The 1,000 Islands are located in the heart of the Saint Lawrence River, along the Canadian and US sides of the border from Kingston to Cornwall in Ontario.
Exactly 1,864 islands make up the 1,000-island region. To become an official part of the count, an island must meet two criteria: it must be above water 365 days a year and it must be home to two live trees. Ferries or bridges provide access to Wellesley, Hill, Wolfe and Howe Islands. The islands are unique and offer a wonderful recreational experience that spans two nations. Each island has its own individuality with features such as majestic granite cliffs, soft sandy bays, tall dark pines and vibrant maples – it is a vacationer’s paradise. Many islands are privately owned, but ample public access can be found in parks and island towns throughout the region.
It was the French explorers who gave the region its name. Vacationers discovered the islands in the 1870s, when wealthy people started building summer houses while other travelers came to stay in big hotels. For more than a century, the area has been a mecca for summer visitors. In a more distant past, the islands were stepping stones between the state of New York and the province of Ontario in times of conflict between Canada and the United States, a place of refuge and the scene of acts of disrepute during the days of Prohibition. .
On the Canadian side, the Thousand Islands Parkway is one of the most beautiful roads in the province and well worth the detour from Highway 401. It connects a string of attractive riverside communities from Kingston to Cornwall, the most notable of which is Brockville. Brockville’s King Street is dotted with stately old houses, including the remarkable Fulford Place, now a National Historic Site. Fulford Place was built on a fortune made in patent medicine and the family were friends with notables such as William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s longtime Prime Minister. The mansion is impressive and the stories about the people who lived here are fascinating.
Kingston’s rich military history is abundantly evident, from the Royal Military College, visible across the bay, to Fort Henry and the 1846 Murney Martello Tower National Historic Site. Its most famous figure is none other than the country’s prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, and his former home, Bellevue, is now a national historic site maintained in brilliant period detail.
The sights and sounds of an 1860s village in the midst of harvest are yours to discover at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg. Every September they organize a traditional Autumn Fair where you can see “the best of the best” in agricultural products, livestock, vegetables, handicrafts, cuisine and crafts from the 19th century. The Apples and Art Studio and Heritage Tour in Cornwall is a great place to start your Christmas shopping.
For outdoor enthusiasts, there’s the St. Lawrence Recreational Trail. This recreational trail stretches for 75 km, most of which follows the shoreline of the St. Lawrence River. The path begins in Lancaster traveling along the coast to Gray’s Creek and then travels through Cornwall to continue winding through rolling terrain towards Long Sault. The path then follows the Long Sault Island Parkway causeway and continues to the Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ingleside, then reaches Upper Canada Village Heritage Park. From the town, the trail continues to the town of Morrisburg, with a section also completed in Iroquois.
Here Ontario and the United States meet, their cultures mingling on the waters of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, the first of the Great Lakes. The native peoples called this region the “Garden of the Great Spirit”. Today, many people still comment that this beautiful garden of forests and waters that is 1000 Islands is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Others will tell you that its friendly atmosphere, fresh outdoors, and laid-back pace make 1000 Islands a place that inspires the spirit and renews the soul.
At the turn of the century in 1899, George C. Boldt, millionaire owner of the world-famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, set out to build a full-size Rhineland castle on Alexandria Bay, on the picturesque island of heart, on the New York state side of Lake Ontario. The grandiose structure was to be a token of his love for his wife, Louise.
Starting in 1900, Boldt’s family shared four glorious summers on the island in the Alster Tower, while 300 workers, including masons, carpenters and artists, built the six-story, 120-room castle, complete with tunnels, a power station, Italian gardens, a drawbridge and a pigeon side. Not a single detail or expense was spared. In 1904, tragedy struck. Boldt telegraphed to the island and ordered the workers to “stop all construction” immediately. Louise had died suddenly. Boldt, heartbroken, could not imagine the castle of his dreams without his beloved. Boldt never returned to the island, leaving the structure behind as a monument to his love. For 73 years, the castle and various stone structures were left to the mercy of wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977, it was decided that by using all the net proceeds from the operation of the Castle it would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. Since 1977, several million dollars have been applied to the rehabilitation, restoration, and improvement of Heart Island structures.
A very pleasant way to explore the 1000 islands is to take a twilight boat tour that reveals a beauty of the river and islands not seen at other times of the day. These romantic tours explore a section of the islands not visited during regular day tours, including the Sport Island group and historic Grenadier Island, the site of many battles during the French and Indian War. These tours and several others, including an island-hopping dinner cruise through US and Canadian waters, are offered by boat tour companies from Alexandria Bay.
And finally, also outside of Alexandria Bay, there is a Hot Air Balloon company that offers twice a day, weather permitting. One at sunrise and the other about two hours before sunset. Its flights last between 45 minutes and an hour and the planned flight path is parallel to the river and the islands, offering a completely different perspective of the 1000 islands.