Visit to Boldt Castle

While on vacation I very much wanted to make a trip to one of my favorite places, Alexandria Bay, which always leads to a jaunt out to another one of my favorite places:

Boldt Castle on Heart Island (1000 Islands, NY)

The trip was very much to humor me because I know Husband and my sister wouldn't have put up a fight if I decided not to go. I used to go every summer for a day trip but I haven't been now since 2009 when my friend Jen got married at that very castle. 

I've done another post about this place. And maybe a little about the islands in general. I would so absolutely happily love to live there (the islands/area in general, not the castle)! Since I was little we've made regular pilgrimages out to that island (sometimes after a long boat tour of the islands). I remember going there when I was small and the place was almost a ruin. Birds flying around and the sun shining in from the holes in the roof. It was so gorgeous and sad. But now work is being done to finish the structures on the island. From what I've read, every structure was at one time finished except for the main building - the castle itself. My opinion? It shouldn't be finished. Ever. I think it gives the wrong impression to the people visiting that don't bother to read the little pamphlet they give you at the gate. BUT I won't get into that. 

Opinions aside, it was nice to visit again. It's a beautiful place no matter what.

Before a walk through the little town of Alex Bay and the shuttle ride over to the island, we parked for a bathroom break and so I could take some pictures of the nearby stuff. Aside from the above picture of Heart Island/Boldt Castle:

The small island to the front is known as "Mother-in-Law Island" and
the structure to the back is on Wesley Island and is the Boldt Yacht House.

Down the river from the castle is Hopewell Hall, formerly another
Boldt property. George Boldt died here and I think his daughter, Clover, 
lived here until she died as well (I may be a liar though).

My sis pointed out the anchor on the lawn of this
property and I thought it was neat.

Husband and Grant

So we took a shuttle out to the castle. We sort of figured Grant would freak out. It's a small boat and sits low in the water but he loved it! And we got to ride on one of the larger tour boats back to the mainland which he loved even more.

So pretty :)

A very exciting site for Grant!

I wanted to get a good pic of Grant at the castle and I managed
this one before my sister started getting him to make pirate faces.

"Arrrrrr!"

The "Hennery" or Dove-cote (I think I read that 
this also supplied water to the island. Maybe.)

We walked around the outside of the house a little before heading inside (at first looking for the bathroom and then just touring the inside). It's been a while since I've really walked through the main house. It's self guided so you can take as long as you want :)

Library

Ballroom (and Husband, Sister, and Grant)

Dining room (if I remember correctly, the Boldts
did own that furniture at one time)

Just outside the the dining room on the wrap around porch is a huge, gorgeous outside fire place. I took a picture of my Dad there in 2009 after the wedding (he was only too happy to pose) and this year we took a picture of Grant there too. It made me a little sad. It was my first time taking a trip to the Bay and to the castle without my parents.

And now back inside...

Billiard room

One of the upstairs rooms (I over heard someone talk about
how ornate their furnishings were and I wanted to scream
"They never lived in here!!!" but I held it in.)

From one of the 3rd floor balconies...just so pretty!

Grant sitting in one of the basement fireplaces

Me and Grant at one of my favorite places!
(yes his hand is in my shirt...I honestly don't know why)

Just a couple more shots from around the island:

The powerhouse

Another shot of the gorgeous outside.

And there it is. One of my favorite places and very possibly the most visited place on my list of favorites. I was so excited to bring Grant here. My sister figured he'd hate it (I think Husband thought so too). But you know what? He loved it. He loved the boat ride, he loved walking around the island and even loved wandering around in the castle. He wasn't a fan of the power house for some reason so we didn't stay in there long. But other than that, his first trip to Boldt Castle couldn't have been better. 

I took a lot more pictures but I figured you'd been subjected to enough.