1000 Island Tower / The Big Apple

1000 Island Observation Tower

On our way back we decided to stop at the 1000 islands observation tower. Located on the Canadian side we crossed and few bridges and arrived at the tower literally a turn away from the U.S. border. As we headed inside we were greeted by a completely dead gift shop and an extremely cheerful employee that gave us a loud hello. We grabbed our tickets and were directed to what looked like a freight elevator door, clicked the button and waited as we could hear the echoes of it barreling down to the earth. “Ding” and the door opened we climbed inside and hit 1 of the 2 buttons on the panel and held on as the Rickety old elevator climbed like an elderly man to the top of the tower.

When the doors swung open we were greeted by a middle-aged man with binoculars who was the 1000 islands towers Man of infinite wisdom. After a quick introduction, he poured out the signs hung around the railing of the tower detailing what was in view when standing behind them. We walked the main level basking in the Incredible view and reading the odd signage. On the one side, you could see the border which is according to the signage ” Canada’s shortest border crossing”.

There were 3 levels to the top of the tower the lower and the middle level offered a very similar view semi-obstructed but still beautiful. But the top level was completely open like a rusty bucket in the sky and offers the most amazing panoramic view of the 1000 islands landscape. By far the most amazing view of the vacation and I will not be forgetting it for a long time.

The Big Apple

Always neglected as both of us passed it in the past was the Big Apple. Our stop was greeted by the faint smell of apples and a tour bus piling out of the building. We headed inside and as soon as the doors swung open you were hit in the face by the most magically overwhelming smell of hundreds if not thousands of different Apple treats. This place was any Apple lovers heaven, filled with floor to ceiling Apple goodies of everything from, candy to bread to cider and anything and everything in between. Once the excitement wore off and the realization of the insanely overpriced sweets and treats started to kick in we decided to head outside to check out the giant Apple.

After a few selfies in front of it, We climbed up inside The apex of the apple’s anus only to be greeted by some creepy bears that looked like they were ripped off of the Bernstein bears.  Climbing higher inside the Apple there was a room showing newscasts from the ’80s detailing the Big Apple’s creators plans which slightly resembled that of a catatonic villain hell-bent on world domination. There was also an observation deck on top of the apple that offered a splendid view of the highway and many of the Big Apples aged tourist traps. We then left to head home, bring on the Toronto traffic!!

Travelling Trev.