Things to do in

Gananoque

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.

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.