect from both cities, but I found them rather unique in their own ways. Separated by the St. Mary's River, the main attraction on both sides was the locks, and how boats go through them.

On the Canadian side, I explored the Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site. A trail led me to Whitefish Island, which offered great views of the International Bridge. It also offered many birding opportunities, including some friendly chickadees. A stroll along the river boardwalk was the perfect spot to catch the sunset.

Common merganser on Whitefish Island

I also checked out a few Canadian lighthouses along the river and the Lake Superior coast. I even stayed at a cottage just down the road from the McKay Island lighthouse, which was right off of Bruce Bay, which feeds into Lake Huron.

I spent my birthday on St. Joseph Island, where I visited the Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site. Although the fort itself is no longer standing, a few of the ruins are in still intact. The history of the fort is quite fascinating, and ties in directly with the forts I visited in the Mackinaw area just a few weeks earlier.

Making my way back onto the Michigan side of the city, I did a boat cruise that went through the locks on both the US and Canadian sides. I also got to see a few more lighthouses in each country, including the modern Gros Cap lighthouse, which looks more like a floating helipad than a lighthouse.

Gros Cap lighthouse

I concluded my fun birthday excursion with a detour down towards Saginaw and the beautiful Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.

Great egret at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge