Things to do in

Thousand Islands

Come on board in Gananoque and join a one or three-hour cruise taking you closer to the scenery than any other cruise available in the 1000 Islands. Referred to by the Iroquois Nation as the “Garden of the Great Spirit,” the tranquility of the area belies a history of adventures, wars, and rebellions. See fifth and sixth-generation family cottages. Cruise the narrow channels of the Admiralty and Navy group of islands in the most intimate tour the 1000 Islands has to offer. Join the 1-hour cruise from the port at Ivy Lea or Gananoque and experience the beauty of the region from the St. Lawrence River. During this cruise in the heart of the 1000 Islands, see Boldt Castle, the 1000 Islands International Bridge, and Zavikon Islands, containing the smallest international bridge in the world. Cruise past the Statue of St. Lawrence while he watches peacefully over the moving vessels on the river. This statue is only visible from the water, standing high above on a rock cut. The 3-hour cruise departs from Gananoque, and it is a Canadian signature experience. This tour tells the story of the 1000 Islands region, its history, and the stories of those who have called it home. You will see the famed Boldt Castle and the lavish homes of the rich and famous on Millionaire’s Row. Learn about and discover the remarkable feats of engineering required to build the St. Lawrence Seaway, 1000 Islands International Bridge, and so much more. The 1000 Islands cruise with an onboard audio commentary is the perfect way to explore the scenery that has made the region famous throughout the world.

Set sail on a 5-hour 1000 Islands Cruise and cruise through the Canadian and American span of the 1000 Islands, before your stopover at the majestic Boldt Castle on the most famous of the 1000 Islands, Heart Island. The narrated cruise also takes you past Zavikon Island, Millionaire’s Row, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the 1000 Islands Bridge as you see the area's most breathtaking scenery. For your convenience, the price of the Boldt Castle Stopover Cruise includes the Boldt Castle Admission Fee. Once you arrive at Boldt Castle you can bypass the ticket booth once you clear U.S. Customs & Border Control. Note: City Cruises Gananoque cannot guarantee or be held responsible for the amount of time at Boldt Castle as it depends on processing time at U.S. Customs & Border Patrol. Important Information About Required Documentation (Please read): - All passengers on the Boldt Castle stop-over cruise are subject to U.S. Customs & Border Control as Boldt Castle is an Official Port of Entry into the United States in Alexandria Bay, New York. - All passengers require a valid passport, and/or Nexus card to board this cruise. There are no exceptions. - Citizens of countries outside of Canada or the U.S. require a visitor’s visa as well as their passport. An approved Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be required as U.S. Customers & Border Control will no longer accept a Visa Waiver Form. Please contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for more details. To visit their website go to: https://www.cbp.gov/ - If you are unsure of required documentation, please be sure to contact the U.S. Customs and Border Protection prior to your arrival for more details. To visit their website go to: https://www.cbp.gov/ - City Cruises Gananoque shall not be held responsible for passengers who do not have the proper required documentation. - It is at the discretion of U.S. Customs & Border Control to refuse entry to Boldt Castle to any person(s). In this case, City Cruises Gananoque shall not be held responsible and therefore, no refunds will be issued.

Experience the 1000 Islands from the air on a breathtaking helicopter tour. Choose your own adventure with three unique tour options ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. Depart from Gananoque Heliport, located within a 20-minute drive east of Kingston via Highway 401 in beautiful Gananoque, Ontario.  Check in at the front desk then relax in the lounge before your pre-flight briefing. Feel the thrill as you rise above lush greenery, sandy beaches, and rocky cliffs, admiring the sights from your guaranteed window seat.  Wear audio headsets complete with microphones for easy communication. Enjoy pilot-narrated commentary in English or select one of the recorded multilingual audio tours. The duration depends on your selected option. Choose the 10-minute tour for a taste of the 1000 Islands, including the town of Gananoque, the Admiralty Islands, Navy Islands, and the Lake Fleet Islands. Explore further on an Ontario Signature Experience: a 20-minute tour that includes both the U.S. and Canadian spans of the Ivy Lea Bridge, and Boldt Castle on Heart Island.  The most popular option is a Canadian Signature Experience: an extended 30-minute ‘Two Castle’ tour that sends you flying over sunken shipwrecks and nation-spanning bridges, as well as Boldt and Singer Castles.

Experience the fury of Niagara Falls with a ride on the Maid of the Mist and cruise through the Thousand Islands on this three-day tour from New York City. Day 1: New York - Finger Lakes - Niagra Falls An early morning departure takes you north from the Big Apple as you pass the beautiful Delaware Gap to Watkins Glen State Park in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Walk through Watkins Glen Canyon to visit the beautiful waterfalls and then continue to Niagara Falls, passing Seneca Lake, where you will arrive in the late afternoon. Tour the U.S. side of the falls including the American Falls, Goat Island, and Luna Island. At night, tour Niagara Falls where you can marvel at the colorful lighting of the waters while on board the Maid of the Mist. Overnight: Ramada by Wyndham. Day 2: Niagra Falls - Toronto - 1000 Islands Start the day with the Horseshoe Falls’ view followed by a visit to the picturesque village of Niagara on the Lake. We continue to Toronto, the financial capital of Canada. Visit the HTO Park, Brookfield Place, city hall, and The Distillery Historic District.  Towards the evening, take off from Toronto along the world-famous Lake Ontario for an evening arrival to the 1000 Islands area (in April, based on weather conditions, you may return to Niagara Falls to stay overnight). Overnight: Gananoque at Comfort Inn (April: Ramada by Wyndham). Day 3: 1000 Islands - New York  Start the day with a cruise through the amazing 1000 Islands along the St. Laurence River. See the houses of the rich and famous built atop private islands. After lunch, head to New York State. On the way, enjoy a shopping excursion at one of the large outlet malls where you can shop for bargains in name-brand stores before your return to New York City in the evening.

