Alexandria Bay With Kids: What It’s Really Like With Toddlers and a Stroller in Tow

Table of Contents

Boats docked on the river with Boldt Castle silhouetted against a vibrant sunset sky in Alexandria Bay. — Boldt Castle views like this are part of the magic of Alexandria Bay.

Planning a trip to Alexandria Bay with kids? I visited this little riverside town in New York’s 1000 Islands region with my 2.5- and 4-year-olds, and it turned out to be a day of castle adventures, sweet shops, and a few stroller hurdles.

From taking the boat to Boldt Castle, to wandering the village streets and making time for playgrounds and fudge breaks, here’s what you can realistically expect when visiting Alexandria Bay in New York’s 1000 Islands with kids.

Whether you’re mapping out a weekend stop or looking for the best things to do in Alexandria Bay with kids, this honest guide will help you plan a fun and doable visit, even with toddlers and a stroller.

Why Visit Alexandria Bay

Alexandria Bay (often called “Alex Bay”) is one of the most popular destinations in New York’s 1000 Islands region. This small riverside village sits right on the St. Lawrence River and has been a summertime getaway spot for generations.

The big draw is Boldt Castle, a fairytale mansion built on nearby Heart Island, but Alex Bay also has a lively waterfront strip, boat tours, plenty of casual restaurants, and family-friendly spots like playgrounds and candy shops. For families, it offers that classic mix of history, scenery, and easy vacation-town fun, all within walking distance or a short drive.

Traveling with kids?

Get the Free Travel Documents Checklist for Families

Before you head to the airport, make sure you’ve thought through the documents your family may need, including IDs, passports, birth certificates, consent letters, health documents, and helpful backup copies.

Get the Free Checklist

Cover of the Travel Documents Checklist for Families from Fairytale Travel Guide, featuring two children looking out an airplane window.

Getting There

For us, Alexandria Bay is local—just about a three-hour drive from home—so driving was the obvious choice.

If you’re flying in, the closest airport is Syracuse Hancock International. From there, it’s about an hour and a half drive north, and you’ll want to rent a car to get around. Another option is to fly into one of the New York City airports and make the drive upstate.

We stayed at The Ledges Resort and Marina, just a mile outside of town. It only took a few minutes to drive in, but walking would’ve been an option, too. There was ample parking available downtown.

Rideshares like Uber or Lyft could also work, though in the U.S., you’ll usually need to bring your own car seats for young kids.

Boldt Castle With A Stroller

Double stroller parked at the entrance ramp to Boldt Castle in Alexandria Bay With Kids — Boldt Castle was surprisingly accessible. This ramp led right to the main entrance, completely bypassing the stairs.

The big draw in Alexandria Bay is Boldt Castle, and it really does live up to the hype. George C. Boldt, the man behind New York City’s Waldorf Astoria, started building it in the early 1900s as a gift for his wife. When she passed away, work stopped and the castle sat unfinished for decades before finally being restored and opened to the public. Knowing the backstory makes it even more special. It honestly feels like you’ve stepped into a fairytale the moment you set foot on the island.

Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours dock in Alexandria Bay With Kids, with tour boat at pier 6 — Boats leave every 30 minutes for Boldt Castle. We boarded here with help from the crew to lift the stroller onboard.

We purchased our tickets through Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours, located right at the end of James Street (the main strip in town). The process was super simple. The tickets we purchased included both the boat ride over to Heart Island and castle admission, so we didn’t have to wait in line for tickets once we reached the castle. Boats leave every half hour from Alexandria Bay and return from Heart Island at :15 and :45 past the hour.

Getting on the boat with a stroller was surprisingly smooth. While there wasn’t a ramp, the crew helped lift the front wheels of my stroller over the small gap. I parked it once onboard, and the kids were able to sit with me, but honestly, they could have stayed in the stroller if needed.

If you’re curious what it actually looks like to board with a stroller and settle in for the ride, here’s a quick video panning from our stroller on the boat to the view of Boldt Castle in the distance.

Once at the castle, I was thrilled to find how stroller-friendly it was. Accessible entrances were clearly marked, and every floor, including the basement, was reachable by elevator. Even unfinished bedrooms on the upper levels had doorways wide enough for my Zoe Twin+ (though just barely). If you have a wider double stroller, it might be tight.

