The heart of the Thousand Island's Region

The Village of Alexandria Bay, NY has many exciting things to see and do; shops, fine dining, tours of historic Boldt Castle, whitewater rafting, visit an aquazoo or take the kids to the Go-Karts. Take a tour of the Islands by foot, bicycle or even hot air balloon. Alexandria Bay is filled with fun activites for the young and the young at heart and your vacation is guaranteed to be packed with adventure.

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The St Laurence river, 15 miles at its source, gradually narrows to five miles in width, and the islands over 1800 of them, vary in size from mere points of rock to those of several square miles in area. Be sure you expereince a guided cruise for a close up view of this beautiful region. The hardest part is making up which cruise to choose, from cocktail cruises on a Mississippi-style paddle wheel boat to narrated excursions on a big triple decker there are as many choices as there are personalities. Don't miss the famous Boldt Castle and Millionaires' Row.

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There are 128 rooms, all with direct dial telephones, individually controlled air conditioning and heat, color cable TV with remote control, HBO and Cinemax, wet bars, refrigerators and balconies. In addition there are 68 rooms with Jacuzzi and two presidential suites.

Be sure to check out their package deals which include meals and activites. Enjoy dining in a relaxed atmosphere in the Crystal Dining Room. Savor the breathtaking view of Boldt Castle and delight in the music from the baby grand piano. After dinner take a stroll or spend a quiet moment in the gazebo overlooking the River.

For a more casual atmosphere, visit Rum Runner Wharf Bar and Grill. If the outdoors is more to your liking, board the barge located right at the dock or enjoy a pool side barbeque at the outdoor pool.

Also not to be missed are the Bonnie Castle Marina and also the Recreation Center.

At the turn-of-the-century, millionaire George C. Boldt, owner of the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel, set out to build a 120 room Castle on Heart Island. The grandiose structure was to be a display of his love for his wife, Louise. In 1904, tragedy struck. Boldt commanded that all construction be ceased. Louise had died suddenly. He could not imagine his dream castle without his beloved. Boldt never returned to the island, leaving behind the unfinished structure as a monument of his love.

For 73 years, the castle and various out buildings were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. In 1977 the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property. They decided that the Castle should be completed and preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. Since 1977, several million dollars have been applied to rehabilitating, restoring and completing the Heart Island structures.

Your 2 hour adventure begins with the inflation of the balloon. Your actual flight time is approximately one hour. Gliding over the tree tops, floating over the beautiful waterway is an experience you will never forget. Feel like a bird as you gently float wherever the winds take you. Because of this freedom no two rides ever cover exactly the same areas. Each flight ends with the traditional Balloonist's Prayer and a toast to the success of the adventure and for the hospitality of the landowner on whose property we land. The landowner and his family often join in the celebration as well.

The Aqua Zoo is one of the largest private aquariums of its kind in the United States or Canada. They have over 300 varieties of marine life on display. They have over 20 exhibits and are adding more each year. This zoo contains marine species from lakes, rivers and oceans. The species have been collected from all over the world. This was also a great learning experience for the younger members of our party.