Is Thousand Islands Park as lovely as it seems? (Clay: best town, for sale)

[homeward bound]

We're trying to figure out next year's vacation spot (finances willing).

Is this place really as festooned with great old Victorian houses to rent/rent parts of as it looks?

Is it overly touristy, or does it retain a lot of its old charm (as seems the case)?

How expensive would it be to rent a boat and fish in the St. Lawrence for a few days there?

Other issues to know about? We have two little boys who love the water and all things old-fashioned summer-vacation style, and we may have one or both of our college-age daughters with us, too.

Question for when we win the lottery: Do any of these great old houses ever come up for sale?

Question for if our pensions don't get cut: Do people retire there?

Thanks, and I hope everyone is keeping warm and fending off the job worries okay....

[Jeromeville]

Hi,

The Thousand Islands is a region, not a park (you may be confusing it with Adirondack Park). It is definitely NOT touristy (in the sense of, it's not overly built up for rich tourists). You can have a pricey vacation there or an inexpensive one - they cater to all tastes. Although you'll need some money in order to rent some of the lovely homes on the islands or on the river shore. I'm sure the houses come up for sale now and then.

As for retirees, yes, people do retire there, but keep in mind the winters can be brutal. The NY Times recently had a story (within the last couple years anyway) about people retiring to Clayton.

If you visit the Thousand Islands, make sure to go to Alex Bay and take one of the 2-hour river cruises so you can see all the adorable little islands and their beautiful homes up close.

[Sgoldie]

Hey HB,

The 1000 Islands would make for a wonderful summer vacation. There are a lot of tourists in the summer, not so much so that you won't enjoy it, and quite a few people with second homes both on and off the islands who come from all over. The state parks have cabins you can rent but they fill up fast, and early. There is a swimming beach (a rarity in the islands) at the one on Wellsley Island. Don't know about renting a Victorian though they are all over like the rest of upstate.

There are lots of arts and festivals that time of year and a lot of history. (Clayton Opera House, Antique Boat Museum, Cape Vincent Fete Francais, Alexandria Bay boat tours, Heart Island and Dark Island both have castles, etc) Many have season long activities. Factoids that may interest you are that kids who live on the islands board with people in town on the mainland during the school year, and that Cape Vincent was settled by Napoleon's officers as a future haven for him to escape to.

It really is a boater's paradise. You can rent boats, lots of marinas, including houseboats (a tad expensive) by the week but navigation can be tricky so a chartbook is essential. Make sure you catch the river guides at Cape Vincent boarding a ladder onto the ocean-going freighters while underway to safely steer them from going aground. There's also a lighthouse there at Tibbet's Point where the river meets Lake Ontario. There are a lot of local traditions such as the Sunday service you attend sitting in your boat, boats being an intregal part of life there as one uses a car elsewhere.

You'll want to make sure you include the Canadian side in your explorations too. Quite a bit different, more developed and with an English feel and more European tourists. The Gananoque and especially Kingston (home to Ft Henry where they have an enigma machine on display and military tatoos with bagpipes and all) their waterfronts shouldn't be missed. Lots of nice restaurants in the area and a free ferry to Wolfe Island just across the bridge when you come into town.

Highly recommended for the summer of a lifetime.

[Krisps]

I stopped in Alex.Bay and Wellesley Island the last couple years in early to mid fall over the past couple years and was surprised that it was so deserted. I would guess that the tourists generally leave after labor day. I was especially struck at the beauty and spookiness of the community on Wellesley Island, looks like a fantastic place to spend the summer. Like much of NY, that whole area is very unique and distinctive from the rest of the state, it feels like another world.

[Mercator Projection]

Homeward-

Thousand Islands Park is a summer "cottage" community. I believe the water and other utilities might be shut off during the winter. I did a short stint in the Coast Guard at Station Alex Bay and found the whole experience to be a page out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Its very very affluent in the summer. A summer rental in TIP may be pricey, but I really don't know. I would check out craigslist or something similar to see what the cottages are going for. Good luck! I think it would be a wonderful vacation.

The Islands with the mansions on them seem to be clustered near Alex Bay, so that is the most desirable and hence the most expensive area for vacation rentals. Go upstream towards Clayton and Cape Vincent and I'm sure you'll find it to be quieter and more reasonable.

As for boat rentals, I don't remember there being many rental opportunities, and the few that existed weren't cheap. But they do exist. Most of the people who go there, do so specifically to boat, and so they already have one.

Having said all that, doing the Thousands Islands without a boat is like seeing Paris from a tour bus with bagged lunches. Its just not the real experience.

[Sgoldie]

Here are a few numbers for marinas owned by people who have been in the area a long time. They may be able to help you in the way of boat rentals and possibly a place to stay -

Hutchinson's 315-482-9931
Schermerhorn's 315-324-5966
French Creek 315-686-3621

You may also want to check out any summer rentals by contacting Queens College in Kingston. The campus is very near the waterfront and a cool downton. You'll need to check on passports to cross the border.

[JiminCT]

I have a camp up there. Outdoor enthusiasts love it. Its a place mostly for NATURAL beauty. Most of the NY side is really rural. Alex Bay is considered the commerical center...but its pretty honky-tonk. Kingston is the best town for cultural things.

[ckhthankgod]

Yes, it is beautiful up there. Nice scenery and the communities of Alexandria Bay and Clayton are cute as well. You have the Ontario side of the region too and Kingston, as was mentioned, is the biggest city in that region. Watertown is about a 30 minute drive south too.

[Bayrat]

I believe that some of the parks have winter cabin rental if you are so inclined. My favorite is the Lake of the Isles, a lake in the center of a huge island with access into the river. You can rent a place on the lake or rent a cabin or tent in the state park called DeWolf. Quite a few boat rental places around but most likely you would be looking at either a houseboat or an aluminum rowboat with an outboard. There may be party barges there now, I have not rented in years, but given how inexpensive they are it would not surprise me.

Your boys will love the place, you may need to haul the girls into town a couple of days. Great fishing but no social life once outside of the villages.

[SPLIT]

We went back this August for the big boating activities in Clayton. Use to go every year in late 80's , early 90 when live in Poughkeepsie.
The whole river area feel like you are on TOP of th world & can reach up & touch the Clouds. Yes Alex Bay , main vac hub & pic below is famous Casino Rock / swim park & view off Boldt castle . Water here is Crystal Clear & fishing /tour boat riding should be #1 sample.
. Just to west is Fishers Landing , maybe more afordable. as I have boat friend there near Chalks Marina. Clayton has really grown with the Antique musuem & most of summer people have a wood boat connection. Can get very crowded in Aug, like this year with the EVEN # year 2nd Race boat regatta show 3rd weekend of month.
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