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We are planning our first visit to Canada. Our idea is to drive all the way around Lake Ontario, stopping in Thousand Islands, Prince Edward County, Toronto, and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Is there much of a connection / relationship between Southern Ontario and Rochester? Or is that more of a thing in Buffalo because they have an actual border crossing? I do see Ontario license plates frequently around here.
I was curious if there was a ferry from Rochester to Canada, so I looked it up and got briefly excited when I saw the Fast Ferry in my search results, but then quickly realized this is no longer around. Would there be sufficient interest to possibly bring it back? I'd love it! I think it would be awesome if there were multiple routes with options to go to different spots on the Canadian side of the lake. The trip we're planning all the way around Lake Ontario, I'd actually rather do it as a cruise, but I guess that's a far-fetched idea.
Thousand Islands area is pretty well linked up between Canada and the U.S., there are at least two cross-border connections. Buffalo and Niagara Falls are a fair distance away from Thousand Islands. Rochester is in between… but it’s still a day trip destination mainly for Canadians going shopping at outlet stores. Most of the scenery’s closer to Thousand Islands imo.
FWIW, one of my close friends has a cottage in the 1000 Islands area, and he likes to shop at the "duty free store" that's located just across the bridge, in Canada. One thing he mentioned recently, however, is that it takes about 45 minutes to cross from the US to Canada, and about 30 minutes to get back.
More of a Buffalo thing. Once you get to the Buffalo/Niagara region there are tons of Canadian tourists shopping at the Galleria Mall or Niagara outlets. Some businesses over there actually accept Canadian currency (albeit less than in years past, they used to take them at an even exchange rate too) meanwhile zero stores in the Rochester area do.
Another thing you see way more frequently in Buffalo is the Canadian flag flying. Outside of a few hotels, that’s not a thing in Rochester.
Rochester used to have a stronger connection to Southern Ontario. Until the 2000s Canadians would receive local Rochester TV channels before they switched to Detroit. Then of course you had the Fast Ferry for a short time, as well as easy border crossing without the passport requirement.
If you go back even further there was the Cobourg Ferry during the first half of the 20th century that transported Americans and Canadians to each other’s shores. That was highly successful. The most recent attempt, not so much, but in retrospect it probably should’ve been given a chance. If the city didn’t pull the plug so soon, who knows what could’ve been?
The Cape Vincent ferry is a good trip. There are actually two different boats you’ll take. One gets you to Wolfe Island, the next takes you to Kingston, ON.
... got briefly excited when I saw the Fast Ferry in my search results, but then quickly realized this is no longer around. Would there be sufficient interest to possibly bring it back?
It never made a profit, and from what i understand it was only an hour faster than driving to Toronto. I guess if the ferry went directly across the lake to the other side, it would save 3 hours of driving time, but there are no major city's directly across the lake. You be hard pressed to find a demand for it.
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