Canada Tourist info

[trbig]

Barely... but we were thinking about riding the north shore of Lake Superior into Canada. Does anyone know of anything to see or do between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste Marie? Also.. what are the general speed limits through that route?

Thanks in advance.

[barrelguy]

Canada Tour

As a born and raised British Columbian I can state with complete assurance thatthere is nothing worth seeing east of the Rockies

[natemoen]

And Canadian roads suck...

[Erik the Red]

There are several provincial parks along that route. I haven't ridden it yet, but it's on my to-do list. I'm not real sure of what's up there except for a lot of nice wooded views of the lake.

What I DO know, is that the U.P. (Michigan's upper peninsula) has a bunch of stuff to choose from. Here are my recommendations, east to west:

1. Stop in Munising and take the Pictured Rocks boat tour (http://www.picturedrocks.com/). You can also take a glass-bottomed boat shipwreck tour while you're in the area if you want.

2. Go waterfall hunting. This book tells you how to get to 199 of MI's waterfalls.

3. The best one! A motorcyclist's MUST-DO if in the area... Head up the Keweenaw Peninsula. Go to Copper Harbor. Take US-41 up, and M-26 on the way back. You'll like this enough that I bet you'll probably want to ride it a couple times. If you want twisties with unbeatable scenery (eyes on the road, man!), this will be the highlight of your trip. While you're up there, check out Brockway mountain drive up in Copper Harbor, too. I know that it's a shorter ride back home for you to just head south, but though I've never actually met you, I've read enough of your threads that I'm confident that you'll dig this. The northern portion of US-41 is known as the 'tunnel of trees' -beautiful ride in the fall.

4. On your way south from Houghton, go through Kenton, MI and eat at U.P. Chuck's. Good burgers there, good yooper decor. And you get to say that you ate at UPChucks.

If you want any tips of what else to do/see or where to eat in the Keewenaw, PM me and I'll elaborate some more. Hope this helps, and I hope you do choose to go to Copper Harbor. You won't regret it.

-Erik

[cruiser]

Ya, Keweenaw Peninsula is already mapped out for two days. That is planned to be the highlight of the trip. Tod your going to miss the best part.

Do you know anything about the Porcupine Mountain area though? Heard some good roads through there but not finding them.

[Newbee]

Gery-Bruce Tourism

As a proud six generation CANADIAN and have been riding over 40yrs there are many good roads to ride in Ontario.Type in Riding Ontario or just today I put in Grey-Bruce Tourism gives the phone no. they will mail you a package with area maps accommodations parks to camp restaurants we are thinking of doing that area next year for the xsnorth rally June27-July4 2014 all welcome.Proud to be CANADIAN.

[hamjam]

17 is a rally nice road with great scenery

[trbig]

Ya, Keweenaw Peninsula is already mapped out for two days. That is planned to be the highlight of the trip. Tod your going to miss the best part.

Naw.. Family is providing free lodging, beer, and brats! That could be the highlight of the trip.. if I remember it.

[Courtney]

Look here.

http://www.motowhere.com/listpaths/country/43/region/37

[Courtney]

Our roads suck ?

And Canadian roads suck...

Nate, where have you been riding? Roads in B.C. out here are usually deserted and well kept up?? Most beautiful rides through the Rockies, Sea-to-Sky, Island Highway on Vancouver Island where I live.......

http://www.northernontario.travel/mo...to-thunder-bay

[Courtney]

Barely... but we were thinking about riding the north shore of Lake Superior into Canada. Does anyone know of anything to see or do between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste Marie? Also.. what are the general speed limits through that route?

Thanks in advance.

http://www.northernontario.travel/mo...to-thunder-bay

Gives you a good idea. The speed limits are going to be pretty basic like most of
Canada, lots of 80km/h stuff, slowing to 50km/h in the villages, and prob a few 100km/h speeds in more open areas. HTH.

[natemoen]

Nate, where have you been riding? Roads in B.C. out here are usually deserted and well kept up?? Most beautiful rides through the Rockies, Sea-to-Sky, Island Highway on Vancouver Island where I live.......

http://www.northernontario.travel/mo...to-thunder-bay

Spent plenty of time in Manitoba and a small bit in Saskatchewan. I am not saying there are not fun scenic roads (don't know never looked for any) I am saying the quality of road surfaces sucks. You notice the change instantly when you cross the boarder.

[Pain]

I recently rode my XS along the north shore. It's pretty country, though I didn't have the best weather. That year there was also a drought, and I've heard from other riders that the waterfalls this year are truly roaring.

As for what to see, depends on what you want to see. The southern shore is definitely more touristy - think south rim vs north rum of the Grand Canyon - but if you don't need cutesy shops then the north shore has all the beauty you can want, if you want wilderness, waterfalls, and lighthouses.

As for the roads, they were neither here nor there. Some could probably due with replacement, but that can be said of roads all over. It's certainly not a reason not to go, and I would disagree there isn't anything to ride east of the Rockies (though it's a better man than me who can recommend crossing the Canadian planes if there's another option. I like plains but - jeez).

I will also warn you that gas is much more expensive in Canada. It kinda sneaks up on you, since they sell it by the liter. They don't use Ethanol, and I got about 20% better mpg, but that didn't offset the cost. Provincial parks can be pricey too, though there is wild camping and the Canadian equivalent of BLM land.

Crossing back over the Ambassador Bridge in the USA was also an experience (oh, and detour to Niagra, it's actually quite close over there). I am amazed it's still standing, and the drug sniffing dogs are friendly. Unless you have drugs, I guess.

Totally go.

[Courtney]

Spent plenty of time in Manitoba and a small bit in Saskatchewan. I am not saying there are not fun scenic roads (don't know never looked for any) I am saying the quality of road surfaces sucks. You notice the change instantly when you cross the boarder.

Oh okay, can't speak for the prairies, you'll have to let prairie chickens like Rasputin and Fred jump in here to defend their honor.

[xsilerating]

17 is a rally nice road with great scenery

I agree with hamjam, except that, personally, I think it's a really nice road. (Good for rally's too, I suppose.) Hwy 17 is scenic, twisty, hilly and, has an abundance of trees, rocks and lakes. Best to carry extra gas with you as service stations are well spaced. Also, make sure that you fill up any time the opportunity presents itself, even if you 'think' that you don't need gas.

Also, you'll want to make sure that your daily trips end well before dusk and, limit your night time riding to none! There are plenty of moose on the roads that can certainly ruin your vacation if you're not careful. That, and the odd bear or... well, you get the idea. You're no match for them, they'll win every time.

This LINK will provide you with some of the attractions that you can search out. They're nicely sorted by 'interest/activity'. A good place to spend the night, that is roughly the centre point between the two, is Marathon, On.

Have a great time, if you decide to go. It's rugged territory but, I'm fairly sure that you'll enjoy the journey.