Area Attractions

Alexandria Bay is the perfect destination for couples, singles, groups and families looking to have a good time and create lasting memories!

Hop aboard Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours shuttle to Boldt Castle and Singer Castle. Extended scenic river tours are also available at both lunch and dinner time, showcasing the breathtaking Thousand Islands Region. USA Today readers voted it #1 of America’s top ten places for scenic boat rides.

Alexandria Bay offers a variety of attractions, including the iconic Boldt and Singer Castles and scenic boat tours. Other notable attractions include lighthouses, wineries, distilleries, museums and drive-in movie theater.  Looking for live music? Alexandria Bay is known for having more than 800 live performances from June through September. Whatever your heart desires, you will find it in the heart of the 1000 Islands!

Alexandria bay is full of locally owned shops and boutiques filled with one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items along with many jewelry, art, craft and specialty stores. Treat yourself to a nice vacation shopping spree and find keepsakes that will preserve your vacation memories for a lifetime.

Here’s a quick look at some of the key attractions:

Boldt Castle: Nestled on Heart Island is the legendary Boldt Castle. The beauty of the castle is matched by the amazing, yet tragic love story of its owner, hotel proprietor George Boldt. The castle is accessible by tour boat and private watercraft and is handicap accessible. Visitors arriving from Canada must provide border-crossing documents.

Singer Castle: Just a short ten miles down river is Singer Castle, built in the late 1800s by sewing company magnate Frederick Gilbert Bourne, and notable for its secret passageways and medieval design. The Royal Suite is available for overnight booking! Enjoy a 45-minute guided tour of the grounds and castle; check with boat tour operators for transportation or dock with your own watercraft.

Rock Island Lighthouse: Originally commissioned in 1847, it is one of six lights put up along the St. Lawrence River to guide traffic to and from Lake Ontario through the waterway. The Rock Island station is the best preserved, as all of its structures still survive. It was refitted in 1855, rebuilt in 1882, and moved in 1903. The light was closed in 1955 after more a century of service. In June 2013, the island and all its buildings were reopened to the public as a park maintained by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. The island is accessible by private boat and local shuttle service, and the grounds are open for touring and picnicking.

Cornwall Brothers Store Museum: Take a step back in time! Explore local history in an historic 1866 stone general store building, the last remaining waterfront landmark of the 19th century in Alexandria Bay, with changing exhibits about river life, boating and local communities. Gift shop with regional books and gifts. Gallery presentations and special events happening in July and August.

Scenic View Park: Our Scenic View Park is the best-kept secret in the village. There is a sandy beach with a lifeguard on duty, playground, acres of picnic areas, barbecue grills and a covered pavilion with restrooms. Take a walk across the mini version of the Thousand Islands Bridge to Casino Island where you can spend the afternoon watching boats and catch sight of a freighter or two. In the evening, watch a breathtaking sunset over Boldt Castle.

Thousand Islands Bridge: The Thousand Islands Bridge is a significant landmark and tourist attraction in the Thousand Islands region, offering stunning views of the St. Lawrence River and surrounding islands. It’s an international bridge connecting the United States and Canada, with a unique multi-span structure including a soaring 4,500-foot suspension bridge. The bridge itself provides a scenic route for travelers and a great spot to observe the region’s landscape and cargo freighters.  In-season, visitors can walk across the bridge.

Antique Boat Museum: The Antique Boat Museum is the premier freshwater boating museum in North America. The ABM’s collections hold over 320 unique boats and thousands of related artifacts and archives. Their 4.5 acre campus comes alive with speedboat rides, a working skiff livery, and educational programs. ABM hosts many special events including the longest running annual boat show and so much more!

PLAN YOUR VISIT

THINGS TO DO

There’s something for everyone to do in Alexandria Bay. Area activities and attractions range from scenic boat tours, exploring two historic castles, craft beverage tastings, outdoor recreation, entertainment and nightlife, fishing,  and of course shopping!