Falling in love with a place isn’t that much different than falling in love with a person. As the old movie theme song goes, the experience can be even lovelier the second time around. First visits have their knock-your-socks-off magic, for sure. But just as the song describes, when you have “both feet on the ground”, a return trip can be even more satisfying. When you know your way around, you can take your time to look deeper, ask questions, appreciate more.

We’ve been September travelers for years. This year, we went back to the Thousand Islands, that gorgeous archipelago on the magnificent St. Lawrence, with the US-Canada border in the river’s midst. Last time we were there, which you can read about here, we stayed on the New York side. This time, we were in Gananoque, the sweet little town across the border, about half an hour east of Kingston, Ontario.

We stayed in a perfectly suited rental right on the water, a truly lovely home, just a few minutes outside of town. Our son and daughter were with us, and because it was a new destination for them, we repeated the boat ride. Admittedly a touristy thing to do, but still the best way to hear the history and lore and get an up close view of a smattering of the 1.864 islands, some barely big enough to stand on, some with multiple houses and park-like environments, and at least one home to the legendary Boldt Castle. It’s a thrill to be out on what is arguably one of the continent’s most beautiful and important rivers. Not at all like the muddy Mississippi (at least downriver, where I’ve seen it), the pristine St. Lawrence is gloriously blue. Because our rental was equipped with kayaks and a canoe, there was ample opportunity to enjoy the river even though the summer heat had passed. Here’s a glimpse of Gananoque:

Gananoque at this point in the year was pleasantly quiet but definitely not in shutdown mode. Shops, restaurants, and the visitors’ center were all open for business. We had delightful dinners at The Old English Pub and Riva, both on King Street. So that we could eat in, we bought a few things at the local supermarket to augment the staples we’d packed (note that there are restrictions). The kitchen was spotless and well-equipped, the dining area comfortable, and the blazing fire-pit outside was perfect for s’mores.

Mostly at my insistence, we spent an afternoon wandering through Kingston. Canada’s first capital city is on Lake Ontario, where the St. Lawrence begins its journey to the sea. Unfortunately, we missed the historic spots—maybe next time? My favorite shop was Cooke’s Fine Foods and Coffee on Brock Street.

If you’ve read my blog before, you know how much Hubby and I love Canada, and that we’ve never met a Canadian we didn’t like. The people in Gananoque and Kingston were as warm, friendly, and helpful as others we’d encountered in Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces. A special “thank you” to the engaging and knowledgeable volunteer at the Gananoque visitors’ center. There’s not much chance she’ll see this, but just in case…