Things To Do In Gananoque & The 1000 Islands On A Long Weekend

The great thing about Ontario is that it’s so big you can have an epic road trip almost every weekend. On our most recent one we headed to Gananoque for a long weekend getaway. Although it’s a small town, there are many things to do in Gananoque and the surrounding region to keep you busy.

After spending a long weekend in Gananoque we realized what an underrated town it is. Most people tend to look at cities, like Ottawa or Kingston, for their getaways but there’s a lot hidden below the surface of small towns like this!

The gateway to Gananoque and The 1000 Islands

How To Get To Gananoque & The 1000 Islands

Getting to the town of Gananoque by car is quite easy. It’s a 3.5 hour drive from Toronto, 1.5 from Ottawa, and only thirty minutes from Kingston. Upstate New York is across the St. Lawrence River and Gananoque is only about 15 minutes away from the border.

If you prefer to ride the rails you can hop onto a Via Rail train as they stop in Gananoque twice a day. Once going east (Toronto to Ottawa for example) and once going west. Passengers can also disembark at Kingston and make their way across to Gananoque and The 1000 Islands.

Since Gananoque is on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, it’s also easily accessible by boat. If you’re coming from New York, keep in mind that you must report to Canadian Customs before coming ashore because you’ll be crossing an international border.

Things To Do In Gananoque On A Long Weekend

According to the 2021 Canadian Census, Gananoque had a population of around 5,383 permanent residents. Come summertime though, the population explodes with thousands of tourists and seasonal residents coming in. Surprisingly, German visitors make up a large part of that.

With so many people visiting it’s no surprise that downtown Gananoque and the 1000 Islands is at its busiest on weekends. Because of this, we recommend visiting during the week to avoid some of the crowds. Sometimes you might get lucky and have the top Gananoque tourist attractions all to yourself. Hotel prices are also a little cheaper during the week.

From a budding food scene to a historical downtown to unmatched nature, you’re sure to find a number of things to do in Gananoque to keep you busy all weekend long.

Take A Helicopter Ride

One of the most unique things to do in Gananoque is take a helicopter tour over the 1000 Islands with tour company 1000 Islands Helicopter Tours. The company was started in 2014 by Dave Kouri and is the only one offering helicopter tours in Gananoque and the 1000 Islands .

Time to get the helicopter tour started.

They offer five unique tours, but you can be assured of spectacular views on all of them. In 2019, their 30-minute 2 Castle Tour was labeled a Canadian Signature Experience.

The great thing is that they also operate all year round so it’s perfect if you’re looking for things to do in Gananoque during the winter.

1000 Islands Helicopter Tours

Their helipad is located off a dirt road just off the 401 and a few minutes north of downtown Gananoque. As we took off we quickly climbed over the highway, banked to the left and were over the mighty St Lawrence River. Luckily it was a sunny day and we were able to see for miles in every direction. From our vantage point we saw many islands and homes that ranged from modest to luxurious. The waters along the north shore were crystal clear and our pilot told us that a little higher up from our current location, they’re able to see shipwrecks lying on the bottom of the river.

Boldt Castle

One of the highlights, for me, was being able to fly over Boldt Castle on Heart Island. Hotelier George Boldt spent four years building this castle for his wife who tragically passed away before it was completed. The construction stopped right after her death in 1904 and George never returned to Heart Island.

Explore The Outdoors

As you’d expect, a region with over 1000 islands (1864 to be exact) has a lot of outdoor activities, both on land and on the water. There’s way too many to fit in just a single weekend, but keep reading for some of the highlights of our trip.

Take A Self-Guided Heritage Walking Tour

If you’re into historical buildings then this is a must-do activity, and best of all it’s free! Gananoque has a long history and many of the buildings that line its streets have great stories to tell.

The Gananoque Heritage Walking Tour uses an app that guides users through downtown Gananoque. If you prefer you can stop by the Gananoque 1000 Islands Visitor Centre for a map instead. The app gives a lot more information about the 1000 Islands and the history of the various buildings that you’ll come across. From when they were constructed to what they were used for throughout their lifetime, it also describes how the neighbourhood itself has evolved over time. The stories can be read or listened to using headphones.

The Gananoque Town Hall

Apart from all the interesting information I love the photo slider where you can see what the building looked like in its early days and what it looks like today.

