Described as “the place of good health” by the Iroquois, the delightful hamlet of Gananoque continues to toast the wellbeing of visitors today as a mecca for dining, shopping and entertainment in one of the most beautiful corners of the Great Lakes.
The Iroquois name Gananoque, which roughly translates to “place of good health,” seems an apt name for the gentle slope of Canadian shoreline overlooking the St. Lawrence River just a few miles downstream from Lake Ontario. Sheltered by the Admiralty Islands where the Gananoque River meets the St. Lawrence, it’s a peaceful spot blessed with nature’s bounty, making the description easy to understand — and appreciate.
The name Gananoque can also translate to “land of plenty” or “place of two rivers,” the additional translations reflecting previous occupancy by the Ojibwe and Mississauga bands of indigenous peoples. But regardless of its exact origins, the name Gananoque universally means good times for visiting boaters.
Let’s begin with a note on pronunciation because, spelled out on a printed page, Gananoque certainly looks a mouthful. Some locals say, “There’s the right way, there’s the wrong way, and there’s Gananoque,” as a means of communicating the correct phonetics (GANA-nock-way). But in eastern Ontario, pretty well everyone just calls the place Gan.
Gan’s location near the head of the St. Lawrence River led to the settlement quickly gaining prominence as a trading port, initially by native peoples then the European settlers who followed. The community flourished, particularly during the period between the American Revolution and the War of 1812 when large numbers of British Loyalists settled in the area, finding the natural waterfalls on the tributary Gananoque River ideal for mill construction. In due course, lumber mills, flour mills and grist mills appeared, leading to Gan’s new nickname as the “Little Birmingham of Canada” in reference to its rapid industrialization and large population of transplanted Brits.
The industrial boom was not to last, however, and today the community of just under 6,000 people either commute to full-time jobs in the nearby city of Kingston or work locally in the tourism sector. They’re kept busy by a combination of visiting cottagers (known as “islanders” in reference to the location of most vacation homes) and transient boaters from both sides of the border stopping in for a day or two through the season as they explore the 1000 Islands.
Getting to Gananoque is easy enough. The pleasant town sits just 17 miles downstream of Kingston, and nearly straight across the St. Lawrence from Clayton, New York. The easiest approach from Lake Ontario is to follow the north shore downstream through the Bateau Channel, passing to the Canadian side of Howe Island. You can also approach directly from the U.S. side of the river through the Wolfe Island Cut, staying clear of the Admiralty Islands and their unmarked shoals.
Upon arriving in town, most visiting boaters will immediately head for the prominent Gananoque Municipal Marina on the west side of town, where a flashing red beacon marks the entry channel between the shore and the marina breakwall. The marina has more than 300 slips in all, with half designated for visitor use — just look for the blue mooring cleats. Reservations can be made in advance, and are recommended when visiting over summer holiday weekends. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to call ahead on VHF 68 for a slip assignment before you arrive. Although located on the western edge of town, the marina is an easy 10-minute walk to all the main attractions in the downtown core.
If you’re just popping into town to reprovision, the marina has a shopper’s dock located adjacent to the Public Utilities Commission building on the eastern shoreline as you enter the facility.
If for some reason you can’t get a spot at the municipal marina, the Gananoque Inn, situated on the east side of the Gananoque River before the bridge, has limited transient dockage that’s available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are no facilities otherwise, but the location can’t be beat.
A show like no other
Billing itself as the Gateway to the 1000 Islands, Gananoque has no shortage of fun things to see and do. King Street — known locally as King West or King East, depending which side of the Gananoque River you’re on — is the main drag and key commercial district.
By far Gananoque’s biggest draw is its live theater scene. Plenty of Great Lakes ports of call offer shopping, dining and history, but Gan’s emphasis on live entertainment is truly unique.
The Thousand Islands Playhouse operates two theaters on the waterfront, including its flagship 360-seat Springer Theatre located in the former Gananoque Canoe Club building. The location affords the venue with direct water access and its own mooring slips for show-goers who prefer to arrive by boat. Slip reservations can be made when purchasing show tickets, and are highly recommended.
Talk about a venue for a night out — the magnificent facility was built in 1909 and has been completely updated inside and out with state-of-the-art facilities, sound and lighting, enabling the production of large-scale plays and musicals. Visitors enjoy every possible comfort in a remarkable building that remains true to its original design — complete with two of the largest waterfront decks in the region.
