Top things to do in the Thousand Islands New York
When planning an Upstate New York Trip, make sure to add the Thousand Islands Region to your itinerary.
The Thousand Islands are a group of more than 1,800 islands in the St. Lawrence River, straddling the border of the U.S. and Canada.
These Islands were a retreat for the elite in the late 19th century, with their elaborate island mansions and European-style Castles.
Today the Thousand Island Region is a popular destination for those looking for some outdoor therapy.
There are so many opportunities for recreational activities in the area, or if you are just in need of some peace and quiet, and be one with nature.
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Explore the small towns in the Thousand Islands
Visit Alexandria Bay
Alexandria Bay is the perfect starting point when exploring the Thousand Islands region and when visiting Boldt Castle on Heart Island.
This is where most of the boat tours originate that take you on a tour of the Thousand Islands along the St. Lawrence river.
Located in the heart of the 1,864 islands that give the region its name, the Town of Alexandria is a unique community located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.
During the summer, tourists descend into this small town to explore the Thousand Islands and enjoy water activities like boating, kayaking, swimming, and more.
There are also a few events to look forward to in Alexandria Bay including Bill Johnston’s Pirate Days where people get dressed in Pirate costumes and take over Alex Bay.
This festival usually happens in mid-August and features live music shows, staged sword fights, family friendly activities including family treasure digs, raft races, themed boat cruises and more!
Don’t miss a visit along the scenic view park on the St. Lawrence River which has the most amazing views of Boldt Castle. There is also a seasonal swimming beach, a playground & a picnic pavilion.
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Visit Sackets harbor
One of the best towns to visit in the 1000 islands Region is Sackets Harbor NY. This quaint village is a designated New York State Heritage Area with a few historic sites and attractions to explore.
It is one of the most charming towns in Upstate New York and is worth adding to your Thousand Island road trip itinerary.
We loved strolling the historic streets and perusing the many antique stores and charming storefronts along the historic Main Street.
There are also lots of dining options on Sacketts Harbor with waterfront views of Lake Ontario.
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Visit Sackets Harbor Battlefield
On your sightseeing stroll along Sacketts Harbor, you will most likely come across the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Park.
Two battles were fought near this location during the War of 1812 and were the US Navy’s headquarters where they built a major shipyard to support the war.
You can explore the restored 1850s Navy Yard and Commandants House on a guided or self-guided tour. In the summer, guides dressed in military clothing reenact what camp life was like back then.
Visit the Old Macdonald Farm
One of the best things to do in the Thousand Island Region for kids is a visit to the Old McDonald’s Farm in Sacketts Harbor.
This working farm offers its visitors a hands-on adventure for kids of all ages, and an opportunity to learn about and have fun with agriculture.
Your paid admission comes with a 30-minute tour exploring their modern dairy farm, a visit with over 200 farm animals, a hayride, Reindeer Christmas Village, miniature golf, and more.
During the summer, the farm also offers a visit to their sunflower fields, corn mazes, and a pumpkin patch in the fall.
There is also a cafe, a souvenir shop, and fresh seasonal produce for sale at the farm. It’s a fun day out for the whole family!
Visit Clayton New York
Since you’re exploring the Thousand Islands Region, don’t miss a visit to Clayton NY and spend a few hours exploring this charming small town.
Take a walk along the riverfront and admire the St. Lawrence river views, or take in the many quaint shops and galleries.
You can also visit the Antique boat museum with over 300 unique boats and thousands of related artifacts and archives on display.
There are also lots of outdoor activities to enjoy like fishing, golfing, diving, kayaking, and hiking.
You can even explore the Thousand Islands on the St. Lawrence River on a boat tour with the Clayton Island Tours that makes daily stops to Boldt Castle and Rock Island Lighthouse
Visit the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse
On your visit to the Thousand Islands, make sure to visit the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse at Cape Vincent.
The drive getting here along the St. Lawrence River is just so scenic! Tibbets Point Lighthouse marks the point where the St. Lawrence River meets Lake Ontario and the area is just so beautiful!
Built in 1827, the lighthouse features the only original working Fresnel lens in the area. The lighthouse is open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day weekend from 10am-7pm daily.
Visit a NY State Park in the Thousand Islands
Another thing to do in the Thousand Islands region is a visit to one of the beautiful New York State Parks in the Region.
NY State Park fees are $6 for day use on non-peak days and $7 at peak.
You can go camping, park your RV or rent a cabin in most of the NY state parks and there are lots of recreational activities to enjoy like hiking, swimming, boating, and more!
Here are some of our favorite State Parks in the Thousand Islands NY.
- Westcott Beach State Park: When visiting Sacketts Harbor make sure to stop by Westcott Beach State Park.
- The Park is a popular spot during the summer months for those looking for a relaxing getaway.
- The park has a long sandy beach, children’s playground, walking trails and picnic area.
- There are also campsites, cabins and lodgings for those looking to spend the weekend along Lake Ontario.
- Sandy Island Beach State Park: Sandy Island Beach State Park is part of the Eastern Lake Ontario Dune and Wetland System with 1500 foot of natural sandy beaches to enjoy. There are lots of recreational activities here including camping, kayaking, bird watching, hiking and more!
- Kring Point State Park: Kring Point State Park is located on a narrow peninsula whose south shore faces Goose Bay and north shore faces the St. Lawrence River along the Thousand islands region of NY.
- This is one of the prettiest parks where you can go camping, park your RV, Fishing, boating, swimming, hiking and more! You can even cross a pedestrian bridge to Morgan Island and go for a short hike and admire the St. Lawrence River views
- Campsites here have prime waterfront views and there are picnic areas, restrooms, and a swimming beach.
