1000 Islands Scenic Cruise with Boldt Castle Views from Ivy Lea

Ivy Lea and the St. Lawrence River

Ivy Lea is a small riverside village in the township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, about 30 minutes east of Kingston, Ontario, and right beside the 1000 Islands International Bridge that links Canada and New York State. Its port sits off the scenic 1000 Islands Parkway, a riverside road lined with lookouts and cycle paths, and it is the closest Canadian departure point to the busiest cluster of islands.

The St. Lawrence River flows from Lake Ontario towards the Atlantic, and at this point it spreads into a maze of granite islands, the remains of an ancient mountain range worn down by glaciers. Local tradition counts as an island any piece of land that stays above water all year and supports at least one tree. Ivy Lea is the ideal start for a 1000 Islands cruise from the Canadian side because the boat reaches the main sights within minutes.

Boldt Castle on Heart Island

Boldt Castle is the most famous landmark of the region. A New York hotel owner began building this six-storey stone castle in 1900 as a gift for his wife, reshaping the island into the form of a heart. When she died suddenly in 1904, work stopped at once and the castle stood empty and unfinished for more than seven decades, slowly damaged by wind and ice.

Since 1977 it has been restored room by room and is now one of the most visited sights of the Thousand Islands. Heart Island lies on the American side near Alexandria Bay, and this Boldt Castle cruise from Canada lets you admire its towers, arches and the separate yacht house from the water without crossing the border, which is why no passport is needed. The boat slows down so you can take photos from both sides.

Millionaires' Row

In the late nineteenth century the Thousand Islands became a summer playground for wealthy families from New York, Philadelphia and other cities, who arrived by train and private steamboat. They built grand summer residences on their own islands, with boathouses, towers, verandas and lawns running down to the water. The stretch where these properties stand closest together became known as Millionaires' Row.

From the deck you see a mix of timber cottages, stone mansions and old boathouses, many still owned by families who return every summer. The narration explains how the area's hotels, steamboats and island life flourished in that golden age and how the river shaped daily life on the islands. It is one of the most photogenic parts of the cruise, especially in the soft light of the afternoon departure.

The Zavikon Islands and the Statue of St. Lawrence

The Zavikon Islands are two small rocky islands joined by a short footbridge, often called the world's smallest international bridge. Local legend says one island lies in Canada and the other in the United States, though both are in fact on the Canadian side, which only adds to the charm of the story. A small cottage and a flagpole complete one of the favourite photo stops on the river.

The cruise also passes the Statue of St. Lawrence, a figure of the saint who gave his name to the river, watching over the boats from the islands. Is the trip worth it? For most visitors the answer is yes: in one hour you see castles, island cottages and narrow channels that are impossible to appreciate from the shore. The best time to visit the 1000 Islands is from late spring to early autumn, when the boats run daily.