Zoe Twin+ stroller inside Boldt Castle showing doorway width and stroller fit — The stroller just cleared the interior doors, but every floor was reachable by elevator.

After exploring, we caught another ferry back to town, and the process was just as easy as the ride over.

Exploring Alexandria Bay Village

Double stroller blocked by stairs at entrance of souvenir shop in Alexandria Bay — Most shops on the main strip had stairs like this, which meant leaving the stroller outside to browse.

After Boldt Castle, we wandered around Alex Bay’s main strip. It wasn’t the most stroller-friendly.

Sidewalks had random steps built in, which meant detouring into the street.

Shops often had stairs leading up to the entrance, so I had to leave the stroller outside. It felt fairly safe, but managing toddlers inside small shops without it was tricky.

Still, the town had plenty of charm and fun stops:

Lunch at Blu Anchor Bar & Grill

Located right by the marina, this restaurant had great food and friendly staff. Like most of town, it had stairs at the entrance, so I folded the stroller and carried it up. They did have an accessibility lift, but I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to use with a stroller.

Once inside, the staff were wonderful about helping me find a spot for the stroller, the food was delicious, and the kids menu had plenty of options.

Sweet Stop: Lil’ River Fudge Co

This candy and fudge shop was a big hit—delicious treats, totally worth it. Again, stairs made stroller access tough, so I left it outside while we stocked up.

Playtime: Alexandria Bay Beach Park

We made a playground stop at the Alexandria Bay Beach Park. While the kids loved running around and digging in the sand, I wasn’t as impressed. The equipment felt dated, the park was packed even during “off season,” and the playground opened right onto the beach and water with no fencing. That made it harder to supervise with toddlers.

Here’s a quick pan around the playground and beach area so you can see what it’s really like in action—the setup, the crowd levels, and how close it is to the water.

Coffee at River House Coffee Co

Before heading back to the car, I grabbed an iced latte at River House Coffee Co. The barista made me her personal favorite, a s’mores-inspired drink that ended up being one of the best lattes I’ve had.

More Things to Do in Alexandria Bay With Kids

We kept our day simple, but there are plenty of other things to do in Alexandria Bay with kids if you’re planning a longer stay:

Scenic View Park (a local park with picnic areas and castle views)
Mini Golf at River Golf Adventures (located in nearby Clayton, NY)
Thousand Islands Winery (family-friendly, with space for kids to run around while adults sample wines)
Scenic Boat Tours beyond Boldt Castle (many companies offer cruises around the 1000 Islands)

Want to explore more of the 1000 Islands? These family-friendly tours depart from nearby Clayton, just a short drive from Alexandria Bay, and they’re a fun way to see even more of the region by boat.

🏰 Want to see more of the 1000 Islands? Browse family-friendly boat tours that fit your schedule. 🏰

Alexandria Bay With a Stroller

Here’s the honest truth: Alex Bay itself is not very accessible. Between steps in the sidewalks, stairs into shops and restaurants, and uneven paths, navigating with a stroller was tricky.

That said, Boldt Castle and Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours were the opposite: smooth, easy, and very stroller-friendly. I was so glad to have my stroller with me for those parts of the day.

Overall, I was really glad I had my Zoe Twin+ double stroller. With all the steps, tight doorways, and constant folding to get in and out of shops and restaurants, it was such a relief to have a stroller that folds quickly and easily.

Is Alexandria Bay Worth Visiting With Kids?

All in all, our day in Alexandria Bay with kids was a mix of highs and hurdles. Boldt Castle and the boat ride were absolute highlights: accessible, easy, and unforgettable. The town itself was less stroller-friendly, with plenty of stairs and tricky sidewalks, but it still offered enough charm, fudge, and waterfront fun to make it worth exploring.

If you’re visiting the 1000 Islands with kids, Alexandria Bay is worth a stop. Just plan your day around the stroller challenges, and you’ll still find plenty of fun, from castle adventures to sweet shops and playgrounds.

Have questions about this post or want help thinking through the logistics for your own trip? Join my free Facebook community for parents planning family travel. You can ask questions, share what you’re working through, and get real-life advice from other parents who understand how many little details go into traveling with kids.