Ontario’s largest city, Sudbury has come a long way from its bleak beginnings as a lumber town and industrial region. Today, the thriving ‘Nickel City’ has had over 12 million trees planted since 1980 as a part of its ’re-greening’ program. The city is also home to a university, amazing and chic haunts, two terrific science museums, and a wide multicultural ethnicity with vibrant Polish, Finnish, Ukranian, French, Italian, and aboriginal communities. Known for its outdoor recreational facilities, music, and arts, travelers will feel right at home here. So, whether you’re staying here or just passing through, there are many things to do in Greater Sudbury, Canada. Read on!
1. Spend some time at Bell Park
Bell Park is the most visited of all the Greater Sudbury’s parks. Located in downtown Sudbury along the western edge of Lake Ramsey, the picturesque lush space is home to a children’s playground, an amphitheater, two lovely gazebos and flowerbeds, a monumental sculpture, a boardwalk, and even a beach! Bell Park also plays host to many cultural events in Sudbury, including the Annual Dragonboat Races, Sudbury Summerfest, and the Northern Lights Festival Boréal.
Bell Park
Address: Bell Park, Paris St, Greater Sudbury
Website: Bell Park
Opening hours: Sun: 8am - 6pm; Mon - Fri: 8am - 4pm; Sat: 8am - 8pm
2. Visit Lake Laurentian Conservation Area
Located just 10 minutes from downtown Sudbury is the stunning 970 hectare (9.7 sq km) Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, right at the southern end of the city between the Southeast Bypass and Lake Ramsey. This stunning forest is a nature lover’s haven, offering 23 km (14.3 miles) of jogging, biking and hiking trails, bird-watching spaces, picnic areas, photo ops, manmade ponds, lakes, and numerous scenic spots.
Lake Laurentian Conservation Area
Address: 2309 S Bay Rd, Sudbury
Website: Lake Laurentian Conservation Area
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
3. Learn some science at Dynamic Earth museum
The Dynamic Earth sciences museum is perhaps Sudbury’s top attraction. Operated by Science North, the museum is known for its two unique snowflake-shaped buildings connected by a rock tunnel. Dynamic Earth is home to an 8-meter (26-feet) dome planetarium, outdoor gardens, a variety of fauna, a 3D IMAX theatre, and some amazing exhibits including the F. Jean Macleod Butterfly Gallery, Techlab, and the Space Place.
Dynamic Earth museum
Address: 122 Big Nickel Mine Dr, Sudbury
Website: Dynamic Earth
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
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4. Ride a snowmobile at Sudbury Trails
With more than 1,200 km (745 miles) of tracks connecting the town and the surrounding regions, Sudbury’s trails are one of the world’s largest systems of groomed snowmobiling trails. If you’re visiting Sudbury in winter, go snowmobiling on the well-maintained trails and enjoy the thrilling ride as well as the magnificent scenery. For those who want to linger around, stay in the alpine lodges and have a truly memorable winter vacay in Sudbury.
Sudbury Trail Plan Association
Address: 3610 Regional Rd 86, Garson, Greater Sudbury
Website: Sudbury Trail Plan Association
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8:30am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
5. Admire the country's tallest chimney - Inco Superstack
Who’d have thought that Sudbury would be home to the tallest chimney in Canada? The Inco Superstack not only happens to be Canada’s tallest chimney but is also the world’s second-tallest self-supporting chimney. This amazing icon lies atop what is also the largest nickel smelting operation in the world, albeit an inactive one. What’s more, at 380 meters (1247 feet), the Inco Superstack is also the same height as that of the rooftop of the Empire State Building! However, the iconic structure is set to be dismantled in 2020.
Inco Superstack
Address: Greater Sudbury, ON P0M 1N0
6. Relax on the serene shores of Kukagami Lake
If you’re looking for a relaxing two-day sojourn from Sudbury, head to the beautiful Kukagami Lake about an hour northeast of Sudbury. Home to fishes such as the walleye, the lake trout, and the smallmouth bass, Kukagami Lake is also home to two stunning log cabins and lodges on its shores. Make them your base as you enjoy water skiing, fishing, kayaking, sailing, and canoeing on the lake, or snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, or ice-fishing if you’re going in winter.