While it doesn’t offer boat parking, the nearby Firehall Theatre — built in 1913 as the town’s armory, then later used as its main fire station — is a 130-seat venue operated by the Playhouse presenting smaller, experimental plays in a less formal environment. There’s also a Playwrights’ Unit, with a variety of workshop productions open to the public.
The theater company puts on a wide range of productions each year, with full details on its website. Regardless of venue, the Thousand Islands Playhouse is a huge draw, with many boaters planning their summer visits around what production happens to be on at the time and what tickets may be available. Planning ahead and booking your tickets in advance is essential, because virtually every presentation sells out during the boating season.
While it doesn’t have boat parking available, the historic Royal Theater on King Street East also presents an inviting lineup of plays and musicals each year in its charming heritage theater. Built in 1930 by the Delaney family as a vaudeville house, the facility is a unique, poured-concrete structure recognized as one of the first fireproof buildings constructed in North America. It operated as a theater continuously until 1960 when it was converted into a bowling alley, only to be re-developed and lovingly restored for its original purpose in 2013.
1000 Islands Tourism
Top Photo: Adobe Stock
Resources
Skydive Gan
1000 Islands Tourism
613-382-8044
1000islandstourism.com
Explore Gananoque
613-382-2149
gananoque.ca/explore-gananoque
Gananoque Events Calendar
gananoque.ca/events
Gananoque Chamber of Commerce
613-553-3414
1000islandsganchamber.com
Thousand Islands Playhouse
613-381-7020
1000islandsplayhouse.com
Royal Theatre
613-782-5000
royaltheatre.ca
Skydive Gananoque
844-586-7426
skydivegan.com
1000 Islands Helicopter Tours
613-382-3888
fly1000islands.ca
Thousand Islands National Park
613-923-5261
bit.ly/427jSWR
Above: 1000 Islands Tourism
Ganarockway Facebook
Take it all in
Take it all inIf you’re interested in absorbing some local historical drama, then you’ll find the downtown core of Gananoque has much to offer thanks to its affluent industrial past. The Chamber of Commerce, located in the historic government building at the corner of King East and Park Streets on the east bank of the Gananoque River, publishes maps for self-guided heritage walking tours through the downtown, providing detailed information on significant buildings, structures and sites.
As you stroll the downtown there’s a very good chance your nose will draw you to one of Gananoque’s many charming sidewalk cafes, coffee shops and small restaurants — many with delightful patios. Variety abounds, catering to all manner of tastes. Anthony’s on King Street East, for example, is known for its Italian fare, while Riva, on King West, serves outstanding pizza on its lively patio. Graydon’s, in the Woodview Inn, offers fine dining and remarkable Sunday brunches, while Panache, on King East, is known throughout the 1000 Islands for its baked goods, including quite possibly the best cheesecakes on the planet. And of course there’s Muskie Jake’s, a legendary tap and grill housed in the Gananoque Inn on Stone Street South.
The Gananoque Inn is also home to the Watermark restaurant, offering more upscale dining focused on traditional Canadian cuisine. A nice meal at the Inn is the ideal way to cap off an indulgent morning spent enjoying its extraordinary spa. Offering a variety of wellness, facial and massage treatments, the Gananoque Inn’s waterfront spa is one of the most popular spots in town, and particularly among visiting boaters looking to work out any kinks or just luxuriate in lavish all-over pampering. Presently closed for renovations and expansion, the spa is expected to reopen just in time for the 2024 boating season. Of course the Gananoque Inn isn’t the only place in town to enjoy some decadent self-indulgence. Shine Spa and Esthetics, on King East, offers a variety of wellness treatments sure to be appreciated by weary travelers, especially after a few days on the water.
No port of call is complete without offering a good share of retail therapy, and visiting boaters will be thrilled to find that in this regard, Gananoque comes up aces. King Street East, in particular, is lined with an enchanting range of small curio shops and boutiques with locally produced artisan goods you simply won’t find in the big box malls.
