There is no shortage of parks and preserved areas of nature in the Greater Sudbury area. Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, South Bay Rd., Sudbury. (tel. 705]674-5249; www.nickeldistrict.ca/main.html), is just a few minutes from downtown and offers visitors 34 miles of hiking, biking, jogging, and snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails during winter. Explore some of the 3,400 acres of protected space on one of the self-guided nature trails. Maps and guides are available at the conservation area's Chalet. An excellent place for bird watching, the grounds are so full of great views of swamps, lakes, and rocks that you'll hardly feel as though you're in a city. There's even a protected wetland. From Highway 69, take Paris Street North, turn right Ramsay Lake Rd., and right on South Bay Rd.
The A.Y. Jackson Welcome Center is the starting point for the is the starting point for Onaping Falls Geological Walking Tour, (tel. 877/304-8222; 705/675-9706) where you'll find maps to the driving and walking tours. Actually, the tour is two self-guided tours that take you through the natural rock formations, including the Sudbury Structure, a large reservoir of nickel-copper sulphides, and its two parts, the Sudbury Basin and Sudbury Igneous Complex. The driving tour takes about an hour and leads you through natural rock formations; the walking tour takes about 15-20 minutes. Don't miss the A.Y. Jackson Lookout, on Highway 144. Jackson, as one of Canada's revered Group of Seven artists, captured the panoramic view of High Falls, which tumble 150 feet into the Basin. To reach the grounds from Sudbury, take Elm Street north out of the city, where it becomes Highway 144, to Onaping Falls and you can't miss the welcome center.
Among other family-friendly recreation options are spectator sports, including the Ontairo Hockey League's Sudbury Wolves, 240 Elgin St. (tel. 705/675-3941; www.sudburywolves.com). The team is part of the league that serves as a talent pool which feeds the National Hockey League and plays at Sudbury Arena, located downtown. Tickets are inexpensive, ranging from $9 to $14.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
