Straddling the U.S.–Canada border, the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River is one of North America’s most beautifully preserved historic landscapes. More than 1,800 islands dot these waters, and what’s remarkable is how well the Victorian-era estates, boathouses, and stone towers that line the shoreline have been maintained — a testament to how much this region is cherished by the communities on both sides of the border. The day we passed through, the clouds were doing exactly what they’re supposed to do — building dramatically overhead and casting gorgeous light on the water, giving these grand old structures an almost storybook quality.
The St. Lawrence corridor has long been on my radar for reasons beyond the scenery. The Thousand Islands is celebrated as one of the world’s best freshwater wreck diving destinations, with over 200 shipwrecks preserved beneath the surface — some dating back to the War of 1812. Whether you’re watching the light shift over a castle-like powerhouse on the river or rounding a point to find a lone stone turret rising from a rocky shore, the region rewards slow exploration above and below the waterline.
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