| The 1000 Islands are in the heart of the St. | | | | Parkway and continues to the Upper Canada |
| Lawrence River, running along the Canadian and | | | | Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Ingleside, then arriving |
| American sides of the border from Kingston to | | | | at Upper Canada Village Heritage Park. From the |
| Cornwall in Ontario.Exactly 1,864 Islands make up | | | | Village, the path continues into the village of |
| the 1000 Islands region. To become an official | | | | Morrisburg, with a section also completed in |
| part of the count, an island must meet two | | | | Iroquois.Here Ontario and the United States meet, |
| criteria: it must be above water 365 days a year | | | | their cultures blending in the waters of the St. |
| and it must support two living trees. Ferries or | | | | Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, the first in the |
| bridges provide access to Wellesley, Hill, Wolfe and | | | | Great Lakes. The native peoples called this region |
| Howe Islands. The islands are unique, offering a | | | | the "Garden of the Great Spirit". Today, many |
| wonderful recreation experience that spans two | | | | people still remark that this gorgeous garden of |
| nations. Each island has its own individuality with | | | | woods and waters that is the 1000 Islands is truly |
| features such as stately granite cliffs, soft sandy | | | | one of the most beautiful places on the planet. |
| bays, tall dark pines and vibrant maple trees-it's a | | | | Others will tell you its friendly atmosphere, fresh |
| sightseer's paradise. Many islands are privately | | | | outdoors and laid-back pace makes the 1000 |
| owned but ample public access can be found at | | | | Islands a place that inspires the spirit and renews |
| island parks and villages throughout the region.It | | | | the soul.At the turn-of-the-century in 1899, |
| was French explorers who named the region. | | | | George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the world |
| Vacationers discovered the islands in the 1870s, | | | | famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, |
| when wealthy people began to build summer | | | | set out to build a full size Rhineland Castle in |
| homes while other travelers came to stay in large | | | | Alexandria Bay, on Picturesque Heart Island, on |
| hotels. For more than a century the area has | | | | the New York State side of Lake Ontario. The |
| been a mecca for summer visitors. In the more | | | | grandiose structure was to be a display of his |
| distant past the islands were stepping stones | | | | love for his wife, Louise.Beginning in 1900, Boldt's |
| between New York State and the Province of | | | | family shared four glorious summers on the island |
| Ontario-in times of trouble between Canada and | | | | in the Alster Tower while 300 workers including |
| the United States, a place of refuge and a setting | | | | stonemasons, carpenters and artists fashioned |
| for disreputable deeds during the days of | | | | the six story, 120 room castle, complete with |
| Prohibition.On the Canadian side the Thousand | | | | tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a draw |
| Islands Parkway is one of the province's prettiest | | | | bridge and a dove cote. Not a single detail or |
| drives and well worth the detour off the 401 | | | | expense was spared. In 1904, tragedy struck. |
| freeway. It connects a string of attractive | | | | Boldt telegraphed the island and commanded the |
| riverbank communities from Kingston to Cornwall, | | | | workers to immediately "stop all construction". |
| the most notable of which is Brockville. Brockville's | | | | Louise had died suddenly. A broken hearted Boldt |
| King Street is dotted with stately old homes | | | | could not imagine his dream castle without his |
| including the remarkable Fulford Place, now a | | | | beloved. Boldt never returned to the island, leaving |
| national historic site. Fulford Place was built on a | | | | behind the structure as a monument of his love. |
| fortune made in patent medicine and the family | | | | For 73 years, the castle and various stone |
| were friends with such notables as William Lyon | | | | structures were left to the mercy of the wind, |
| Mackenzie King, longtime Prime Minister of Canada. | | | | rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand |
| The mansion is impressive and the stories about | | | | Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in |
| the people who lived here are fascinating.The rich | | | | 1977, it was decided that through the use of all |
| military history of Kingston is much in evidence, | | | | net revenues from the Castle operation it would |
| from the Royal Military College, seen across the | | | | be preserved for the enjoyment of future |
| bay, to Fort Henry and the 1846 Murney Martello | | | | generations. Since 1977, several million dollars have |
| Tower national historic site. Their most famous | | | | been applied to rehabilitating, restoring and |
| character is none other than the country's first | | | | improving the Heart Island structures.A very |
| Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald and his | | | | pleasant way to explore the 1000 islands is to |
| former home, Bellevue, is now a national historic | | | | take a twilight hour boat tour that unveils a |
| site that is maintained in brilliant period detail.The | | | | beauty of the river and islands not seen at other |
| sights and sounds of an 1860s village in the midst | | | | times of the day. These romantic tours explore a |
| of the harvest are yours to discover at Upper | | | | section of the islands not visited during the regular |
| Canada Village in Morrisburg. Every September | | | | day tours, including the Sport Island group and |
| they host a traditional Fall Fair where you can see | | | | historical Grenadier Island, the site of many battles |
| the "best of the best" in 19th century agricultural | | | | during the French and Indian War. These tours |
| products, livestock, garden-grown vegetables, | | | | and a number of others including a dinner cruise |
| crafts, cooking and handiwork. The Apples and | | | | looping around the islands through US and |
| Art Studio and Heritage Tour in Cornwall is a | | | | Canadian waters, are offered by boat tour |
| great venue for starting your Christmas | | | | companies out of Alexandria Bay.And finally, also |
| shopping.For the outdoor enthusiast there is the | | | | out of Alexandria Bay, there is a Hot Air Balloon |
| St. Lawrence Recreational Path. This recreational | | | | company that offers two flight times a day, |
| path stretches over 75 kms, the majority of | | | | weather permitting. One at sunrise and the other |
| which follows the shoreline of the St. Lawrence | | | | about two hours before sunset. Their flights last |
| River. The path begins in Lancaster travelling along | | | | about 45 minutes to an hour and the intended |
| the shoreline to Gray's Creek and then travels | | | | flight path is paralleling the river and the Islands, |
| through Cornwall to continue winding through the | | | | offering a completely different perspective on the |
| rolling terrain toward Long Sault. The path then | | | | 1000 Islands. |
| follows the island causeway of the Long Sault | | | | |