Kukagami Lake
Address: Kukagami Lake Road, Ontario
Website: Kukagami Lake
7. Marvel at the iconic Big Nickel
The world’s biggest coin happens to be Sudbury’s most famous landmark. Displayed at the Dynamic Earth Science Museum, the 9-meter-high (30 feet) Big Nickel is a replica of a 1952 Canadian nickel. The massive stainless steel structure weighs 14.33 tons (13,000 kg) and represents the efforts of Sudbury’s nickel miners. Today, the oversized currency has become something of an icon to numismatists and coin collectors.
Big Nickel
Address: Dynamic Science, Greater Sudbury
Website: Big Nickel
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
8. Enjoy the forested areas of Greater Sudbury at Naughton Ski Trails
Winter transforms Sudbury into a skier’s paradise, with the area home to four downhill skiing facilities. One of the most popular ski tracks is the 10 km (6 miles) rolling-to-moderately-hilly Naughton Ski Trails. These classic, double-tracked trails also feature 4 km (2.5 miles) of skate skiing trails, as well as a 3 km (1.9 miles) lit trail for both skate skiing and classes at night. What’s more, the trails are also great for running and walking in the summer months!
Naughton Ski Trails
Address: 1 Denis Ave, Lively, Ontario
Website: Naughton Ski Trails
9. Visit the cascading Onaping High Falls
Onaping High Falls also known as the High Falls, is located just 35 km (22 miles) west of Sudbury. It is one of the most imposing and majestic waterfalls in the Lake Huron area and is also one of Ontario’s most magnificent waterfalls. The best place to view it is from the A.Y. Jackson lookout, which provides spectacular views of the 55-meter-high (181 feet) waterfall. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy a day out at High Falls.
Onaping High Falls
Address: Greater Sudbury, ON P0M 1R0
10. Explore the historic Anderson Farm Museum
If you’re interested in seeing how a miner’s family lived on their farm, then you should definitely head to the Anderson Farm Museum, a 57,000 square meter huge (613,550 sq. feet) historic dairy farm. Once owned by Finnish immigrants, this log cabin of a farm museum showcases the lifestyle of a miner’s family, incorporating many of the original farm buildings. It also features a historic paymaster’s cabin!
Anderson Farm Museum
Address: 550 Regional Rd 24, Lively, Greater Sudbury
Website: Anderson Farm Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
11. Watch thrilling horse races at Sudbury Downs
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Sudbury Downs on Friday, October 14, 2011
If you’re visiting Sudbury during the racing season, why not enjoy some thrilling horse races at the Sudbury Downs racing track? The races are generally held on Wednesday and Saturday at night, with multiple races taking place each race night. If you’re visiting during the off-season, no worries - you can try your luck at the slot parlor onsite! Apart from numerous slot machines, it also has a fine dining restaurant, a deli-style sandwich bar, and a snack bar.
Sudbury Downs
Address: 400 Bonin St, Chelmsford, Ontario
Website: Sudbury Downs
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm (daily)
12. Visit Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre
Are you a railway fan? Can you stare at gorgeously built locomotives all day? Then the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre is just the right place for you! Preserving and displaying everything about railroading in and around Sudbury, the museum is housed in a stunning Victorian-era home and showcases Sudbury’s long and rich railroad heritage as well as its lumber and mining industry. The museum also has on a one-of-a-kind display which includes an 1899 slag pot car and caboose and a 1919 Westinghouse Electric locomotive.
Northern Ontario Railroad Museum
Address: 26 Bloor St, Capreol, Ontario
Website: Northern Ontario Railroad Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)
13. Order quality beers at Laughing Buddha
Get in on the beer action at the only place in Sudbury with an amazing and extensive selection of draft and craft beers - Laughing Buddha! With three distinct spaces - a bar seating area, a large upper section, and a cozy patio - this hidden gem features an extremely unique beer selection featuring mostly, if not all, abbey-style and Trappist beers. What’s more, they have an excellent selection of salads and bar food and even the occasional live music.
