6 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!”

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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!”

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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.”

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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!”

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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…”

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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…”

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