1000 Islands ...
What to Do
The 1000 Islands region is quite simply all about the St. Lawrence River
and what happened over many thousands of years of glaciers and erosion to
form the 30-40 miles of island paradise along one of the world's greatest
rivers. The region is very popular so there are certainly other things to
do but if you go there and do not get out on the river, you will miss the
reason for being there completely. Be sure to read our "Where
to Stay" page for some thoughts on how to enjoy the river while you
are staying on it!
Fishing is certainly one of the things people love to do in the 1000 Islands.
Northern Pike as well as Large and Small Mouth Bass (and the ever elusive
but not so much fun to fish for Muskellunge) are the primary goals of the
people fishing in the area. But any quiet riverbank should entertain children
catching Yellow Perch and Rock Bass. The Perch are good eating if they are
large enough to warrant the cleaning process. If you want to find the fish
and have a relaxing day, your best bet would be to go out with an experienced
fishing guide. Our recommendation is to call upon Larry Kernehan in Alexandria
Bay, NY for a great day out on the river. 
The
optional Shore Dinner is a St. Lawrence tradition you won't soon forget! Send
Larry an email directly at
bayguide@msn.com
to inquire.
If you don't arrive with a boat in tow, there are many boat rentals available
from either the American or Canadian side of the river. Be sure to have a
"real" chart of the river on board, not some small-scale map from
a road atlas! There are thousands of granite shoals in the river and some
are not marked. It is also much more fun to feel comfortable enough to explore
the river. Without a decent chart, you will quickly find how large the river
is and how confusing it can be to navigate to the more remote parts of the
river. If you are new to the river (or especially if you are not a seasoned
boater), keep track of your position on the chart because it can be surprisingly
hard to tell where one island begins and one ends in some areas.
Canoes are not recommended for anything more than short outings in the calmer
parts of the river or by experienced canoeists. Some areas are quite expansive
and the wind as well as motorboat traffic can make it too choppy for safe
and comfortable canoeing. Kayaks are better suited if you plan to paddle a
long distance and perhaps camp out on one of the many beautiful islands that
are maintained by the Canadian Parks Department. The traditional St. Lawrence
Skiff is also a great rowing craft that can easily handle the river as well
as being more comfortable and having much more room for gear than a kayak,
but it would be a challenge to find one to rent.
Alas, not everyone can handle a day of fishing or captaining his or her own
craft on the river. For the many who come to the region and want to see the
river, a tour boat is the only option. 
The
current craft run by most of the tour boat companies are too large and too
noisy. They all accompany the tour with a diatribe about the rich and famous
that built the many beautiful cottages along the American channel during the
turn of the century. Unfortunately, much of the "information" is
just plain wrong or glamorized with ridiculous anecdotes. The true history
of the region is far more interesting than any tour boat speech and makes
for excellent reading. If you do want to ride a tour boat, consider choosing
a line that still uses the traditional wooden tour boats, which are smaller
and might take you on a more interesting route. At the least, ask to see the
route the tour will take. You may want to incorporate a stop to either Boldt
Castle or Singer Castle within your tour. Both are interesting stops.
Perhaps the most interesting and well-presented "attraction" in
the 1000 Islands is the Antique
Boat Museum in Clayton NY. It features a wonderful collection of antique
boats and presents a fascinating insight of the region's history through the
watercraft used on, and often built along, the river. Here you can rent a
St. Lawrence Skiff to row around in the bay and find out how much fun it is
to row this well designed craft. They won't be originals but rather replicas
that are built in the boat shop at the museum.
Along with having some of the most beautiful island groups on the river, Canada also boasts some worthwhile stops if getting on the river itself is not possible or the weather is not great. Kingston is a very interesting small city with a number of good pubs, cafes and restaurants, many with outdoor seating. Downtown Kingston has many interesting shops and to date, no shopping mall has imposed itself in the downtown area! Therefore it is fun to walk the streets and there are many interesting houses just outside the business district that make a longer walk very pleasant.
