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