Laughing Buddha
Address: 194 Elgin St, Sudbury
Website: Laughing Buddha
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 11am - 11pm; Wed: 11am - 2am; Thu - Fri: 7am - 2am; Sat: 8am - 2am; Sun: 8am - 11pm
14. Admire contemporary art at La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario
With a vibrant and active artist community, it’s hardly a surprise that Greater Sudbury has a couple of amazing art galleries. For contemporary art, head to the La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario which focuses on the art of the region by local Franco-Ontarian artists. Founded in 1974 and run and operated by the artists themselves, the gallery holds both permanent and one-time, special exhibitions.
La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario
Address: 174 Elgin St, Sudbury
Website: La Galerie du Nouvel-Ontario
Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 12pm - 6pm (closed on Sun & Mon)
15. Try your luck at the Gateway Casinos Sudbury
Did you know that Sudbury even has a casino? Run by the Vancouver-based Gateway Casinos And Entertainment Limited, Gateway Casinos at Sudbury has many exciting slots and games including video poker games and 5 Dragons Gold. When you get famished after playing games, head to the Champions restaurant onsite to satiate your hunger pangs.
Gateway Casinos Sudbury
Address: 400 Bonin St, Chelmsford, Ontario
Website: Gateway Casinos Sudbury
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 8am - 4am; Thu: 8am - 12am; Fri - Sat: 24 hrs
16. Learn about animal rescue efforts at Northern Exotics
This amazing and exotic indoor zoo is probably Sudbury’s hidden gem. The indoor zoo and pet store, Northern Exotics is a safe, good sanctuary for many exotic animals including monkeys and reptiles that once were kept as pets or were rescued or were neglected and abandoned. Animal lovers will rejoice at the sight of porcupines, Burmese pythons, fennec foxes, squirrel monkeys, and the Northern Pine snake, among others. For those who love it, Northern Exotics offers them a little taste of the wild.
Northern Exotics
Address: 517 Kathleen St, Sudbury
Website: Northern Exotics
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 10am - 9pm; Sat - Mon: 10am - 6pm
17. Enjoy scenic trails at WagonWheel Ranch
If you’re a hippophile, then you will enjoy horsin’ around at the WagonWheel Ranch. Indulge in a peaceful and relaxing horse ride at the ranch and enjoy the wild and wonderful beauty of the Boreal forest. With year-round horseback riding tours, the ranch also offers a petting farm and pony rides and private horse-drawn sleigh rides as well.
WagonWheel Ranch
Address: 2200 Kenneth Dr, Val Therese, Ontario
Website: WagonWheel Ranch
18. Bike along the Lake Nipissing Circle Tour
If you find the activity of riding a mountain bike relaxing, then the Lake Nipissing Circle Tour is the activity for you. Boasting of stunning scenery, Lake Nipissing features a ribbon of historic access roads which end up forming a perfect bike track around its entirety. The clockwise circumnavigation of the Lake Nipissing results in a right turn at every major road intersection till one is back in North Bay.
Lake Nipissing Circle Tour
Address: North Bay, Ontario
Website: Lake Nipissing Circle Tour
19. Climb a huge bouldering space and a climbing wall
Try your hand at climbing at ARC, a lifestyle fitness facility with a 7000 sq. feet (650 sq. meters) huge bouldering wall and a 35 feet (10.6 meters) high climbing wall. Whether you’re a fitness buff, an expert climber, or just a novice, the wall and climbing space at ARC is perfect. Climbing is done with a harness and can be done individually or with belayers, whereas bouldering happens without using harnesses, with large mats to break your fall.
ARC Climbing
Address: 1981 Old Burwash Rd, Sudbury
Website: ARC Climbing
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Fri: 10:30am - 10pm; Tue, Thu: 12pm - 10pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 8pm
Surprising Sudbury
Today, Sudbury is a far cry from its bleak origin. Pack a bag and head to this little-known but interesting city, which has lots of activities for every kind and type of traveler. You will be surprised at the large number of things to see and do here.
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