Described by many as one of the most beautiful places in the world, the “1000 Islands” archipelago was named “Garden of the Great Spirit” by the natives. It’s a wonderful place that offers all kinds of attractions for the whole family.

This is where Canada and the US meet, their cultures blending in the waters of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lake Ontario. The “1000 Islands” complex stretches 80 km downstream of Kingston and numbers over 1,864 islands both large and small. To be counted, the islands have to meet three criteria: they must stay above water 365 days a year, they must sustain at least one living tree and have the minimum size of one square foot. Some islands have golf courses and castles built on them, while others barely fit a small house.

The beauty of this place was first discovered by French explorers and later, in the nineteenth century, by wealthy American and Canadian vacationers who considered it the perfect summer destination. Luxury hotels were built in the area, steamboats organized extensive tours on the islands and high class citizens bought whole islands and built private houses. Before it became a popular attraction, the area was a place of refuge for people who wanted to hide from the world, it was practically impossible to find someone in this natural labyrinth.

Boldt Castle

Each island is unique not only through size and shape but also through the sights they offer. Some are completely covered by pines and maple trees, others show stately granite cliffs and sandy bays and others, like Heart Island, host architectural masterpieces.

Boldt Castle, perhaps the most beautiful building in the entire “1000 Islands” complex, has a sad love story behind it. George C. Boldt, the millionaire owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel at the beginning of the nineteenth century, decided to build a rhineland castle as symbol of his love for his wife Louise. Sadly she died before the castle was completed and the heartbroken Boldt ceased construction. In 1977 local authorities decided to allocate serious funds to the rehabilitation of Boldt Castle, and now it is one of the most popular landmarks in the region.

“1000 Islands” doesn’t only offer memorable sights, tourists that decide to travel here have a lot of fun activities to choose from. For fishing enthusiasts there are a number of hot spots along the St. Lawrence River, and if diving is your passion, you’ll be pleased to know “1000 Islands” is one of the top freshwater diving spots in the world. There are also many interesting boat tours around the islands, hunting grounds, ATV trails and museums.

1000 Islands is definitely not one of those tourist destinations that you can fully discover in just one trip, and after you’ve seen it once, you’ll definitely want to come back again. So waste no more time and plan a trip to this wondrous place right now.

Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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