Thousand Islands is a beautiful region that straddles the border of Ontario, Canada and New York, USA. Here, you will find 1,864 islands dotting the St. Lawrence River before it opens up into Lake Ontario.
It is one of the largest archipelagos in North America but still remains a bit of a hidden gem.
Many people have never heard of this place, but there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Thousand Islands Dressing that was invented here!
Keep reading to discover the best things to do in Thousand Islands NY and Canada.
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8 Things to do in Thousand Islands NY and Canada
Table of Contents
- 1. Stay in a Cottage on the Lake
- 2. Take a Boat Tour of Thousand Islands
- 3. Tour Singer Castle
- 4. Tour Boldt Castle
- 5. Explore Alexandria Bay
- 6. Take in the views from the 1000 Islands Tower
- 7. Walk Across Thousand Islands Bridge
- 8. Explore Gananoque
1. Stay in a Cottage on the Lake
To really experience the serene beauty of Thousand Islands, I would highly recommend renting a cottage on the lake.
There are quite a few lake cottages to choose from in the area at different price points.
There’s nothing quite like watching an early morning sunrise over the water or catching the last drops of sunset in the evening right from your back deck.
We booked this Bluestar Lakefront Cottage on the shore of Gananoque Lake and loved it.
The home is cozy and small, but the space is well-utilized. It has been renovated with cute decor and modern touches.
We loved the deck that overlooks the water. It’s the perfect spot for summer grilling and outdoor dinners.
Of course, the lakefront property is the biggest draw.
We loved that this rental included the use of various water sports equipment, such as kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, and a peddle boat.
The home has its own private dock where you can launch the boats and paddle around the bay.
You can even paddle over to Deer Island. If you get out and explore the island, you’ll most likely find deer poop.
You may be wondering how the deer got onto an island in the middle of the lake, but in the winter the water can actually freeze over allowing the deer to walk across the ice to the island.
You’ll also find a variety of lawn games available to use, as well as a hammock. It’s so nice to be able to relax outdoors and enjoy a summer evening together.
It’s the perfect way to recharge before exploring all the things to do in Thousand Islands!
Even if you don’t book this exact rental, there are plenty of other options to choose from. If you’re planning to visit Thousand Islands, I would highly recommend this over a hotel.
2. Take a Boat Tour of Thousand Islands
Taking a boat tour is one of the best things to do in Thousand Islands NY, and it is also the best way to explore the area.
There are several boat operators and tour options to choose from that take you up the St. Lawrence River among the different islands.
You can even rent a boat and explore the river on your own.
We opted for the Singer Castle Tour through Uncle Sam Boat Tours. You also have the option to add on admission to Boldt Castle with your boat tour and I would highly recommend it.
The Millionaire’s Row is also a popular tour through Uncle Sam Boat Tours that takes you past some of the most luxurious homes in Thousand Islands.
The tour departs from Alexandria Bay in New York, so you don’t need a passport if you are visiting from the US.
If you are visiting from Canada, be sure to allocate enough time for the border crossing.
The boat tour will take you up the St. Lawrence River where you will see countless cottages built on private islands.
Some of the islands are so tiny that the house takes up almost the entire island!
You will see sprawling mansions, humble fishing shacks, and everything in between.
Each home is bursting with character and stories, it’s fascinating to imagine what it would be like to live on a little island.
It’s no surprise that there are more boater registrations than car registrations in Thousand Islands!
The boat tour guide will point out notable homes and share the history of some of Thousand Island’s more prominent residents.
He’ll even regale you with stories about how bootleggers used the St. Lawrence River to escape authorities during the prohibition.
My favorite home on the river is the Sister Islands Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1870 and was decommissioned in 1959.
It sold at a public auction in 1966 for $6,594. It was then converted into a private residence that has been in the Wolos family ever since. Such a cool place to live!
You will also see Deer Island and its ominous lodge that is owned by a Yale secret society, the Order of Skull & Bones.
Each summer, members of the society gather on the island to socialize.
Some of the past members include President William Howard Taft, Senator John Kerry, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush.
3. Tour Singer Castle
The highlight of the boat tour is visiting Singer Castle. It takes about an hour by ferry to reach this medieval-style castle on Dark Island.
The castle was built between 1902-1904 for Frederick Bourne, the 4th president of the Singer sewing machine company.
The castle’s design was inspired by the castle in Sir Walter Scott’s book, Woodstock.
He originally built it as a summer hunting lodge and the family only spent about 3 months out of the year here.
The castle has 5 stories, 28 rooms, 8 bathrooms, 10 fireplaces, 2 boat houses, countless secret passageways, an underground tunnel, and even a turret dungeon. It is also rumored to be haunted!
