Modern Travel - A safe escape to the 1000 Islands

I’m fortunate to travel frequently for work and after nearly a decade of experiences, this March saw my passport securely parked in the right side of the top drawer in my dresser.
Sure, I missed the travel aspect of my career but perspective shone through and I was more concerned with how to mentally survive a pandemic and take care of those close to me.
In mid-August, I created a very short list of places within a three-hour drive from Mississauga that would allow me some time outside of my home. As much as I love where I live, it’s been a trying summer and a couple of days away would be a welcome change of scenery.
The 1000 Islands is familiar to me, has engaging outdoor activities, walking/hiking trails and would give me plenty of driving time.

I went mid-week to avoid the crowds and to break up my work week to enjoy my two-day one-night escape.

A midday drive eastbound on the 401 saw me kick the clutch of the 2020 Honda Civic Type R much less than anticipated and in a little over three hours, I’d arrived and checked into The Holiday Inn Express & Suites 1000 Islands.
The team was friendly and patient with the other guests that checked in ahead of me, there were several hand sanitizer stations and plenty of clearly marked signs to keep everyone safer.
The room itself was spacious considering it was solo Jay doing the trip and while it was on the “edge of town,” it’s only a few minutes of driving to reach the marina on the other side of town.
Gone is the traditional breakfast buffet and replaced with a modern buffet, where you line up, ask for what you want and it’s safely given to you in sealed packaging (cutlery as well.) Hot sandwiches, fruit, breads, and the usual suspects of breakfast beverages were available.
If you need more, simply jump back in line and ask for what you want.

First up was time on the water via Rockport Cruises, where I spent an hour on the water gazing at the water and the scattered islands that took up some memory space on my camera.  They’ve reduced passenger counts and implemented sanitization rules due to the pandemic.
I’m so used to seeing people smile and speak that it took a few minutes to adjust to reading eyes versus lips. Nonetheless, everyone was in positive spirits as we cruised around Boldt Castle and were given nuggets of history and facts throughout the trip.
Normally, I hop on the Gananoque Boat Line for my cruises and I’m happy to say that Rockport Cruises delivered exceptional and friendly service and that I’ll certainly be returning.

I wish I could say that spending time on a boat made me hungry…in reality, it was a bit after 5:00 and my body knows that as “find food over the next couple of hours or else we won’t be happy.”

1000 Curry was an easy choice and I sat on their socially distanced patio and struck up a quick conversation with a couple from Hamilton who were doing the same thing as myself; looking for a quick jaunt that’s relatively close to home.
An order of savoury, fresh and tender butter chicken arrived quickly, along with a bowl of perfectly cooked rice and warm garlic naan. Full marks to the chef as being an amateur butter chicken connoisseur, it takes but one bite to identify contenders from pretenders.
I picked the patio over the dining room as the warm August air had an expiry date approaching in a few days.

With my stomach full and the stress of my Mississauga life 300 km away (it’s not that stressful but I still wanted to get away) I did the quick drive to Landon Bay Lookout. It’s a casual 30 minute hike if you’re a slow walker and or taking pictures along the way and a 20 minute trip if you’re focused on the destination opposed to the journey.
For the record, I was slow ascending and quick descending.
The views from the top are worth the climb, with the viewing area spread out to provide various vantage points. 

The relaxed drive back to the hotel along the lightly gently winding Thousand Islands Parkway was a serene way to wrap up my day, especially with the water within sight from the driver’s window.

The morning of day two saw my kayak trip rained out so after a quick trip to the internet, I spent some time at The 1000 Islands History Museum, which was founded 1995.
The “Women in STEM” is their current exhibit and runs until December 30th, 2020. I won’t spoil anything for you but will say you should spend some time there. The permanent gallery balances geology, ecology, history, industry, the golden age and today.
With admission via donation, please be extra generous as small towns need the extra boosts anywhere they can get them.

The last stop was a view from above via 1000 Islands Helicopter Tours and despite the poor weather for sightseeing, the pilot still safely got us airborne.
As I’ve been a few times already, this view wasn’t new to me, it’s still worth soaking in as there are different things I’ve noticed with every flight. 
Even with our mandatory masks on, the pilot and I still communicated clearly through our headsets.
They’ve got various flight lengths and paths available whether you want a short experience or a much longer one.

And with that, my quick and much needed solo getaway came to a close. I was recharged, my Instagram account was happier and I remembered why this part of Canada is one of my favourites.

If you’re in need of some “me” time or a short getaway with family/friends/partners, put the 1000 Islands on your short list.