Thousand Islands - Wellesley Island NY and Boldt Castle and Oh! Canada

"Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." – Ibn Battuta

Evie

Buckle up, fellow adventurers, as we embark on the dazzling next leg of our journey from Watkins Glen State Park, zooming northeast towards the majestic St. Lawrence Seaway! Our spirits lifted as we cruised through the enchanting Finger Lakes region, where serene landscapes greeted us hill after hill. Picture this: sprawling farms, lush vineyards, and shimmering lake views dancing alongside smooth, winding roads. We were on a mission to reach our day's grand finale, so we kept our stops short and sweet—except for a quick pause in Watertown, NY, where a charmed store owner couldn’t resist snapping a pic of our adorable mini Aussie, Evie!

Level and Full Hook up at Wellesley

Our first affirmation of our plans was pulling into the Visitor Center at the base of the 1000 Island Bridge. Oh, what a treasure trove! Brimming with tales of the 1000 Islands and dazzling scientific displays of the local geography, it set the stage for the wonders ahead. With the sun dipping low, we crossed the bridge to our evening haven: Wellesley Island State Park, just four miles off of exit 51. We rolled into site F12 for two glorious nights with full hookups, backing in effortlessly to a level spot. The F loop was a leafy paradise, with towering mature trees hugging the back and a sunny sprinkle throughout. We fell so hard for this slice of heaven that we tacked on an extra day, shifting to H14—an electric-only, level gravel-pad gem with a grand bathhouse nearby and a marina buzzing with a camp store, laundry, arcade, and a playground with killer water views.

Sue enjoying the bikes

Nature at every turn

Pedaling through the park on our bikes, we uncovered a wooded wonderland of RV and tent sites kissing the lakeshore. The osprey nests and natural marvels we spied on our afternoon ride were pure magic. But the crown jewel of Wellesley Island? Boldt Castle! This fairytale fortress, dreamed up by Waldorf-Astoria maestro George Boldt for his beloved wife, stopped mid-build in 1904 when tragedy struck at her unexpected death. Fast forward 74 years, and the restoration kicked off, transforming it into a Turn-of-the-Century masterpiece. Fun fact: Boldt, a hospitality titan, coined “The customer is always right” and—get this—his Waldorf chef whipped up the legendary Thousand Island Dressing right here!

Beautiful Landscaped Grounds at Boldt

Front Parlor of the Mansion

Entry room and fireplace at Boldt Castle

Fine Wood Craftsmanship at Boldt Castle

Grand Staircase at Boldt Castle

The sky light of the main hall

A view to the pump house - Boldt Castle

West Entry of Boldt Castle

We hopped a shuttle from the Wellesley Island Yacht Club Boat House (Alexandria Bay’s

Antique Boats at the Boldt Castle Yacht Club

Classic Wooden Boats

boat tours are another option to reach the site) and marveled at the vintage wooden boats on display. Dining’s slim on this end of the island, so make a plan—or check out https://visit1000islands.com for the scoop. Kudos to the 1000 Island Bridge Authority for snagging Boldt Castle and pouring love (and funds!) into its revival—it’s a tourism triumph!

Wellesley Island State Park stole our hearts, so we lingered another day, soaking in its granite-studded vistas, crystal-clear waters, and the first whispers of autumn in the trees. Hiking and biking trails unfurled breathtaking scenes, and a jaunt to Clayton, NY, dazzled us with its antique boat collection and a downtown begging for a shopping spree.

My sister Jana and her husband Dennis joined the party at Boldt Castle, then whisked us off to Canada—about an hour’s drive—to the lakeside cottage of our distant cousin, NHL legend Iron Man Doug Jarvis, on Clear Lake near Kingston, Ontario. Our great-grandmothers were Toronto cousins. Doug and Linda welcomed us with open arms, treating us to a boat tour of their pristine waters and a peek at a century-old lock and dam, still ticking like a champ.

Doug and Linda's Cottage

Doug skating with Gretzky

Ontario Lake Boat Ride

The Old Mill at the Locks

Century Plus Old Operational Locks

The grand staircase of the fishing lodge

Back on Wellesley Island for our final night, we savored Alexandria Bay’s Seaway-side charm, lunching as tankers glided by on the St. Lawrence. A shout-out to Foxy’s on the River, just east of Clayton, where seafood and bridge views reign supreme!

Tankers drifting by Boldt Castle

This corner of Upstate New York, with its gentle hills and laid-back vibes, is already singing a siren song for our return. Who knows? Maybe we’ll cross paths along the Pooka Trail—until then, happy trails, explorers!