Discovering the 1000 Islands

Since I was a little kid, I dreamed of getting my driver's license, putting the pedal to the metal (figuratively of course) and going on a road trip with my friends. Our journey would have all the makings of the typical girls trip road trip. There would be plenty of singing, story-telling, laughter, and roadside pitstops and burgers. At the time, I envisioned that we would have a big map sprawled out on the dashboard, and yes, we would get lost a few times, but each twist and turn would make the stories we would share with our grandkids all the funnier. So, I waited to turn 16 with great anticipation. Then my 16th birthday came and went. No license, no car, no road trip. Then my 17th birthday came and went. Then my 18th, my 19th…you get the picture.

Finally, this summer (at the age of 21) my dream came true. Friends? Check. License? In my purse. Music? Already organized into a long playlist. Car? Fueled and ready to go. Destination? The second star to the right and straight on till morning. (No, I kid, it's Mallorytown).

So, one summer morning, my friends and I piled in my Jeep (the perfect road tripping car, honestly, especially if going semi-all terrain like we did) with our belongings and a stash of food and cool tunes and we headed towards Mallorytown, the doorway to the aptly-named 1000 Islands. With me at the wheel, and a full tank of gas our adventure began as we drove towards our destination: a lovely AirBnB hosted by the equally lovely Ruth.

Honestly, while Mallorytown itself is quite dull, but if you bring a car — and I would highly suggest you do so you can head to neighbouring towns (like Brockville and Gananoque) and discover the thrills and delights that each place has in store, on top of exploring what the region's 1000 Islands have in store for you. One thing to note about the 1000 Islands, is that the islands are actually split between the US and Canada. Therefore, if you plan to do any island hopping (even if it's via canoe or something), make sure to have your passport on hand.

Day 1: Mallorytown

Despite being completely wiped out from our drive down, we were determined to make the most of our stay. The scenery in Mallorytown is beautiful, especially the waterfront. So we decided to spend the afternoon after our drive on the beach. We walked a good 40 minutes to get there (because we could not stand being in a car any longer) and enjoyed a very relaxing time in the cool blue water. Then we kicked off our first night with good old fashioned pizza (the epitome of girl's trip cuisine) at Brockville's Boston Pizza.

Day 2: Gordon's Island

There was no time to waste. So after a lovely breakfast provided by our host, we headed out in search of adventure. After some searching, we found a canoe rental place with our name all over it. We drove to Gananoque (another gateway to the 1000 Islands) to rent a canoe to go visit some of the islands. In the end, we only ended up exploring one, but only because a) canoeing was harder than we remembered it being and b) we encountered plenty of surprises that day, that made us stay at our chosen location even longer. Thus, we spent the day at the neighbouring Gordon Island, where we met a lovely and diverse group of experienced sailors and houseboat renters who quite literally showed us the ropes. We learned how to tie a boat to the dock, they gave us a tour of their houseboat, and they provided us with floaties and a ladder to get in and out of the lake. They were so kind! We ate food, swam around, played games, explored the island, and then we canoed home.

Day 2: The Brockville Tunnel

That evening we headed to Brockville, to witness the famed Brockville Tunnel. The tunnel is essentially a decommissioned railway tunnel that runs through a good portion of the underground of the town. The highlight by far is the changing colours, lighting, and music that makes the walk more interesting and allows for some pretty fun photo opportunities.

Day 3: Home?

Since it was our last day together, so we squeezed in as much fun as we possibly could. After a yummy breakfast provided by Ruth—she makes some great muffins—we drove to the nearby National Park and did two hikes. (Note: Make sure to bring bug spray, because mosquitoes and flies up there do not mess around). Then we began our equally adventurous journey back home.

Pit Stop 1: Reid's Dairy Parlour, Belleville, Ontario

My friends insisted that we stop here, for this ice cream parlour is famed for their high-quality dairy and their enormous portions of ice cream offered at super low prices. I will be the first to admit that it was well worth the stop. We got sooooo much ice cream for like $3. I am still in shock and am looking forward to stopping by again to try the other myriad of unique flavours available.

Pit Stop 2: Sandbanks Dunes Beach (aka The Dunes), Prince Edward County, Ontario

The waiter at the Brockville Boston Pizza had recommended that we check out The Dunes. According to him, it was a beach in Prince Edward County that was known for its Caribbean-like waters and sand that made you forget that you were just somewhere in the middle of Ontario. We could not pass up this opportunity and so we decided to see for ourselves if The Dunes were all that it was cracked up to be. It was. The sand was lovely and the water was great apparently, but I was way too tired to get wet again (but it gets two thumbs up from Myriam and Printsessa on my behalf). (P.S. Printsessa is also a Youtuber! So make sure to check her videos out for more fun content)

Pit Stop 3: Toronto (finally!)

We got home in safe, sound, and exhausted, but excited for all of the adventures next summer has in store for us.

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