The St. Lawrence River is awesome. Period. I grew up visiting the river and still go every summer to visit family. Hanging for the day on the boat, while my dad fished, it was so cool to get close to the ocean freighters that have to slowly and carefully navigate the length from the sea to Lake Ontario and back. And there are some great small towns along its banks to explore. A few weeks back I was in Clayton, NY to check out an event venue. Clayton is a charming riverside town with quaint shops, wineries and restaurants along the main street. It’s also the home of the Antique Boat Museum, which is a MUST if you haven’t been!
The 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel is located at the end of the main street in Clayton and provides a much-needed atmosphere for visitors. I met with the event staff there and the place is beautiful. The conference spaces are well designed and the view of the river from the halls is remarkable. The guestrooms are lovely and spacious. You know by now that I love the details in things and the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel thought of everything. My most common gripes with hotels? Plastic cups vs. glass in the rooms and the fitness center in a stuffy room next to the inside pool. This venue TOTALLY impressed me with their attention to what their guests would want. Their fitness room is fresh, clean and, wait for it… the treadmills look out over the water! And guess what? Not only do they have glasses instead of plastic cups in the room, they have wine glasses, rocks glasses and an opener! Hallelujiah!
Believe it or not, I haven’t even told you about the best part yet – the outside space. SO NICE! The patio is welcoming, warm and large. There are tables, ADK chairs (that’s short for Adirondack for those who aren’t in-the-know) around firepits; shaded spots and places where you can get all the sun you want. And everything has a stunning view of the river. AND you can pull your boat right up to their dock!
So – the take away here? This would be a great place for any event including conferences, parties, family reunions, workshops or whatever your heart desires. And did I mention that it’s on a gorgeous riverfront? ‘Nuff said.