THOUSAND ISLANDS - OH SO PRETTY

July 1-6, 2026

Yes, the Thousand Islands are picturesque. People have built unique homes on their very own islands. This area became popular in the late 1870’s when U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant visited the region in 1872. Affluent travelers began coming to the Thousand Islands in 1873 when a daily train service started near Clayton, NY. George Boldt began building the Boldt Castle in the early 1900’s, but his wife Louise suddenly died and he never finished the work. Currently, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority is fixing the property with the first and second floors completed. Other famous people that vacationed in the Thousand Islands include George Pullman (sleeping car industrialist), Charles Emery (Goodwin Tobacco Company), Vanderbilt and Morgan’s (industrialists).

We visited both the Boldt and Singer (Dark Island-you have to take a tour boat to get there) castles and the Boldt castle is hands down the best place to go. It has beautiful grounds, lovely people who answer questions, and a well done audio tour that tells you about the history of the island.

The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority does a fantastic job on landscaping the Boldt Castle grounds.

They are slowly completing the work that George Boldt left uncompleted after Louise, his wife, died.

These push buttons are the same ones we had in our Greendale house in Cincinnati, OH when I was growing up.

Power plant on Boldt Castle island.

Alter Tower where the Boldt’s lived while the house was being built. He built it in the image of a German castle.

Singer Castle-it was a gloomy day when we were there. The castle was gloomy as well.

They didn’t like servants coming through the main stairwell, so they had all of these hidden stairs. In one of the guest rooms the servant would come through the closet and pick up the guest clothes while they were sleeping. Creepy!

During our time in this area we stayed at the Thousand Islands club which had a nice pool, restaurant and bar. It did feel like we were going back in time as we walked the grounds and went in for a drink at the bar.

Thousand Islands Club - very relaxing spot.

We felt like tourists here and really enjoyed going into Alexandria Bay, taking the tender and swimming in various spots on the St. Lawrence river, bike riding with the dog to Wellesley Island State Park, touring the castles and the fireworks on July 4 over Boldt castle (it was surreal as we sat on the front of the boat wrapped in blankets which the festivities).

Alexandria Bay tender ride.

Sign in a store window-fits us pretty perfectly.

Swimming in the St. Lawrence. Bella bringing the ball back.

Took the tender out and went swimming about a 10 minute drive up the St. Lawrence river near Westminster Park.