A Road Trip Story - Part 4. 1000 Islands
Retrace the journey by reading the first 3 parts of this road trip story - A Road Trip Story - Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3
After a quiet and peaceful night in the North Country Welcome Center, I set my next destination to 1000 Islands / Wellesley Island. However, studying the surrounding area, there are still plenty of places to visit in the mainland. I decided to visit these places before crossing the bridge to get to 1000 Islands.
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| @ the welcome center, planning how to explore 1000 Islands |
And as if I am on a mission, I visited all these state parks, all along scenic byway Rt 12.
- Grass Point State Park
- Cedar Point State Park
- Burnham Point State Park
- Keewaydin State Park
- Kring Point State Park
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| Tibbetts Point Lighthouse (1854) |
Trivia. The original Tibbetts Point Lighthouse was built in 1827, with the current one in 1854. It is still active, and one of few lighthouses that still use Fresnel lens.
After Cape Vincent, it was a drive back and past the welcome center to visit the next 2 parks, Keewaydin and Kring Point.
All these state parks are clean and beautiful, and the towns hosting these parks also beautiful, with interesting areas to visit. I wished I could stay in all of them, but I could only stay in 1 park for tonight.
Kring Point State Park - Camping
At first, I planned to stay at Burnham Point State Park because of the proximity of the tent sites to the water, which would be perfect for sunset and sunrise viewing. Kring Point State Park campground was also beautiful. I checked for any available site and decided to stay here for the night.
Most of the sites in the campground are in waterfront with views of the river or bay. I didn't get a site that was really close to the water, but a just a short walk from my site gave me a view of the beautiful sunset.
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| Sunset at Kring Point State Park |
I've gathered enough twigs and dead wood for a camp fire and had a sumptuous dinner.
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| Spicy Jjajangmyeon for dinner |
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| Dessert to end the day |
The next day, I drove back to the welcome center and crossed the toll bridge to Wellesley Island. As I drove by the bridge, I saw some people walking on the bridge! Interesting, I said.
Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands constitute a North American archipelago of 1,864 islands that straddles the Canada–US border in the Saint Lawrence River as it emerges from the northeast corner of Lake Ontario.
The islands range in size from over 40 square miles to smaller islands occupied by a single residence, or uninhabited outcroppings of rocks. To count as one of the Thousand Islands, emergent land within the river channel must have at least one square foot (0.093 m2) of land above water level year-round, and support at least two living trees. (author's note. I thought it's just one tree)
- Wikipedia
Wellesley Island
Wellesley Island is one of the largest islands in the 1000 Islands region, connected to the mainland by the 1000 Islands toll bridge. It is home to 2 state parks, DeWolf Point and Wellesley Island State Park, where I camped for tonight.
Wellesley Island State Park - Camping
Wellesley Island State Park is the largest camping complex in the Thousand Islands region with 432 campsites. When I drove to the park, the park staff at the entrance booth was very eager and helpful when I said I am looking for a quiet site away from the crowd with a view of the river and sunset (what an ask!). She guided me to go to the campground office and said they would be able to help me better. The staff at the office was very nice and helpful as well. She gave me a map, marked the available sites based on my preference, and told me to go and check the sites and come back to her to book what I have chosen. I did so, and found my perfect site - a remote site by the river with a potential nice sunset! I booked the site and what's next?
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| My campsite at Wellesley Island State Park |
After setting up my camp, I went to visit the 1000 Islands Park, a historic community park in the southwest end of Wellesley Island. It is a quaint community, with Victorian-style homes. I enjoyed lunch at The Guzzle, the only restaurant in the community, got an ice cream after lunch, and walked around with my ice cream in hand.
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| Behind this gazebo are some beautiful Victorian-style homes |
Tiny islands in the 1000 Islands region can be seen and identified from the park. Rock Island Lighthouse State Park is one of them.
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| Rock Island Lighthouse |
After enjoying the day at the 1000 Islands park, it's time to go back to camp. Fine dining dinner (aka instant noodles) awaits at the camp complete with vintage wine (aka IPA beer), and a sunset view by the fireplace.
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| Chef prepared dinner - gourmet Laksa imported from Singapore |
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| Friends all gathered waiting for sunset |
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| Sunset at camp |
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