While trying to decide how best to see the 1000 Island region of the St Lawrence Seaway, my daughter and I happened upon on very timely billboards leading us to Uncle Sam Boat Tours in Alexandria Bay. Ya just pretty much find the main street tourist area and go til ya hit water. heh. They have plenty of free parking, which is a nice little plus. We were able to park in their lot before we’d even bought tickets, and I really think nobody would have been the wiser had we never stepped foot on a boat.
Uncle Sam’s is in a little kiosk on the river with about 6 docking bays. They have 3 different size ships, which are used for their various packages. We decided on the 3 hour tour for $16 per person on a mid-size double-decker ferry (the Island Wanderer), but they also have short jaunts to Boldt Castle for $7 (but that one doesn’t even check tickets… ahem… just saying…), a 2 1/2 hour two nation cruise, a one hour jaunt through Millionaire’s Row for $14, a lunch cruise (2 1/4 hr – $24.95), a dinner cruise on a huge triple-decker (2 1/2hr- $34.95), the two castle cruise for 5 hours at $26, and a 1 hour Twilight Tour daily at 7PM for $9. (Info taken from brochure.) Pretty much something to fit any budget or time restraints.
Our 3-hour trek was called the Seaway Island Tour and encompassed pretty much everything except Singer Castle. Azure and I decided to ride up top in the open air where you can see better and feel the breeze in your hair. It was storming this day off and on though so every time we saw lightening they made us go below until any danger passed. Wusses. heh.
Up top is where the Captain is, and the tour guide. We sat on padded benches and never really got sore butts at all… but we were allowed to walk around, and you can smoke at the back of the boat where the life jackets are.
Down below is glass-enclosed and is where the bathrooms are. These are kinda like an outhouse, being on a boat, but were surprising clean. There is also a snack bar here serving pizza, hot dogs, candy, popcorn, sodas (Pepsi products), beer, and margaritas. Azure did break down and try a strawberry margarita, which I took a few sips of, and it was better than I expected. I think it was around $4 but don’t hold me to that.
Now, this particular tour takes you to both sides of the river: US and Canada territories. Since you don’t actually get off the boat in Canadian waters though, you do not need a passport or birth certificate or any of that.
As for the tour itself, I have to say that this was both enjoyable and informative. We lucked out and had Sam as a tour guide and he was just funny as hell. He kept getting his right and left mixed up, so the Captain taped up paper on the deck with a big R and L…. they were going back and forth the whole time and it was hysterical. There was no dry, boring pre-set script on this boat… oh no. Sam knows his stuff very well and winged it all.
There are about 1,788 actual islands here, and we saw a good portion of them. All the while Sam was telling us background info on each and amusing stories on some. Did you know there are 3 defining factors to be deemed an island? It must have at least one tree. It must be visible 365 days a year. It must be 1 foot in diameter. So yes, some of those islands are pretty small. There was one named Tom Thumb that barely hit those requirements. If lightening ever takes that lone tree out, it is no longer considered an island.
I have to give this tour a big 5 stars and recommend them highly. The staff just has a blast and keeps you entertained, while at the same time not missing a beat on the info stuff. If you plan to make a jaunt to 1000 Islands, do take the time for this tour. It’s worth double what they’re charging… and oh yeah, at the end of the 3 hours, this does include the 10-minute ferry to Boldt Castle where you can hang out as long as you like.
47 James St
Alexandria Bay, NY
1-800-ALEX BAY
