The St. Lawrence River area has several fantastic summertime attractions, including castles, vineyards, lighthouses, and charming islands. The St. Lawrence Seaway is a massive project that includes a network of lakes, rivers, and locks stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the western tip of Lake Superior, a distance of 3,790 kilometres. Here are the top destinations to visit if you are planning a small ship cruising trip in the area.
Small Ship Cruising Options
- An 80-kilometre stretch of the river from Kingston to Brockville is dotted by a scattering of sparsely vegetated islands known as the Thousand Islands. A cruise is the best way to view the islands; you can find them in most riverbank cities like Kingston. However, the ones departing from Gananoque are highly recommended.
- Luxury vacation mansions in the Thousand Islands were famous among Hollywood’s A-list during the Gilded Age. Frederick Bourne, the Singer Sewing Machine Company’s president, constructed Singer Castle on Dark Island in 1905, and there are hidden passages, a dungeon, and tunnels beneath the surface. The charming Boldt Castle is the most visited.
- While having your boat is convenient, it is not required for navigating the St. Lawrence River. You will find excellent small ship cruising options to visit the castles, Millionaire’s Row, or different lighthouses.
- In the Thousand Islands, tenting and cottages are available, but Wellesley Island State Park has the most possibilities. It has remained unchanged from its idyllic Norman Rockwell days.
- Clayton’s Antique Boat Museum has a fantastic collection of boats. The boat museum has the continent’s most extensive collection of historic watercraft. You can learn more about Guy Lombardo, known as the “The World’s Fastest Bandleader,” and you will find out more about his passion for racing in a building named “The Quest for Speed.”
- The Handweaving Museum and facilities for weaving and ceramics are located in Clayton’s Thousand Island Arts Center. You can take a class if you want to. The National Register of Historic Places in Clayton, the famous Clayton Opera House, hosts a variety of musical and theatrical performances.
- You can find several wineries in the St. Lawrence Valley. Alexandria Bay is home to several distilleries like Dark Island Spirits and Clayton Distillery. The hops and barley used by the Wood Boat Brewery here are grown in the state. A local Massena business, Kanab Orchards, makes premium hard cider.
St Lawrence Cruise Lines offers a range of small ship cruising options, and you can also visit the Moses-Saunders Power Dam. For more details, please contact us.