Your Thousand Islands, New York, Itinerary at a Glance
Each location boasts something unique, delighting guests. The locations are nonprofits meant to preserve and commemorate various historic events.
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Enjoy These Great Thousand Islands Attractions and More:
- Antique Boat Museum
- Thousand Islands Arts Center
- Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site
- Boldt Castle
- Frederick Remington Art Museum
- Safe Haven Museum
- The Seaway
- Clayton Opera House
- The New York State Zoo
- Tibbetts Point Lighthouse
Day-to-Day Thousand Islands, New York Itinerary
Day One of Things to Do in Thousand Islands, NY
Kick off your trip at the Antique Boat Museum (ABM) on the St. Lawrence River in Clayton. Learn about the cultural significance of boating in North America through the museum’s efforts to collect, preserve and celebrate all things nautical. With more than 320 treasured boats and thousands of artifacts and archives, guests will learn the ins and outs of boating through the years in walking tours and independent exploration. Since the founding of the ABM 50 years ago, the Museum has expanded across 4.5 acres of public program space, 1900’ of dockage and 1300’ of the river’s shoreline.
Just a seven-minute trek from the ABM, the Thousand Islands Arts Center invites you to step into the world of heritage arts. Weave through diverse mediums of art dating back from ancient Egypt to present day. Experience the permanent textile collection and library up close before attending a pottery or weaving class in one of their studios. The Center is focused on highlighting the skills of traditional artists and artisans through education and preservation. Originally, the center was the Thousand Islands Craft School in 1966 with a total of 44 students. The classroom size has exponentially grown since, serving over 500 students annually.
Head south to Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site for an educational afternoon in the endangered battlegrounds. Just off the shorelines of Lake Ontario, this location is home to historic military activity dating back to 1807. The harbor uses a combination of indoor and outdoor exhibits, guided or self-guided tours, and programs run by guest presenters to teach its rich history. Learn about the battles of Sackets Harbor between American and British-Canadian forces, and the monuments that stand to memorialize them.
End the day at Boldt Castle, a luxurious mansion constructed on the St. Lawrence River on Heart Island. Built out of love for his wife Louise in 1900, millionaire hotel magnate George C. Boldt meant for the island to be their home away from home but abandoned the property after the tragic passing of Louise just seven months before completion. After being left vacant for over 70 years, the property remains frozen in the tremendous bygone era, sending its visitors time traveling.
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Day Two of Thousand Islands Activities
Start your morning at Frederick Remington Art Museum, covering the renowned illustrator Frederick Remington. His art spread through the most popular magazines of his time, including Harper’s Weekly, Century and Cosmopolitan. He dedicated himself to curating sculptures, writing books and illustrating snapshots of the Old West. The Museum offers endless programs and concerts to bolster his artwork and inspire visitors to dive into the world of creation.
Visit the only World War II refugee shelter in the United States, Safe Haven Museum. The 982 refugees came to the United States as “guests” by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Devoted to honoring the lives of the refugees, the Museum displays their historical documents, remnants and relics from the years as a refuge. Their lives are enshrined with each new pair of eyes and ears who see their faces and hear their stories. The Museum captures the heart-touching experiences of the people who were able to escape the tragedies of the war.
To end your day, get a breath of fresh air on the St. Lawrence Seaway, one of the engineering marvels of the 20th century. The Seaway is pressed between Montreal and Lake Ontario, in the heart of trade since before the founding of the United States. In six years, the Seaway was constructed by moving 210 million cubic yards of earth and rock and pouring 6 million cubic yards of concrete. This impressive feat has led to seven docks—five Canadian and two U.S.—capable of lifting massive vessels 246 feet above sea level. Experience the beautiful and impressive nature of this historical innovation up close and personal. There are several suppliers working with the Seaway.
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Day Three of Attractions in Thousand Islands, New York
Spend your last day enjoying a show at the Clayton Opera House, a historic vaudeville theater from the early 1900s. The performance center puts on a variety of different events, such as comedy routines, interactive movie showings and musical concerts. The Thousand Islands Performing Arts Fund (TIPAF) and the Town of Clayton raised $3,275,000 to renovate the four-story Opera House. It stands now as a beacon for cultural and community events for Clayton and the surrounding area.
Stroll the quaint villages of Alexandria Bay in Cape Vincent, home to historic landmarks like the Boldt Castle and Yacht House. With just around 0.76 square miles of land, a short walk will take you through the streets of this former settlement. The Bay offers beautiful views of the St. Lawrence River, adjacent to the U.S. and Canadian border.
Head south to Zoo New York at Thompson Park, the only zoo in the U.S. to house native species of New York State. Originating in 1920 with a donation of two whitetail deer, the zoo has exponentially grown into a diverse home for countless species. Nearly 50,000 people travel to the zoo each year, making it the second most visited location in the Thousand Islands. Their modern outlook on caring for their animals has led to a naturalistic approach, where animals feel at home with their habitats.
End your trip with a visit to the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse, where the St. Lawrence River blends seamlessly into Lake Ontario. Peer through the lighthouse’s single operating Fresnel lens on the lake and discover its serenity. The first tower of the lighthouse was built in 1827 but was replaced in 1854 by the cylindrical one that stands today. This location has since undergone various renovations, modernizing while keeping its historic charm alive.
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