Update: I got an email from Robert Horr of the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, concerning fees for ferry passage to Boldt Castle:

Mrs. Mecomber,

Thank you for you interest in Boldt Castle. I also saw the News 10 piece. To get to Boldt Castle from the US you will either have to come via tour boat from Alexandria Bay or private boat. The cost varies depending on the tour boat operator and the tour duration. Uncle Sam Boat Tours has a dedicated shuttle which is around $7 for roundtrip tour to Boldt Castle. This is a separate cost from the Castle admission price. If you come by private boat there are plenty of docks available at no cost at the island. There are several tour boat operators in Canada that make routine stops as well. Thank you for your interest and hope you come visit us. I you have any questions; please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I have seen local media outlets tossing out some good travel ideas lately. A few have piqued my interest.

One of my favorite places, Fort Stanwix in Rome, NY, is gearing up for an exciting season. The RomeSentinel reports:

Besides a new boss, Fort Stanwix National Monument has... new programs and wants the public to get more use out of the National Park Service’s 15-acre landmark in the center of Rome. ...On Aug. 18, a new event will be held. "Futile Thunder, Fort Schuyler Under Siege," will be an artillery and mortar demonstration by the Oneida Nation’s Living History program.

The 10th Annual French and Indian War Encampment will be held Memorial Day weekend (yay!), which promises to be bigger and better than previous years. August 4th and 5th are the dates for the big 230th Anniversary of the Siege Encampment. August 6th looks to be very interesting, when "Willett's Sortie" takes place-- where:

children and parents will be able to join soldiers re-enacting Lt. Col. Marinus Willett’s venture out of the fort toward the Battle of Oriskany, raiding and destroying camps left by British loyalists and their Indian allies at the battle.

And to top it all off,

The 31st annual Revolutionary War encampment will take place on Nov. 10 and 11. That draws about 100 re-enactors annually. Another big event at the fort, though it’s not run by the fort, is the annual new citizens’ induction ceremony. It will likely be at 11 a.m. on Sept. 13.

We could spend the whole summer at Fort Stanwix!

Oh, but then I spotted News10Now's report on some new renovations at Boldt Castle at Thousand Islands. I have never been there, and it looks wonderful. Admission fees are reasonable, but it is not clear if the fees include the ferry ride to the island. I emailed the Bridge Authority and hope they get back to me soon.

Today's Syracuse.com had a good story on the Adirondack Museum, another place I have yet to visit. Admission is a bit steep (for a family of six), but the 32-acre site does have a lot to offer. Going to the museum would be more of a "planned" trip versus a day trip, but it looks like great fun. The Summer Schedule looks great, especially the Mountain Men Event in August. It's another place to add to my list of places to visit.