Experience the best of Eastern Canada hassle-free with our 2-day tour designed for time-tight travelers. Explore several iconic highlights, including destinations not easily accessible by public transit. Say goodbye to rental car hassles and travel planning headaches as we provide round-trip transportation from Montreal. From May to October, enjoy a scenic cruise around Ontario's picturesque Thousand Islands, immersing yourself in breathtaking natural beauty. Afterward, settle in for an overnight stay in Toronto, where you can unwind and recharge for the next day's adventures. Our itinerary includes visits to the awe-inspiring Niagara Falls and the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, allowing you to soak in the region's rich culture and stunning landscapes. Let us handle all the details, so you can focus on making unforgettable memories on this unforgettable journey through Eastern Canada.

Discover the lush 1000 Islands archipelago and gaze through crystal-clear waters at old shipwrecks on a thrilling helicopter tour from Gananoque. Land at ARBRU Craft Brewery for a pizza lunch and paired with a sampler flight at Canada’s first off-grid craft brewery. Get checked in a the tour supplier's office and get ready for your flight. Strap in and experience the thrill of lift off. Hear your pilot clearly with the headphone and microphone system.  Glide over the the majesty of the 1000 Islands, taking in spectacular views of Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, Millionaire's Row, the 1000 Islands International bridge and shipwrecks which can be seen resting on the bottom of the mighty St. Lawrence River.  Disembark at the ARBRU Craft Brewery and walk along a path through hops fields, which are used to craft a range of exceptional brews. Be greeted with a flight of craft brews and a personal-size stone-fired pizza. Choose from pepperoni, meat lovers, or margarita. Enjoy a delicious and relaxed meal before heading back to the helicopter for your flight back to your meeting point in Gananoque.

There’s no better way to experience Thousand Islands than the sky. Head to the heliport in Gananoque and hop onboard your helicopter for your 30 minutes aerial adventure.  Soar through the skies and soak up panoramic views of the many islands below. From the helicopter, see famous landmarks including Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, Millionaires Row, Thousand Islands International Bridge, and more. Back on land, visit BUSL Cider, the region’s newest cider mill. Enjoy a guided tour of the mill and learn how cider is produced while tasting a selection of ciders. Wander through the mill’s sprawling orchards, and stop at a nearby bakery. End the experience with a light lunch, and sample the region’s world-famous Thousand Islands Dressing.

Guests will be picked up in New Jersey and New York early in the morning. We will head north to Watkins Glen State Park located in upstate New York. Following, we will go to Niagara Falls and to overlook the American Falls, Horseshoe Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. You will be easily astounded by the deafening roar of the falls. The combination of height and volume make the Niagara Falls so beautiful. On the second day, join us as we enjoy the Niagara Falls in the morning before making our way over to Toronto! Toronto is known for its various cultural institutions, museums, galleries, festivals, historic sites, and so much more! It attracts over 25 million tourists each and every year. Explore with us what makes Toronto so unique. In addition to taking in the scenery, passengers on the boat tours of this area can learn some of the historic insights of the region. Sit back and relax while enjoying views of some famous spots.The Thousand Islands Cruise Tour is a unique and one-of-a-kind passageway to view the most amazing sites in Canada. Explore with us today a ride of a lifetime before we make our way back to New York. Day 1: Itinerary: New York → Watkins Glen State Park + Finger Lake (Optional, 90 mins, Watkins Glen State Park will not be visited when it is closed) → Niagara Falls Night Tour (Mandatory, 90mins) Notes: 1. Watkins Glen State Park only opens in summer, usually from April to October each year. If Watkins Glen State Park is closed, the attraction will be replaced with the Corning Museum of Glass (Optional, 90 mins). 2. In order to ensure a better experience for guests, it is guaranteed that guests can watch the fireworks show at the waterfall on that day (except that there is no fireworks show on that day). Hotel：M Hotel Buffalo; Niagara Riverside Resort; similar Day 2 Itinerary: Niagara Falls (Canada) → IMAX: Niagara (Canada side) (Optional, 30mins) → Hornblower Niagara Cruise (Optional, 30 mins) → Skylon Tower Observation Deck & Lunch (Optional, 120 mins) → Toronto → Toronto Sightseeing Harbour Tour (Optional, 60 mins) → CN Tower (Optional, 60 mins) → Ripley's Aquarium of Canada (Optional, 60 mins) → Chinese Dinner in Toronto Chinatown (Optional, 60 mins) Special Note: 1. If the Toronto Sightseeing Harbour Tour is closed, the attraction will be replaced by Casa Loma (Optional, 60 mins). Hotel：Best Western Belleville; similar Day 3 Itienrary: Toronto → Thousand Islands (Canada) → Thousand Islands Cruise (Optional, 60 mins) → New York/New Jersey