Gananoque sits on the St. Lawrence River at the western end of the Thousand Islands. It is small, easy to walk, and busy in summer for one clear reason: this is one of the simplest places to get out among the islands without first detouring through Kingston.
The waterfront is the point of the visit. Gananoque Boat Line runs cruises into the maze of channels, cottages, granite islets, and cross-border river history that make the Thousand Islands more than a postcard view. Back on shore, the paired 1000 Islands History Museum and Thousand Islands Boat Museum give the river some context.
Gananoque is not a grand destination in itself, but it is a useful one-day stop if you are already moving between Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, or Kingston. Come for the river, stay for a waterfront performance at 1000 Islands Playhouse, and use the old parkway for a quiet walk or bike ride when the cruise traffic has gone.