Locals Know: Sudbury and Surrounding Area

I'm a Sudburian. I've lived here for nearly 15 years, and twice before when I was a toddler. My family moved around a lot, but I eventually began to call Sudbury my hometown as I grew to love this city.

The City of Greater Sudbury is big, which makes getting around without a set of wheels a lot more complicated, but also means a lot of wilderness space between sub-divisions. Being both a rural and urban city, we get the best of both worlds, and I love both the endless amount of trails to explore and the charm of the downtown core.

The Great(er Sudbury) Outdoors

Sudbury is considered a city of lakes, with over 330 of them, but I prefer to take to the trails to hike, ride and hunt with my four-legged companion, Bruce. Of course, who wouldn't enjoy a refreshing swim after a day out under a summer sun on a dusty road?

From walking the Ramsey Lake Boardwalk to hiking the Laurentian Conservation trails, Sudbury has a variety of experiences to explore. The city is also accessible for those day trips to Manitoulin Island to hike the Cup and Saucer, or a drive to Killarney Provincial Park for a climb up the Crack trail and classic fish and chips at Herbert Fisheries in the town of Killarney.

These trails aren't just made for walking! They're great for riding, too, whether on horseback, wheels or tracks. Wagonwheel Ranch offers horseback riding and wagon/sleigh rides for groups and visitors year-round.

I've grown up with my fair share of ATVing, snowmobiling, and even motorcycling in recent years. And when the fall season makes an appearance, I tend to add hunting to the mix. These are all outdoor activities I can do with family and friends, and a great excuse to spend a beautiful day in the bush with Bruce, an ATV, gun and camera.

Downtown Charms

I once had the perception, though I don't know where it came from, that there was nothing to see downtown. However, while pursuing my post-secondary studies, I took a job downtown and began to see a lot of character I never knew existed. When I looked around at what Sudbury has to offer, I discovered the little boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and the local flavour I had always yearned for.

Sudbury has your choice of bars and nightclubs, if you're into that kind of thing. Not that I haven't enjoyed hitting the town with friends for a night of dancing and pounding music, but nothing beats good company, good food and good drinks.

When I worked for the local newspaper, my coworkers and I would sometimes head to the Laughing Buddha to wind down after our shift. That meant around midnight for us, but that gave us enough time to sample their vast selection of beer and indulge in a midnight snack of stone-baked pizzas, deep fried pickles and roasted red pepper hummus.

For live band entertainment, the TowneHouse Tavern and Night Club are two downtown hotspots. But if I want more of a wine and cheese night with the girls,  Fromagerie Elgin is the place! Especially when Hugh Jazz, a local gypsy jazz band, is entertaining.

All these great little places carry Sudbury's local brew, Stack. If I didn't like the taste - I assure you, I do – I'd love it for the branding and unique beer names referring to Sudbury culture.

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