Leeds and the Thousand Islands vacation rentals

Vacations on the waters of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

Leeds and the Thousand Islands is one hefty cut-out of the northern banks of the Saint Lawrence River. Since the 1800s, it's been an important shipping outpost, where everything from timber fishing skiffs to hulking, ocean-bound transport vessels were forged on the docks. These days, that history still lives on between the heritage homes of Rockport and the post-industrial relics of Lyndhurst, while Leeds and the Thousand Islands vacation rentals are also a prime base for making boating excursions out across the waters of Lake Ontario and the river.

Between skiffs and parks in Leeds and the Thousand Islands

Start with a trip to historic Rockport. Steeped in old stories of shipbuilders and packed with pretty churches and heritage homes, the charming town on the Saint Lawrence riverside is like an open-air museum to Leeds and the Thousand Islands' past. The Thousand Islands National Park itself is just a boat ride away, too. Spread out over the rocks that pepper the start of Lake Ontario, it's got turtle-peppered beaches, rugged inlets and awesome kayaking routes aplenty _ it's the top natural attraction around for sure.

River-bound in Leeds and the Thousand Islands

If you've been lucky enough to bag one of the handsome Leeds and the Thousand Islands vacation rentals on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River between Rockport and Ivy Lea, then you'll be in the perfect place to launch guided boating tours out to the islands that pepper the waters nearby. Some outfitters even offer snorkeling and SCUBA trips to delve beneath the surface of the Ontarian waters, while others will focus on kayaking and nature safaris around the handsome, rugged bays of the Thousand Islands National Park.

From north to south in Leeds and the Thousand Islands

The natural draws of Leeds and the Thousand Islands start in the north. There, the untrodden Charleston Lake Provincial Park has spruce-topped islets and crystal-clear waters running through its reserves, offering sandy beaches and canoeing routes amid some of Ontario's more off-beat wilds. The southern side of the district is home to the gorgeous Thousand Islands National Park. A peppering of rock-ribbed granite mounds hulk from the Saint Lawrence River there, giving rise to possible glimpses of unusual turtle species, countless empty coves and plenty of kayaking routes.

Traveling to and around Leeds and the Thousand Islands

The nearest airport is in Watertown, NY (ART-Watertown Intl.), located 32.2 mi (51.8 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that works for your travel itinerary, you might consider flying into Kingston, ON (YGK-Norman Rogers), which is 30.9 mi (49.7 km) away.

If you're traveling by train, the main station serving the city is Gananoque Station.