Ride, Drive, Or Walk The Thousand Islands Parkway

The 40km long Thousand Islands Parkway is a scenic route that runs alongside the St. Lawrence River between Gananoque and Brockville.

The parkway can be explored by car, bike or even on foot. Cyclists and pedestrians have access to a paved path which runs along the north side of the Parkway.

In addition to stunning lookout points along the river there are also small towns, beaches, historical sites, and hiking trails, all of which are free to access.

1000 Islands National Park, the third-smallest National Park in Canada

One of the more popular hiking spots is the Thousand Islands National Park, the third-smallest National Park in Canada. Even though much of the park encompasses islands and islets there are a lot of trails on the mainland that takes hikers to great lookout spots.

Kayaking In The 1000 Islands

One of the best ways to experience the Thousand Islands is from the water and kayaking is a great way to do so. There are a number of kayaking companies in Gananoque and The 1000 Islands that offer equipment rentals as well as guided and self guided packages. If you’ve never kayaked before, or you’re a first time visitor, a guided tour would be the best option for you. Expect to see various wildlife and the unique topography of this UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve.

If you prefer something with a little more horsepower you can also rent personal watercrafts such as  jet skis, pontoon boats, and fishing boats.

Take A Boat Cruise

One cannot visit Gananoque and the Thousand Islands without taking a boat cruise, it’s one of those must do things in Gananoque!

Rockport Cruise Lines

The St Lawrence River is one of the most important waterways in Canada, and maybe even the world, as it links the Atlantic Ocean to the great lakes. There are two main boat tour companies that operate in the region, City Cruises Gananoque and Rockport Cruises. City Cruises operates out of the marina in Gananoque itself while Rockport Cruises is about 20 minutes from downtown Gananoque.

Both cruise lines offer a variety of cruises such as sunset cruises and tours of the landmarks dotted along the river.

Zavikon Island

We took the one hour cruise with Rockport Cruises and thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of the highlights on our cruise included Boldt Castle, the Boldt Castle Yacht House, and spectacular views along the St. Lawrence Seaway. We also cruised by Zavikon Island with what some claim is the world’s shortest International bridge. I hate to be that guy but that’s not true as both islands are in Canadian waters.

Dine At Various Restaurants In Gananoque

You shouldn’t sleep on the food scene in this little town. The restaurants in Gananoque serve up a variety of dishes that’ll cater to almost every tastebud. What struck me as we walked along King Street in downtown Gananoque was that there weren’t any chain restaurants. It’s not like there weren’t any, they were just outside the downtown core, which I loved! It was a refreshing break from the usual fast food chains that are unavoidable in bigger cities.

From croissants to grilled cheese sandwiches to schnitzels and more, the restaurants we visited in Gananoque were full of flavourful variety.

Maple Leaf Restaurant

One of the most popular restaurants in Gananoque, with locals as well as visitors, is the Maple Leaf Restaurant. They opened over thirty years ago and have been operated by the same family ever since. They’re known for their homestyle Czech cuisine with schnitzels being the star on the menu. Everything is made from scratch and the kitchen is open so you can easily check out the action.

Veal schnitzel from Maple Leaf Reastaurant

We had our first dinner here and devoured every single morsel of the schnitzels we ordered. Don’t forget to end your meal with a slice of their homemade apple strudel.

Laverne’s Eatery

Just down the street we found Laverne’s Eatery, a locally-owned spot that has a loyal following. They’re known for their specialty coffees, sandwiches, pastries, and salads all made with products sourced from local purveyors.

Breakfast from Laverne’s Eatery

We had some of their breakfast pastries one morning and were blown away. Not only were they nice to look at, they were quite tasty! Their lunch options also looked delicious.

Panache Bakery & Cafe

After a bit of exploring you should head to Panache Bakery & Cafe for a light lunch. Sandwiches, pastries, teas, and handcrafted coffee-based drinks are all offered up here with a smile. Grab a seat by the big windows that look out onto King Street and watch the world go by. It’s a cozy spot with walls decorated with works from local artists. We had a delicious grilled cheese sandwich with pesto and gruyere on their sourdough bread.

