At first glance, the name sounds exaggerated. A thousand islands? Come on. But then you see it — a horizon dotted with green-topped rocks, tree-crowned blips, mansion-laden isles — and you realize: “A thousand” barely covers it. The **Thousand Islands** region along the St. Lawrence River actually comprises over **1,864 islands**, each rising from the water like a secret waiting to be discovered.

Imagine walking through a town that looks like it leapt straight out of a fairy tale book. Pastel-colored houses with wooden beams, narrow cobbled lanes, and serene canals reflect the charm of another era. Welcome to Colmar, a gem tucked in the Alsace region of France — and one of the most Instagrammed towns in the country.