On a recent trip to Clayton, New York on the St. Lawrence River, I was lucky enough to snag a room at the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel. Why lucky? First of all, the hotel is a AAA Four Diamond property. Second, this area of cool blue water and countless islands hops in the summer. And it’s a doable three-hour drive (or less) from lots of cities, including Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo, and Rochester.
There are other choices on the Canadian side, but I wanted to see what the Americans had to offer.
The 105-guestroom and suites hotel is situated right on the St. Lawrence River, overlooking the Clayton Harbor Municipal Marina. There’s a lovely riverside walk and scattered along the way Adirondack chairs allow anyone to take a load off and enjoy the view.
Walking into the 1000 Island Harbor Hotel lobby, I spied a stone fireplace (unlit, too hot out!), a concierge desk filled with flyers for local attractions, and a reception counter.
As we checked in, the clerk smiled and gave us our keys.
“You have one of my favorite rooms. It’s on a corner, so you have village and water views.”
1000 Islands Harbor Hotel Rooms with a View
Our King Balcony room had a king bed, a desk with two chairs, and a sofa sleeper. There was a mini-fridge, two plush robes, and a 40” flat-screen HDTV. The bathroom featured a glass-enclosed shower and granite vanity. All rooms offered free Wi-fi.
But where was the coffee maker? That’s essential for me in the morning. Then I remembered. The check-in clerk had said each floor had a coffee/tea bar set up each morning so guests could go and serve themselves.
Other types of rooms available were Double Queen River View Balcony, Double Queen Village View Whirlpool, and Accessible in Queen or King variations. Plus there were suites. The Admiral Suite had a large balcony overlooking the river, a separate sleeping area with a King bed, and a bathroom with a whirlpool spa tub. Its living area had a sofa sleeper and two easy chairs. Amenities included a wine cooler, refrigerator, microwave.
Perhaps the most luxurious of suites was the Commodore Suite. It offered pretty much the same as the Admiral Suite but included two balconies overlooking the river.
If you have a doggie or any other fur baby, leave them at home. Pets aren’t allowed.
On Site Food and Beverage
First thing in the morning, I charged down to the elevator on our floor. There it was. The coffee station features Starbucks (caffeinated and decaf) hot water, tea bags, cream, sugar, stir sticks, and cups.
The 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Seaway Grille, just off the lobby. Breakfast is a la carte with mainstays like eggs, French toast, and yogurt parfaits. Locals often come for dinner and the classic American menu includes fresh seafood, salads, and steaks.
Night owls or those wanting breakfast in bed can order from the 24-hour room service menu.
My husband and I enjoyed the hotel’s 1000 Islands Bar after a busy day exploring the area. Beer, wine, and cocktails were available, as well as some light nibbles.
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Later in the evening, we spilled out onto The Riverside Patio with glowing fire pits. I made sure to adjust my chair to take in the stunning sunset over the St. Lawrence.
Keeping Fit at 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel
One afternoon we went for a swim in the hotel’s indoor pool. To be honest, it would have been nicer to be outdoors but I guess this way the pool can be a four-season amenity. What I did enjoy was the hot tub. I felt like a strand of limp linguini after about 15 minutes.
There was a fitness facility, also a bonus in inclement weather, plus a gift shop.
A Hub for Special Events
While we were there, the grassy corner in front of the river was set up with a huge white tent. Asking at the reception counter, we found out they were hosting some VIPs taking part in the Clayton 1000 Island Charity Poker Run. The annual event brings in more than 100 competing boats and thousands of spectators.
The hotel also has a ballroom that could accommodate 300, plus several meeting rooms with oversized windows, river views, and patio doors.
There’s catering, a business center, and high-speed wi-fi. Packages are available for various types of meetings.
Boating and More When You Stay at 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel
Walkable from the hotel was Clayton’s charming downtown with a choice of riverside restaurants. Boutiques specialized in locally made handicrafts and there were plenty of boat gear shops.
Boating is a lifestyle on the river. We walked to the Antique Boat Museum which highlighted gorgeous mahogany inboard motorcraft, racing boats, canoes, kayaks, and St. Lawrence skiffs. They even offer 45-minute rides in one of these in-board beauties. The Hacker Craft they took us out in was once owned by the CEO of Time Warner.
There are also wineries to explore for tastings and boat tours. We went out for an all-day excursion (lunch included) with Clayton Island Tours that took us to Boldt Castle on Heart Island and Rock Island Lighthouse.
The region, we were told, gets pretty quiet by late fall. But 1000 Island Harbor Hotel stays open all year round for winter activities such as cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Rates
Guestrooms and suites at 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel range from $200 to $600 during high season. Weekends require a minimum of two nights. Winter is low season and that’s when prices dip. Book directly with the hotel or through a booking site like Expedia.
Hotel feature by Toronto-based travel writer Maureen Littlejohn. Photos © Maureen Littlejohn. Visit 1000 Islands arranged for her stay as she researched a larger piece. As always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
