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Perhaps you know them as The Thousand Islands instead of The 1000 Islands?
Regardless, if your stay in Ottawa is long enough to allow you to consider a day trip out of that beautiful city, visiting and seeing some of the 1800 plus islands that make up the world famous area known as the 1000 Islands should be on your list.
For your interest, there's been a brand new flash show added at the bottom of this page. Enjoy!
Enjoy driving the 1000 Islands Parkway, located about 150 kilometers (110 miles) south of Ottawa.
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The 1000 Islands span about 80 kilometers (50 miles) of the St. Lawrence River, a river that forms the boundary between Canada and the United States.
They start just downstream on the St. Lawrence, east of Kingston, Ontario. and run almost none-stop almost all the way to Brockville, Ontario.
You can drive alongside the St. Lawrence River along the 1000 Islands Parkway, gazing over sometimes calm and sometimes turbulent St. Lawrence River into New York State from the Canadian side as you cruise along.
Getting There
Drive south from Parliament Hill on any of the north / south roads a short while until you reach the 417 highway (also known as the Queensway). Take the 417 heading west and travel 10 – 15 kilometers (6-9 miles) until you reach the 416 merge to the left. Take that merge and head south on the 416.
After about an hour you will reach the 401 highway. Take it westbound towards Brockville.
Brockville is another beautiful city to visit, and has, what I believe, to be one of the best “fish & chip” take away restaurants anywhere, as well as one of the best parking spots on Blockhouse Island with wonderful views of the St. Lawrence allowing you to sit at and enjoy watching the busy river life sail by while you munch excellent fish and hot, home cut french fries.
As you pass Brockville on the 401 move into the left lane as you’ll soon encounter the 1000 Islands Parkway exit, which exits to the left.
Take this exit, immediately slow down to 70-80 kilometers per hour (40-50 MPH) and enjoy the next 50 kilometers (30 miles) of scenic 1000 Islands Parkway, which ends near Gananoque Ontario.
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On the Canadian side of the St. Lawrence River, the 1000 Islands Parkway offers the visitor a host of amenities as well as gorgeous vistas.
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On the Parkway you can find marinas to launch, rent or moor your boat (the fishing in the 1000 Islands is great!), restaurants, resorts, picnic areas, provincial campgrounds, private lodgings and campgrounds, the famous 1000 Island cruises, golf and more.
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Small villages abound along the Parkway, such as quaint Rockport, the entry to which is shown in the picture just above.
When you reach Gananoque Ontario, you’ve reached the end of the Canadian side of the 1000 Islands Parkway.
Gananoque is, too, worthwhile visiting for it’s own right. There you can refresh yourself for the return journey to Ottawa, or perhaps take time to visit the 1000 Islands Casino and “invest” a few dollars in gambling? Save enough for gas for the return journey, won’t you?
Gananoque boasts some very nice hotels and is the home of the 1000 Islands Playhouse where a visitor can take in some world-class live theatre.
The 1000 Islands Parkway is beautiful year round. Enjoy the slideshow below, which should be working right about now!