A bird’s eye view of 1000 islands

| Christie

The 1000 islands, a North American archipelago, lie along the border between the state of New York (USA) and Ontario (Canada), stretching for about 80 km along Saint Lawrence River. With a rich history, unique culture, and also with endless shorelines of picturesque islands, this area is a sightseer’s paradise, and a popular place for an authentic vacation. They are also famous for their magnificent summer homes. From Boldt Castle to House of Seven Gables, wealthy people have built retreats here since early 1870’s.

1000 islands

Are they really a thousand islands? Rest assured we had the exact same question!

We found out that there are actually 997 islands in the Thousand Islands, officially. But when one includes all the shoals and rocks, it comes to a total of 1867, which sounds so much better!

Cruising around 1000 islands

Scenic routes can be taken on both sides of the Thousand islands, including the Thousand Islands International Bridge that connects these two countries. Opened in 1938 by Prime Minister Mackenzie and President Roosevelt, the Thousand Islands International Bridge stands today as a symbol of peace and alliance between US and Canada.

Thousand Islands International Bridge

There are many recreational activities you can do here, from boat trips, kayaking, biking, visiting castles, you name it. We happened to pass by the 1000 Islands Tower, on our way back from the Adirondack Mountains, so it was a very convenient place to stretch our legs a bit while getting a bird’s eye view of the surroundings from 130 meters high.

Thousand Islands Tower

Originally called Skydeck, the 1000 Islands Tower was opened in 1965. At the time of opening, the tower had the smallest width-to-length ratio of any building in the world. Rising above a lovely section of islands known as the Lost Channel, it offers a 65 km view in all directions on a sunny day.

From here, St Lawrence River runs about 1,000 km to the Gulf before reaching the Atlantic.

St Lawrence river

Running continuously, the elevator takes only 40 seconds to reach the first of three observation decks. While the first deck is entirely covered, the second deck has an opening, the third one is completely open, providing an opportunity to enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the 1000 Islands and St Lawrence River.

A tour guide is available at the first level to explain the area and answer questions. But also, some material is provided on a large table, with other destinations in the nearby area.

Tip(s) of the day:

* Best time to visit: end of September; while you can enjoy the fall foliage, you can avoid the crowds of the summer;

* Admission tickets are 17CAD+ taxes for adults, and the tower is opened seasonal – May to mid-October

* Make sure there is a good visibility before going up, to enjoy best views possible.

~ visited in September 2023

27 thoughts on “A bird’s eye view of 1000 islands”

    1. Only one?.. I feel very generous today, you can pick whichever you want🤣
      It is a very nice area, indeed, including all those fancy boats bragging along the channel🙂

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  9. The view from the tower is quite spectacular – I am in awe of those sparkling blue waters! The 1000 Islands scenery certainly provides eye candy galore. I would love to pop on a cruise to discover the islands at a slower pace and visit its historic battlefields and lighthouses. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. We took actually a cruise several years ago between these cute islands, and I can confirm, it is so nice to sit down and admire the scenery😍 I still have Boldt Castle on my list, for next time when we’ll be in this area! Thank you for stopping by, truly appreciated! xoxo
      Have a lovely week ahead🌞❤️

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  11. What wonderful views you have here Christie! I think I probably would have turned around at the first deck (maybe the second one if I was feeling brave) of the 1000 Islands Tower … so thanks for going all the way to the top to show how beautiful the views are 😉.

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