- Campsites are from 18-$30/night *Additional $5/night for non-NYS residents
*Additional $4 on weekends and USA Holidays.
- Southwick Beach State Park: Great sandy beach area that offers an extensive campground with tent and trailer sites, picnic facilities, playing fields and a playground. There are also some nature trails that leads into the Lakeview Wildlife Management Area.
Visit Wellesley Island State Park
Another beautiful NY State Park to visit in the Thousand Islands region of NY is Wellesley Island State Park.
Wellesley Island State Park is the largest camping complex in the Thousand Islands region with 432 campsites. There are so many outdoor adventures to be had in this beautiful state park in Upstate NY.
You can enjoy kayaking, fishing, hiking, and biking, or simply go on a nature walk and go on a birdwatching adventure.
One of the main attractions of the park is the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, which includes educational displays, a gift shop, varied habitats such as wooded wetlands, 3 miles of shoreline, open granite outcrops, and miles of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Thousand Islands Boat Tours
When visiting the Thousand Islands Region of New York, the best way to explore the islands is on a Thousand Islands Boat Tour. Here are a few:
- UNCLE SAM BOAT TOURS: There are a few tours to choose from, including
- The 2 Nation Tour: 2 1/4 hr tour with Live Tour Guide with an option to stop at Boldt Castle.
- Singer Castle Tour: 3.5 hr tour with Live Tour Guide and admission to Singer Castle
- Buffet Lunch Cruise: Enjoy a full Buffet served on the 1st deck of the Alexandria Belle at the 12:30 2 Nation Tour.
- Sip N’ Sail: Perfect evening date night cruise
- Millionaires Row Tour: Cruise the most historic portion of the Thousand Islands viewing Americas famous Millionaire Row.
- Dinner Cruise: premier dining experience featuring a prime rib buffet as the sun sets among the Islands.
- Boldt Castle Shuttle: Shuttle service only to Boldt Castle and back. Admission to Boldt Castle included
- CLAYTON ISLAND TOURS is another Thousand Islands Boat tour you can take to explore the islands. They also offer a Two Nation Tour, as well as a visit to Rock Island lighthouse on a glass-bottom boat.
Thousand Islands Castles
Visit Boldt Castle on Heart Island
One of the top things to do in the Thousand Islands region is a visit to Boldt Castle on Heart Island.
This storybook castle is one of the most amazing places to see in Upstate New York, built by George Boldt, who was the proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria hotel in NYC. Sadly, the castle was never finished since he halted construction when his beloved wife past away.
You can explore Heart Island and Boldt Castle on a self-guided tour, and learn more about the history of this famous castle.
- Uncle Sam Boat Tours is one of the best ways to get to Boldt Castle. You can purchase the Boldt Castle Shuttle tickets that includes admission to the castle and cost:
- $20.50 for Adults, $14.50 for kids (5-12) $14.50, 4 and under are free
- The shuttle operates every day between May 7th, 2022 and October 10th, 2022
- Tickets for the Boldt Castle Shuttle are ONLY available at the ticket booth starting at 9 AM & CANNOT be purchased online or in advance. The first departure is at 10:30 AM
READ MORE: Guide to visiting Boldt Castle
Visit Singer Castle on Dark Island
Another castle to visit in the Thousand Islands Region is Singer Castle, which is located on Dark Island along the St. Lawrence seaway.
This historic landmark on the island was built by the president of the Singer Manufacturing Company.
Frederick Gilbert Bourne built Singer Castle to surprise his wife Emma and their children with an island hunting retreat.
He purchased Dark Island in 1902 and designed and built the castle as a summer home for his family.
You can take the Uncle Sam Boat tours to get to Dark Island and explore the intricate architecture, beautiful furnishings, and puzzling secret passages of this amazing 100-year-old Castle in the Thousand Islands Region.
- Uncle Sam Boat Tours to Singer Castle cost $43 for adults, $25 for kids 5-12, and Children under four years are free.
- Schermerhorn Harbor shuttle to Singer Castle operates from May 21st-Sept. 4th. (May 21-June 19 operates on Saturdays & Sundays only)
- June 21-Sept 4 operates Tuesdays-Sundays and shuttle departs at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm. Call 315-324-5966 to make reservations.
- Tickets cost $37 for adults, $24 for kids 4-13, Free for kids under 4.
Admire the Homes on Millionaires Row
On your Thousand Islands Boat tour, admire the beautiful mansions and cabins on Millionaires Row.
The Region has been a popular summer escape for the wealthy families, with elaborate homes on privately owned Islands.
It was so fun to spot the more elaborate homes, some with their very own waterfalls! You can even rent some of these homes on Millionaires Row if you’re a millionaire yourself!
Where to stay in the Thousand Islands Region
During our visit to the Thousand Islands Region, we stayed in a few places.
The Riveredge Resort is one of our favorite hotels in the thousand islands region in Alexandria Bay. This hotel was the perfect stay with amazing views of Boldt Castle and the St. Lawrence River. The hotel has two pools, an upscale restaurant, and a marina.
The 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton, NY is another beautiful waterfront hotel with an indoor pool. This four-star hotel offers spacious rooms with amazing River views, close to all the main attractions in Clayton.
Hilton Garden Inn Watertown NY is another great hotel option when visiting the Thousand Islands. It’s close to lots of food options, an indoor pool, and just off the freeway.
If you’re into camping, there are a few State Parks in Upstate NY, where you can pitch a tent or park your RV.
Wellesley Island State Park is probably your best option when exploring the Thousand Islands Region. Book campsites in advance, especially in the summer.
More Hotel options in the Thousand Islands:
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