Pesto grilled cheese sandwich

The Purple House Cafe

One of our favorite meals during our weekend trip was at The Purple House Cafe. Located near the marina, on a residential street, this spot is hard to miss. It’s a big purple house with a lush garden filled with people with big smiles on their faces. The (aptly named) Purple House Cafe is known for their tasty salads and arguably the best wood-fired pizza in Gananoque. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating but I highly recommend sitting outside in the garden.

Pizza and salad from the Purple House Cafe

The vibe, abundant garden, delicious pizzas, and friendly service makes this one of the best restaurants in Gananoque in my book.

Riva Restaurant In Gananoque

If you’re looking for a more romantic spot then head to Riva in downtown Gananoque for a night of Italian cuisine. Riva is situated in a beautiful historic building steps away from Confederation Park. The building itself is quite lovely as it’s an old, but renovated historic building in Gananoque. Riva serves lunch and dinner and they also have a small market stocked with a variety of frozen meals, soups, pizza, and baked goods. They also operate a wine shop where you can grab a bottle, or two, to go with your takeaway dinners.

An absolutely delicious osso buco from Riva

For lunch you can get a variety of salads, pizzas, and pastas. For dinner they kick it up a bit with steaks, seafood, a bigger pasta selection, and nightly features. I was impressed with the wine list at Riva as there were some that I’ve never even heard of.  The staff were very knowledgeable and were able to easily walk us through the list.  Service at Riva was impeccable and everyone made us feel welcomed. I had their osso buco special and I couldn’t have been happier with my choice.

Explore The Neighbouring Region

Gananoque is a small town and its in a part of Ontario where there’s a lot to see. On our second afternoon there we were supposed to visit a local museum but unfortunately it was closed. Instead of fretting about it, we jumped in the car and headed to Chaffey’s Lock about thirty minutes away.

Chaffey’s Lock

Chaffey’s Lock is a lovely little cottage community that’s situated on the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This little area is known for its lock station, beautiful scenery, waterways, and The Opinicon, a historic resort on Opinicon Lake. Apart from the lodgings, people head to the resort for its restaurant and beautiful manicured gardens.

They also have a lovely little ice cream shop on the property so do yourself a a favor and grab an ice cream cone and spend some time strolling the grounds and taking in the views of the lake.

In Chaffey’s Lock we met up with Anne-Marie Forcier of Rideau Tours. I met Anne-Marie a few years ago so after a bit of catching up she took us on a tour of the surrounding region then lent us some bikes for a couple of hours. During the warmer months you can rent bicycles, stand up paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes from Rideau Tours. They also offer tours both on the water and on land. I wish we had more time in Chaffey’s Lock as I would’ve loved to experience one of their curated tours.

I had my eye on their Pedal-Paddle-Picnic tour which included a half day bike rental, a half-day kayak rental and a gourmet picnic basket.

Take in Some Live Theatre

CBC Radio declared the Thousand Island Playhouse in Gananoque to be “The most charming theatre in Canada”. After one visit for one of their locally produced shows you’ll see why.

Located right on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, the Thousand Island Playhouse was established in 1982 when the building was purchased from the Gananoque Canoe Club. After some renovations the building was eventually converted into a 360 seat theatre.

The Thousand Islands Plauhouse

The location couldn’t be more perfect as guests can get to the Thousand Island Playhouse either by car or boat. If you arrive by boat the theatre even offers complimentary docking. Along the outside of the theatre guests can relax on the patio that runs along the front of the building. From the patio you get expansive views of the river and some of the islands. Inside the main theatre itself you’d be hard pressed to find a seat with a bad view.

The Thousand Islands Playhouse has come a long way since 1982. It now welcomes over 40,000 guests per year and is one of the top summer theatre festivals in Ontario. Performers come from across Canada and over 80% of the shows are written by Canadians.

Conclusion

We had a jam-packed weekend of fun activities in Gananoque, and just scratched the surface of what this idyllic little town had to offer. We visited at the start of fall, but I’d love to come back in summer or winter to see a new side of Gananoque. Gananoque and the 1000 Islands is a beautiful region of Ontario and we can’t recommend it enough!

Disclaimer: This blog post was sponsored by Gananoque & The 1000 Islands Tourism so we could share our experience in the region with you. As always, opinions are our very own.