15 USA Castle Tours Worth the Trip

1.Gananoque: 1000 Islands Cruise & Optional Boldt Castle Entry

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,453 reviews · 1 - 5 hours · from $30Our pick

From Gananoque, cruise the St. Lawrence River through the Canadian and American 1000 Islands. Choose a one-hour scenic loop, a three-hour route with Millionaire’s Row, or a five-hour cruise with admission to Boldt Castle on Heart Island. English and French audio commentary, onboard food, and several viewing decks make this an easy half-day outing.

“Vowing Boldt Castle was an absolute highlight. The history is just incredible. The entire cruise was very well done. Interesting information about the various islands and super friendly staff!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.From Ivy Lea: 1000 Islands Boldt Castle Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,297 reviews · 1 hour · from $30

From Ivy Lea Port, choose a one-hour scenic cruise or a two-hour, two-castle route through the 1000 Islands. Expect close water-level views of Boldt Castle, Millionaires and Zavikon Islands, the tiny international bridge, and the Statue of St. Lawrence. Commentary is provided in English and French, with snacks and drinks sold onboard.

“It was a beautiful day on the water and loved learning new things about the area!”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,284 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $40Top rated

Spend about three hours walking Charleston’s historic core with Eric Lager, Ph.D., a history professor at The Citadel. In a group capped at 12, you’ll connect colonial Charleston, the Revolution, the Civil War, architecture, religion, and politics while seeing the French Quarter, St. Michael’s Church, the Old Exchange, and Fort Sumter from the Battery.

“This was the most informative tour we took in Charleston! Eric was engaging, knowledgeable, a wonderful storyteller and so willing to answer questions. The time and walking steps flew by as he gave us so much historical, political, religious, and architectural information and insights into life in Charleston.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Boldt Castle and 2 Nation Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 788 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $32

From Clayton, cruise 27 miles through the Thousand Islands with a local guide, passing island mansions, lighthouses, Wellesley Island and two bridge spans. You’ll stop for about 75 minutes at Heart Island to explore Boldt Castle, with Canadian waters crossed but no passport required. Boats carry up to 50 people and include a restroom.

“The boat ride was a lot of fun and very informative. The 1000 islands are beautiful and the mansions are magnificent! Boldt Castle was incredible. The grounds are breathtakingly beautiful. They are impeccably maintained. An hour and a half is not enough time to experience the inside and the outside. Two hours would be better. All in all, we very much enjoyed the afternoon and Boldt Castle is truly amazing!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Simply Amazing Sitka Tour: Fortress of the Bear, Alaska Raptor, & Totems

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 352 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $124

Travel by air-conditioned van from downtown Sitka to Fortress of the Bear, the Alaska Raptor Center, and Sitka National Historical Park. Local guides such as Jim, Mike, Greg, and Syd add town history and practical help. Expect short visits, close wildlife views, totem poles, and a downtown refreshment stop.

“Weather was threatening but we went and skies were sunny! This was my partner's favorite part of trip. Our guide JIM was amazing. He made the trip interesting, and informative and fun. He took me under his wing and cared of me as I had an arm injury. The Totems story I did not know or how they are carved and erected. The Indian Totem carver added so much to the information. Next on to the Raptors - what a thrill to see the efforts being made to help their survival. Birds were amazingly HUGE! Lastly a trip to a similar rescue for the bears Center. It's all bigger in…”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Napa Valley Wine Trolley Castle Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 289 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $135

Spend about six and a half hours riding a motorized San Francisco cable car replica from Yountville through northern Napa Valley. Stop at Castello di Amorosa and two additional wineries, enjoy lunch and bottled water, and hear local stories from guides such as Omar, Mel, Michael, Paul, and others. Tastings cost extra.

“We boarded the wine trolley and sat in an open-air section--wear layers if you are in a colder season--we did switch to the inside but still good to have layers. Omar our tour leader was wonderful with good stories/information and he played upbeat music at the end of the tour. We went to three very different wine experiences; a traditional winery, a more modern winery and a small tasting room attached to a small winery. We enjoyed them all for the experience, with some wine being better than others. We had a nice lunch of pizza and gelato which was included. The only thing to keep in mind is that…”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.From Ivy Lea: 2-Hour Two Castle 1000 Islands Scenic Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 142 reviews · 2 hours · from $35

Board City Cruises Gananoque at Ivy Lea Port for a relaxed two-hour ride through the Thousand Islands. You’ll pass Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, and the St. Lawrence Statue while listening to English or French commentary. The ship has a cash bar, snacks, limited free parking, and an accessible main deck. No passport is needed because the cruise does not stop.

“The cruise was good but a little boring after Singer Castle. Fell asleep for a few minutes on the way back and felt I didn't miss a thing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Charleston walking tour with a Citadel history professor

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · 3 hours · from $40

Spend three hours walking Charleston’s historic district with Eric Lager, a Citadel history professor focused on South Carolina’s Colonial, Revolutionary, Antebellum, and Civil War eras. In a group of no more than 12, visit the Dock Street Theater, French Huguenot Church, Washington Park, the Four Corners of Law, old alleys, and graveyards while connecting buildings to the people and events behind them.