The castle stayed in the Bourne family until 1961.
Over the years, it served as a military academy and a church until 2002 when it was sold to European investors who opened it for guided tours and for use as a wedding venue.
Your boat tour ticket includes a guided tour of the castle, and it is fascinating to learn more about the history, construction, and the family’s stories.
Singer Castle also offers a Bed & Breakfast stay.
For about $900-$1000 per night, up to 6 guests can spend the night in the Royal Suite, eat meals in the Bourne family dining room, and have free reign of the entire castle and island!
4. Tour Boldt Castle
Boldt Castle is located on Heart Island near the marina at Alexandria Bay.
Visitors can take a short shuttle boat ride from the marina to the castle, or many of the boat tours have an option to stop at Boldt Castle.
We opted to add on the admission to Boldt Castle with our Singer Castle Tour through Uncle Sam Boat Tours.
The tour boat will dock at Heart Island and those who opted to add on admission to Boldt Castle will disembark, while everyone else heads back to the marina.
If you choose to tour the castle, the shuttle boat runs every half hour to take guests back to the boat dock at Alexandria Bay.
Boldt Castle was built by George Boldt, an immigrant from Prussia.
At age 13, he began working as a dishwasher in the kitchen of a New York City hotel.
With a hard work ethic and a business-savvy mind, he went on to become the millionaire proprietor of New York’s famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Philadelphia’s Bellevue Stratford Hotel.
In 1900, George purchased Hart Island as a gift for his wife, Louise.
He even blasted away parts of the island to make it into the shape of a heart and renamed it “Heart Island”.
He began constructing a dream castle modeled after a Rhineland Castle just for her.
The family lived nearby in their Wellesley Island home while 300 workers spent 4 years building the castle.
Before the castle was complete, Louise tragically died and all construction was halted.
George was too heartbroken to continue building the castle so it was abandoned and he never stepped foot on the island again.
The castle sat vacant for 73 years and fell victim to the elements and vandals.
In 1977, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property and Boldt Castle began undergoing a $50 million restoration project.
The project is still ongoing, you can even see evidence of the restoration process as you tour the top floor.
Boldt Castle is six stories tall with 120 rooms, a ballroom, a swimming pool, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, hidden tunnels, a drawbridge, and the Alster Tower which was to be used as a playhouse for their children.
Visitors can even take a short shuttle boat ride to tour the massive yacht house.
Although no one ever lived in the castle, it has been filled with period-piece furniture so that you can imagine what it would have looked like.
Tours of the castle are self-guided, but visitors can download the Boldt Castle App to learn more about its history while touring the castle.
5. Explore Alexandria Bay
Either before or after your boat tour, take time to explore the town of Alexandria Bay (or “A-Bay” as the locals call it) where the boat dock is located.
This town is located right on the shores of the St. Lawrence River on the American side.
It does look a little weathered like a kitschy tourist town, but it is the best place to grab a bite to eat after your boat tour.
Alexandria Bay’s history dates back to the time when the Iroquois and Algonquin people spent their summers hunting and fishing on the river.
It later served an important role in the trade and commerce industry.
In the late 1800s, the area began attracting wealthy families who were looking for a summer destination. This signaled the beginning of the tourism industry here.
Today, Alexandria Bay is the jumping-off point for boat tours along the St. Lawrence River to Singer Castle, Boldt Castle, and Millionaire’s Row. It is also a cute little heritage town that is worth exploring.
Grab a bite to eat at one of the restaurants housed in an old historic building, tour the Cornwall Brothers Store Museum, or pop into the shops along James Street.
Stroll along the riverfront at Scenic View Park, enjoy the nature trails at Otter Creek Preserve, or get a scoop of homemade ice cream at Lil’ River Fudge Co.
Kids will especially enjoy driving go-karts at Alex Bay 500 or watching a double-feature movie under the stars at the Bay Drive-in Theater.
6. Take in the views from the 1000 Islands Tower
The 1000 Islands Tower soars 400 feet above the trees for one of the best unobstructed views over the islands.
The tower was built in 1965 and visitors could pay .25 cents to walk up the circular staircase to reach the observation deck.
Today, the tickets are about $17 per person, but visitors can take a short elevator ride to the top instead.
There are two outside observation decks and one inside deck that visitors can access.
However, for the best birds-eye view, consider booking a helicopter tour over Thousand Islands.
7. Walk Across Thousand Islands Bridge
The Thousand Islands Bridge is a toll bridge that spans across the St. Lawrence River just across the border on the Canadian side.
There is a small parking area at either end of the bridge and a pedestrian path where you can safely walk across the bridge.
From the bridge, you have a panoramic view of Georgina Island, Constance Island, Rabbit Island, Huckleberry Island, and countless unnamed islands in between.
