Keewaydin State Park, NY – Alexandria Bay, NY July 4, 2008

We went just a few miles to Alexandria Bay Village and stopped at their city dock. There are many stores, restaurants and gift shops there. There was also a Farmers Market today and we walked about ½ mile to find it. We were disappointed that there wasn’t much produce there.

As we were walking back we ran across a hardware store. Darrell and Bob decided that was their kind of boutique, so went in. Beth and Margaret continued back to town and did our own kind of boutique shopping. There were some very nice stores, but the only thing purchased was a very cute hat for Margaret.

There was a grocery store some distance away, but accessible by boat. Bob took us in his dingy and we bought what we needed. On our way back the engine died and, although they were able to get it started again, it wouldn’t keep running. So, we got towed back by a nice boater.

While in Alexandria Bay, we saw a boat named “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” from the port of Margaritaville and another boat which had a blow up doll as a passenger. There was a giant outdoor chess set. We also saw the Coast Guard racing for their boat, casting off and racing out of the harbor with siren and lights. We ate lunch in Alexandria Bay before leaving to visit Boldt Castle.

Heart Island and the Boldt Castle was a very fascinating place. George C. Boldt, proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City built Boldt Castle as a display of his love for his wife Louise. He purchased Hart Island, tore down the existing structure and proceeded to build a full-sized Rhineland Castle. He had the outline of the island altered to more resemble a heart and changed the name of Hart Island to Heart Island. There are hearts incorporated everywhere in the castle.

It was begun in 1900 and for 4 years Boldt and his family spent their summers on Wellesley Island while 300 workers, stonemasons, carpenters, and artists fashioned the six story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge and a dovecote. In 1904 Boldt telegrammed the island to “stop all construction”. His wife, Louise, had died suddenly. Boldt never returned to the island and for 73 years the castle remained vacant and unfinished. The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority assumed ownership in 1977 determined to preserve the legacy for the enjoyment of future generations. Since then, millions of dollars have been invested into the restoration of the structures. As of now, only the first floor has been restored and decorated.

The grounds are beautifully maintained and there are gardens everywhere. There is also the Alster Tower which was a playhouse built for the children, a bird tower, power plant building and other structures. Across the water is the Yacht House, which housed the family’s three yachts and houseboat (with tall masts and rigging standing).

Many weddings occur on Heart Island and there is no charge to book this beautiful place. The only cost is the entrance fee of all the guests ($6.50 each). There was a wedding about to take place while we were there.

After visiting the castle and yacht house we anchored about ¼ mile away. Bob and Margaret rafted up to us and we enjoyed the million dollar view. It was a most beautiful place to be. After dinner we watched the Boldt Castle fireworks display. There were hundreds of boats out also watching.

The only dark cloud in an otherwise perfect day was when Beth lost her cellphone in the water while going from our boat to Bellissimo.