“Tour was amazing. Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and presented the information in an exciting and detailed way. I would definitely do it again.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.From Phoenix: Sedona, Jerome & Montezuma Castle Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 33 reviews · 10 hours · from $165

Travel from Phoenix to Montezuma Castle, Sedona, Red Rock State Park, and Jerome with an English-speaking guide in a group limited to 10. You’ll get historic context, red-rock viewpoints, free time for shops and galleries, bottled water, transport, and admissions. Lunch is on your own.

“OMGoodness our guide, Emmon was absolutely amazing his driving was exceptional. Having him as a guide was like have a professor of all things Grand Canyon and Sedona in the car. I live here and I learned tons. Nice sense of humor, courteous and did a special show and tell for us. The $189/person was well worth it!!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.From Brockville: 1000 Islands 2.5-Hour Singer Castle Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 25 reviews · 2h 30m · from $40

From Brockville, cruise 38 kilometers through Canada’s 1000 Islands toward Singer Castle on Dark Island. You’ll circle the 1905 castle from the water, hear English or French commentary, and see ships using the St. Lawrence Seaway. The boat does not stop at the castle, so bring a camera, not a passport.

“Insgesamt hat uns die Tour gut gefallen. Die vielen kleinen Inseln sind wirklich sehenswert und auch das Singer Castle auf US-Gebiet wird einmal komplett umrundet. Den Kommentar konnte man nicht immer so gut verstehen, wir sind allerdings auch keine Muttersprachler. Der französische Kommentar kam uns allerdings deutlich lauter vor als der englische. Zwischenzeitlich wurde auch etwas Musik abgespielt, als kein Kommentar lief. Die Rückfahrt zum Hafen in Brockville hat sich ein wenig gezogen, da man nicht mehr so viel von den Inseln gesehen hat und leider auch keine Musik gespielt wurde. Insgesamt können wir die Fahrt aber trotzdem empfehlen. Für gute Plätze sollte man frühzeitig da sein, bei u...”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Sitka: Totem Poles, Raptor Centre, & Fortress of Bears Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 15 reviews · 2h 30m · from $179

See Sitka National Historical Park’s Tlingit and Haida totem poles, cross to Japonski Island, learn about WWII defenses, and meet rescued brown bears at Fortress of the Bears. Your English-speaking guide leads a group of up to 10, with cruise pickup, admission, and return transport included.

“Alex was a fantastic guide on the tour and really informative!”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Private Day Trip to Salem and Hammond Castle from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $495

Travel by private minivan from Boston to Hammond Castle and Salem in about seven hours. A guide such as Jenny, Maria, or Alexandria can shape the day around your interests, from castle architecture to Salem’s witch trial sites, old streets, cemeteries, and film locations. Hammond Castle admission, parking, fuel, water, and pickup are included. Lunch is not.

“It was really a fun trip. Our guide was super knowledgeable and added more history than one might get from doing just a regular tour. Easy pickup and drop off, great advice on places to go, and just an all around fun filled day. Lots of pictures and laughs, well not all laughs on some of the Salem stories, but you get the point. Well worth the money! Remember folks, take your guide to lunch and pay for it, you get to know them better and it just makes the trip more fun!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Riverside, CA: Castle Park Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 13 reviews · from $25

Spend one day at Riverside’s Castle Park with admission and unlimited rides included. Add arcade games, four miniature golf courses, and Buccaneer Cove’s water slides and play areas. Seasonal events such as Mardi Gras, Castle Dark, and Duke’s Very Merry Village give repeat visits a different feel. Games, golf, food, parking, and drinks cost extra.

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Small Group Day Trip to Salem and Hammond Castle from Boston

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 7 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $225

Travel from Boston in a group of no more than nine to tour Hammond Castle, then walk through Salem’s maritime, Puritan, and witch-trial landmarks. Guide Maria has led this route, which includes hotel pickup, bottled water, parking, and castle admission. Lunch and shopping time are on your own.

“It is an amazing tour. The small group was really nice. There is not a lot of time to shop, so make your lunch as short as possible.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Citadel Outlets Transfer from Anaheim with VIP Lounge, storage & LAX Drop-Off

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · 4 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $119

Leave your Anaheim hotel around 11 a.m., shop more than 130 stores at Citadel Outlets, and keep your luggage in the VIP Lounge while you browse. You get air-conditioned transport, outlet discounts, lounge access with snacks and drinks on the selected option, then a drop-off at LAX. It suits late-night flights, but confirm pickup times carefully.

“We really enjoyed our visit to Citadel Outlets with the Optional VIP room access and drop off to LAX. The shuttle picked us up promptly at 11am from our Anaheim hotel and it was only 30 minutes to the outlets. The staff at Citadel were very pleasant, particularly Robbie. The VIP room is amazing with soft drinks, tea or coffee and snacks available. It is a lovely room with all necessary facilities including several TVs, lounges, kitchen area and beautiful restroom area. They store your luggage for you in the VIP area while you shop so that you can pack your purchases away before going to the airport. Would highly…”

Check availability →Read our full review