Historic and quaint

We have been very pleasantly surprised by both the friendliness of the people here and what a real gem this area is. It is understandable how so many people come here from all over the northeast to spend their summer vacations along the shore. We pulled the Birch Haven campground thru Anneke’s usual review process. When you first approach, there is a sudden concern about the size and location. It is a tight campground with only three or four sites available for transients, with the rest taken up by long time seasonal residents. Our spot was next to a highly decorated park model. The permanent equipment varies from brand new to very old, but all well cared for. It is right along the river and near all the attractions and water access. Add to that a laid back and friendly manager; it was a great choice for us.

On both the boat rides, we heard about the oldest settlement on the islands founded by a Methodist Colony over 140 years ago called 1000 Island Park. After some rough times, today it is a highly desirable place to live with mostly the original buildings and gingerbread style houses still in use. We have been told that when a home comes up for sale, it is snapped up by someone almost before it is listed. The colony association still owns the land with anyone purchasing the home granted a 99 year lease with an agreement to abide by the community rules. It is a very quaint and colorful place to spend the summer.