any info on alexandria bay?? (Syracuse, Clay: hotels, school, live in)

[artyst]

hi all. i've written before asking about other upstate areas and have always gotten great information from the friendly upstate folks! it's very much appreciated. can anyone provide information on the alexandria bay area? any insights are appreciated!

[Sgoldie]

It's called "A" Bay by those who live in the area. What kind of stuff do you want to know?

It's a busy resort in the summer with hotels and cottages right on the water. A very small village otherwise with a block or two of downtown spots for tourists, restaurants, etc, and one larger resort with a marina and nightclub. There are community wide planned activites every weekend of the summer (Pirates Weekend is one) but during the winter I'm sure it's dead.

The community revolves around the river. There are incredible views and lots of boating, tour boats and things of that nature. The 1000 Islands is one of the most beautiful places in the entire US. It has it's own lifestyle and year around residents are called "river rats", sort of a northern Key West of hardy yet conservative individualists. There are probably no jobs here or anywhere nearby for more than half the year.

[artyst]

thanks for the info sgoldie. so approx how many people are year round residents in the A bay area? so not many people visit for winter activities like snowmobiling, ice fishing, etc? (any skiing in this area??) so does the town basically shut down in the winter!!!

[Sgoldie]

There may be some cross country skiing. I don't know because I'm not a winter sports person. More likely snowmobiling and ice fishing. I have walked across the frozen river and if it's cold enough you can drive your car. Sometimes there are ice divers too.

You don't travel much that time of year as you never know if you'll be able to get back home, at least I don't. Kids who live on the island farms will board for the winter in town to go to school. That may happen more in Clayton. I suppose some people will go for a weekend to the nightclub and they may get some Canadians. Otherwise I'd say it pretty much closes down.

The height of the season is when school is out, July and August, with some activites starting in late May and going till Oct depending on the weather. Year around residents are relatively poor. It's the cottage people from elsewhere who have the money.

[artyst]

thanks sgoldie. so during the spring and summer there is a lot more money flowing in the town because of the amount of vacationers and summer visitors? maybe a little too much of a small town for winter visitors?

[Sgoldie]

I'd say so.

[Njrover0216]

Alex Bay is a ghost town in the wintertime. During the summer months, which is only June, July and August it is busier, but not nearly as busy as it used to be. I used to waitress there in the summertime.

[JiminCT]

Honky tonk for 50 years. Locality of 1,000 people. It's the place where ones well endowed cousin (with the oversized gold cross slung on her neck) from Syracuse comes up to hang out at the Dancing Dog and the Shipwreck to drink herself silly on rum, Labatts, and Yuengling.

The town is a morgue after October. All the way thru late May...

Basically...its Clayton NY's red headed step child.

[artyst]

ouch! lol!

[JiminCT]

John Irving should have come to Alexandria Bay instead of New Hampshire...