Trip chapter 02
Parry Sound to Sault Ste. Marie
An early start, three very different places to stretch our legs, and a comfortable arrival in Sault Ste. Marie.
We set off early the next morning for Sault Ste. Marie, travelling via Sudbury. After the storms and tornado warning of our first night, the bright morning felt like a fresh start.
Morning at Grundy Lake
Our first stop was Grundy Lake Provincial Park for a bathroom break and a short hike. We already had an Ontario Parks pass; without one, day use was $21 at the time of our visit.
The lake, exposed rock and forest made it much more than a functional stop. It gave Tilly a proper walk and gave both of us time outside before another long stretch in the car.
A very big nickel
Our second stop was the Big Nickel at Dynamic Earth in Sudbury. The giant coin is an obvious road-trip photograph, but the rocky grounds and paths also made it a good place for a picnic and a walk with Tilly.
The Big Nickel at Dynamic Earth
Sudbury's enormous roadside landmark, surrounded by rocky grounds that are good for a picnic and walk.
Read our Big Nickel stop notes →Serpent River
The Serpent River Rest Stop was our third break of the day. It was a lovely little roadside stop with clean, working bathrooms, views over the river and trails where Tilly could explore before the final drive.
An unexpected welcome
When we arrived in Sault Ste. Marie, a classic-car event was taking place in a nearby park. The event was dog friendly, so Tilly came with me as we wandered among the cars and took in an unexpected bit of local life.
A comfortable night in the Soo
We arrived in Sault Ste. Marie late in the day and checked into the Sleep Inn on Bay Street. The beds were very comfortable and the staff loved Tilly. We stayed here again on the return journey, so it became one of the familiar bookends of the trip.
On both visits we were assigned an upstairs room in the building on the far side of the property. Tilly was not sure about the steps, which is worth considering if your dog is nervous around stairs or has limited mobility.
Sleep Inn Sault Ste. Marie
A comfortable dog-friendly hotel with welcoming staff, though our upstairs room location was awkward for Tilly.
Read our Sleep Inn notes →Treats and a pretzel
We finished the day with a beer at Northern Superior Brewing. The staff brought Tilly some treats, which immediately won her over. The patio was not serving a full food menu during our visit, but there was a pretzel, and it was tasty.
Northern Superior Brewing Co.
A welcoming brewery stop where the staff brought Tilly treats and we found a tasty patio pretzel.
Read our Northern Superior notes →