The perspective from the bridge is picturesque as you spot the cottages built on islands and see the boats cruising through the water below.
The best time to visit is in the early morning or evening hours or when the islands are bathed in golden light.
This is the best place to get iconic shots of Thousand Islands and really capture the beauty of the area.
*Related Post: 12 Bucket List Things to Do in New York at Christmas
8. Explore Gananoque
Gananoque is a charming riverfront town in Thousand Islands on the Canadian side.
The industrial roots of this town date back to 1793 when Joel Stone, a British Militia Officer, was granted 700 acres of land by the British government.
When Joel founded Gananoque there was only a single flour mill. However, by the beginning of the 19th century, the streets were lined with numerous factories, shops, and mills.
Today, the town still maintains much of its original charm.
Be sure to stop by the Town Hall, it’s one of the cutest town halls you’ll ever see. This heritage building was constructed in 1831 as the McDonald family home.
Step inside and you can see some of the home’s original features. You can also pick up a brochure for a self-guided historic walking tour of the town.
There is also a farmers market held at the town hall every Thursday from June through October.
If you’re hungry, the family-run Purple House Cafe is our favorite place to eat in Gananoque.
This cafe is housed in a renovated 120-year-old home.
The old summer kitchen is now the commercial kitchen and an outdoor brick oven cooks up the best wood-fired pizza around.
There is limited seating indoors, but when the weather is nice you can enjoy eating on the garden patio. You’ll even see them clipping fresh herbs from the garden to add to the dishes.
Definitely order one of their signature pizzas (we liked the butter chicken pizza), but save room for crème brûlée or cheesecake for dessert.
The Old English Pub is also a great option where you can order traditional English pub food like fish & chips or pot pies.
Our waitress at the Purple House Cafe also recommended Anthony’s, Stonewater Pub, and Musky Jakes.
After your meal, wander over to Joel Stone Park. Here you will find a nice swimming beach, splash pad, playground, walking paths, marina, and a small lighthouse.
You can also visit the nearby 1000 Islands Boat Museum.
This museum takes a hands-on learning approach with a boatbuilding shop, a children’s activity center, and various exhibits where visitors can learn about Gananoque’s maritime history.
Stop by the Gananoque 1000 Islands Visitor Center on King Street to pick up some information about the town.
You can also rent bikes here and ride along the Waterfront Trail adjacent to the Thousand Islands Parkway.
Confederation Park is a nice waterfront park with an old railroad engine and walking trails. It is even home to Sculpture Park, Canada’s largest outdoor contemporary art exhibit.
You’ll also want to spend time visiting the shops on King Street.
Be sure to check out Drawing Room Vintage, pick up some pastries at Laverne’s Panache Bakery and Cafe, and get a scoop of gelato at Pistachio Cafe (the boysenberry and lemon curd is our favorite!).
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And while you’re visiting Thousand Islands NY, consider spending a few days at Niagara Falls and Toronto.
Our guide, 10 Amazing Things to do in Niagara Falls and 7 Things to Do in Toronto With Kids will help you plan your trip!
If you are interested, you can also visit LDS Church History Sites in Palmyra, New York.
A few more things to do in Thousand Islands:
- Thousand Islands National Park: Take the Donevan Trail to the Lookout Trail for panoramic views of Landon Bay. The Bear Loop Trail at Jones Creek is also a great option.
- Treetop Trekking: Book the Zipline and Aerial Game Trek for a fun treetop obstacle course with suspension bridges, balance logs, a Tarzan swing, and ziplines.
- Rideau Canals: Rent kayaks or take a boat tour along the historic 19th-century Rideau Canal. This narrow canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and includes 47 locks with 24 lock stations and several historic buildings along the canal.
- Berry Homestead Farm: The highlight of the Berry Homestead Farm isn’t just the berries, it’s the resident donkeys! Spend the afternoon interacting with the friendly donkeys. You can even take a donkey for a hike! You must call ahead to schedule an appointment if you want to visit the donkeys.
- Sackets Harbor: Visit this charming waterfront town that has been designated as a NY State Heritage Area after two different battles were fought here during the War of 1812. Be sure to visit Battlefield State Historic Park to see the restored 1850s Navy Yard, Commandants House, and former farmstead.
- Old McDonald’s Farm: Visit over 200 animals, take a hayride, get ice cream at the Lazy Cow Cafe, and visit the seasonal pumpkin and sunflower patch at the Old McDonald Farm.
- Wellesley State Park Beach: The beach at Wellesley State Park is one of the most popular swimming beaches in Thousand Islands.
I hope this guide will help you discover the best things to do in Thousand Islands NY and Canada
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