Friday, 3 June 2011

Thousand Islands more than salad dressing


Online Travel Vietnam: The Thousand Island region has been delighting visitors on both sides of the border for centuries. And that is why the Canadian and U.S. governments work together to promote tourism to this scenically rich region.


The Thousand Islands is the name of an archipelago of islands that straddle the Canada-U. S border in the St. Lawrence River. The islands stretch for about 80 km downstream from Kingston, and they range in size from 100 square kilometres to smaller islands occupied by a single residence.

There are actually 1,864 islands that make up the 1000 Islands. And this exact count can be tracked since there are very precise qualifications. To be considered as part of the 1000 Islands, a land mass must meet two criteria: it must be above water 365 days a year and it must support two living trees.

The area was discovered by vacationers in the 1870s. During that time, many distinguished visitors made the region widely known as a summer resort.

Two of the most famous families were the Singers and the Boldts. The Singer family was known for manufacturing sewing machines and also for their summer home on Dark Island -now known as Singer Castle.

One of the other famous residents was George Boldt, proprietor of the Waldorf- Astoria Hotel in New York City. In 1900, he launched an ambitious construction project to build a huge castle on Heart Island. It was to be one of the largest private homes in America, but the construction ceased abruptly in early 1904 after the death of Boldt's wife Louise.

It is also said that George Boldt popularized Thousand Island dressing. Apparently, a local resident gave him the recipe and he liked it so much that he instructed his staff to put it on the menu at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Today, the area is still popular among vacationers, campers, and boaters, and is often referred to as the "fresh water boating capital of the world." Visitors can explore the beauty of the region from boat cruises that weave among the islands.

This area boasts a variety of outdoor activities such as swimming, kayaking and cycling. Or, if live theatre is your passion, visit the 1000 Islands Playhouse on the waterfront of Gananoque -- boaters can even dock there while they see a show!

The Thousand Islands are all unique, offering visitors a wonderful recreation experience spanning two nations.

Julia Bryan handles communications and public relations for DeNure Tours in Lindsay, Ont.

Source: canoe

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