Gan is blessed with more than its share of fine art galleries too, like the Heather Haynes Gallery on Charles Street North, Handworks on St. Lawrence Street, along with Woodchuck and VAGA, all on King East. The Drawing Room, located inside the Arts and Crafts Collective on King East, sells an eclectic range of vintage clothing, while This That and Everything, also on King East, sells, well, a bit of this, that and everything else. Beggar’s Banquet, on King East, offers a wide range of books, while nearby Robeson’s General Store sells antiques in a small shop shared with a deli. No matter when you visit, you’ll likely find some sort of festival or special event underway through the summer to add further spice to your stay. The town operates a busy event schedule all year round, with all the details on the town’s website (gananoque.ca/events).
Get up and go
If you’re looking to stretch your legs after a few days in the boat and want to see more than just the lively downtown, then break out your walking shoes and explore further on the Gananoque Trail System. The trails consist of three progressively longer loops — the Lion’s Trail, Roger’s Trail and River Trail — that ultimately form a 7.5-mile perimeter hike over different views and terrain, with varying facilities. Trail maps can be found online or picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office.
For a more extended ramble, dig out the bikes and go for a ride on the magnificent Thousand Islands Parkway Trail. Head east on King Street through the downtown core and you’ll soon pick up the quiet two-lane road, with its distinct and separate paved bike path, which runs east along the water for more than 25 miles.
Constructed in the 1930s, the Thousand Islands Parkway today is a quiet road taken mainly by vacationers staying at waterfront cottages along its route; most traffic sticks to the busy 401 highway a few miles to the north, making the Thousand Islands Parkway a generally peaceful and relaxing ride. As you coast along on your bike you pass quaint villages, peaceful coves and breathtaking vistas, including parts of Thousand Islands National Park.
Established in 1904, the national park is one of Canada’s smallest, with most of its 10 square miles represented by a multitude of offshore islands. Yet the vistas afforded from shoreline lookouts over the St. Lawrence are typically jaw-dropping. Wildlife abounds, including deer, porcupines, beaver, foxes, raccoons, turkey vultures, rabbits, squirrelS, bald eagles, chickadees and weasels.
At its midpoint, the Thousand Islands Parkway meets Highway 137, which leads south to New York and the Thousand Islands Bridge. Built in 1937, the bridge — actually a series of spans connecting the Canadian and American shores over multiple islands — is a prominent Gananoque landmark. For the best views, cycle to Hill Island — only a few hundred yards from the U.S. border — where the 400-foot-tall 1000 Islands Tower offers magnificent, panoramic vistas of the river, the bridges and the surrounding countryside. It’s a long way up, but once you reach the top you’ll be very glad to have your camera.
If you really want to get some eye popping vacation pictures, 1000 Islands Helicopter Tours offers aerial sightseeing flights over Gananoque and its surroundings, including the 1000 Islands, the Thousand Islands Bridge and nearby Boldt Castle. Flights later in the day, when the warm afternoon light takes on a particularly attractive golden glow, tend to provide the best pictures, so booking ahead helps ensure you’ll be able to get the time slot you want. The air base is located on Sixth Street, just a 10-minute taxi ride from the marina.
Another way of taking it all in from above — and one that’s definitely not for the faint of heart — is to go skydiving with Skydive Gan. The company offers a range of eye-popping packages, including tandem jumps with an expert skydiver so first-timers can get in on the fun while taking in unforgettable views of the entire area. They can even have another skydiver video your entire experience from start to finish, so you can relive the moment again and again.
If pure, unadulterated exhilaration is good for your health, then believe me, you’ve come to the right place. With so much to see and do, it’s little surprise that Gananoque ranks as a favorite port of call for so many Great Lakes boaters. With the natural beauty of the 1000 Islands, the delights of its bustling live theater scene, endless opportunities to eat, drink and shop till you drop, and the chance to indulge in luxurious pampering at a local spa, Gananoque really does have something for everyone.
Top: Town of Gananoque Facebook; Middle: Riva Facebook; Bottom: Heather Haynes Gallery Facebook
1000 Islands Tourism
Facilities for Visiting Boaters
Gananoque Municipal Marina
bit.ly/3H8MhlA
613-382-2149
Gananoque Inn
gananoqueinn.com
613-382-2165
Eastern Marine Service
facebook.com/Easternmarineservicegan
613-382-3493
C-Tow
c-tow.ca
888-298-3585
Town of Gananoque
