Ultimate Thunder Bay: From A Sacred Mountain to the "Niagara of the North" 🌊
How a sacred powwow, Canada’s longest suspension bridge, and a pink-iced pastry completely changed my perspective on Northern Ontario | 14
Please tell me you watched the FIFA World Cup game with Canada against Qatar! 6-0?!?! It’s unfortunate what happened to Ismaël Koné, though—wishing him a speedy recovery!
Right now, Toronto is completely swallowed up by the absolute craziness of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As a guy who has been kicking a soccer ball around since childhood, this tournament has always been a massive deal. I still vividly remember my old youth coach forcing us to study Brazil’s matches, barking at us to “play exactly like that”... yeah, right!
I can not explain how surreal it feels to have Canada co-hosting and seeing these legendary matches right in our own backyard. The entire globe is watching our city. Catching those iconic, sweeping aerial shots on the broadcast—it’s my hometown down there honestly gets me chocked up every single time.
Plus, the absolute thrill of finally having a home team, Team Canada, to officially root for on the biggest stage is unmatched! The buzz flowing through the streets right now is electric. I absolutely love it. It instantly transports me back to being a kid, running in the midfield!
Speaking of incredible energy, as new members sign up for our Facebook Group (we love all 20,500 of you!), so many of you have been asking for more Northern Ontario destinations. In our last edition, we talked about North Bay [link to North Bay’s Substack Post], so we figured we’d continue the journey north with Thunder Bay. As we discovered in North Bay, there is just something about Northern Ontario that hits differently.
A Sacred Powwow & Pushing Limits
Maybe it’s the vastness of Lake Superior, or maybe it’s the way the air smells a little cleaner. But for me, this trip to Thunder Bay was defined by an incredible moment at the sacred mountain of Anemki Wajiw (Mount McKay). Gordana and I were invited to attend a Powwow with the peak of the mountain in the backdrop. There is this intense feeling of belonging. Holding space for children, our elders, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC friends—all tribes, and all faiths. It’s a place where you can be one thousand percent yourself without judgment. It’s the path we all need to be on, and Thunder Bay was the perfect place to be reminded of it.
If the Powwow grounded us, the rest of our time in Thunder Bay completely took our breath away. Before chasing adrenaline, we fueled up at the Thunder Bay Country Market, which is the perfect spot to grab local art, fresh produce, and a buttery Finnish pancake. From there, we headed about an hour outside the city to Eagle Canyon Adventures, home to Canada’s longest suspension bridge.
👉🏾 Fun Things To Do In Thunder Bay Ontario | A Weekend Of Culture, Nature & Indigenous Experiences.
👉🏾 Amazing Place To Stay In Thunder Bay!
My 5 Faves:
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park: The extraordinary Sleeping Giant formation lies on the rugged Sibley Peninsula and offers a massive 100+ kilometre trail network, including the epic 22-kilometre Top of the Giant trail. We didn’t get a chance to hike it this time, as we needed to depart for our road trip to Winnipeg.
Terry Fox Monument: We made an important stop at the Terry Fox Monument to see the nine-foot-tall bronze statue erected in his honour, marking the place where his heroic 143-day cross-Canada run for cancer research concluded.
Prospector Steak House + The Persian (for dessert): A Thunder Bay staple for decades. Highly recommended for their Prime Rib (aged and cut in-house) paired with a Blueberry Wheat Beer. Just do not fill up on their endless, fresh homemade bread rolls before the steak arrives! For dessert, you have to try a “Persian” from The Persian Man. It is a closely guarded local secret—an oval-shaped fried pastry topped with the most irresistible pink berry icing.
Fort William Historical Park: A massive living history site exploring the 1800s fur trade. Locals dress in period costumes, and it’s a fantastic way to learn about the Anishinaabe people’s role in the region’s history.
*We tried to see if we can make them break their period acting but I give them credit they stayed true to the role.
Kakabeka Falls: You simply cannot visit this region without taking in the majestic Kakabeka Falls. Known as the “Niagara of the North,” this 40-metre-high waterfall is fully wheelchair accessible right from the parking lot, offering stunning views of the Kaministiquia River gorge below.
Road Trip Shop Deal Of The Week
We are continually blown away by the stories and photos you all share in the Road Trip Ontario Facebook group. As we head into the summer road trip season, we are working hard behind the scenes on our new Digital Trip Guides!
In the meantime, make sure you are geared up for those beautiful Northern Ontario summers. Keeping in line with our memories at Anemki Wajiw (Mount McKay) and to celebrate both National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month this June, we are offering our loyal subscribers a special 5% off our Pride collection.
Grab your I AM 🍁 LGBTQ+ Pride Unisex T-Shirt or the I ❤️🍁 LGBTQ+ Pride Unisex T-Shirt in the Road Trip Ontario Store today. Just apply your discount at checkout and wear your pride on the open road!
So, settle a debate for us: Are you brave enough to cross Canada’s longest suspension bridge at Eagle Canyon, or would you rather safely watch from the sidelines with a pink-iced Persian pastry in hand? Let me know in the comments!
If this Thunder Bay guide gave you some serious Northern Ontario wanderlust, please give it a share.
— Keep Calm & Road Trip ON (Christopher & Gordana)
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