Sept. 27-Oct. 3 Thousand Island Vacation

"Maybe home isn't a place. Maybe it's a feeling you have inside of you being around the people who matter to you." -Justin Somper 

One of our favorite places in New York is the 1000 Islands area. It’s such a wonderful place. We’ve visited twice on the boat and this was our fifth time by car. This vacation with our family was the first time we’ve actually stayed in Alexandria Bay. We rented a beautiful house with a great view of the river. We all enjoyed watching the large ships pass by. Since it was the end of September and a bit cool we didn’t see too many personal boats, but we know from experience the water around A Bay can get a bit crazy on a summer afternoon.

We decided to rent a boat instead of taking our little runabout to A Bay. We figured the larger boat would be more comfortable since the weather would be cool while we were there. We all loved the pontoon boat. It made it easy to get out and explore.

We spent the week exploring two castles and lots of islands, visiting Canada, and walking around Alexandria Bay and Clayton. We also had fun at the house playing games, riding bikes, reading, painting and enjoying some great meals. More blog posts on what we did will follow.

The house

Just as beautiful at night.

I'm sure I would never get tired of this view.

Just four of the 19 large ships we saw during our stay.

We played all kinds of games in the yard...

and even more games in the house.

This house had a lot of room for riding bikes.

Evening fires at the fire pit truly makes the evening amazing. 

Just a few pictures of the nice evening we enjoyed.

Alexandria Bay (A Bay), NY

The River [riv-er] noun

Not just water flowing through the land, but a place of gathering, of belonging...where families grow closer, friendships run deep, and memories are made - ones that never wash away.

Our fall family getaway was in the 1000 Islands which is located in the St. Lawrence River. The St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario and runs 745 miles to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and then into the Atlantic Ocean. We choose to stay in Alexandria Bay which is known as the heart of the Thousand Islands region. It's famous for its historic castles, scenic river tours and world-class fishing. We love the area and we spent the next week relaxing, exploring and having fun with our family.

Alexandria Bay and its surrounding areas have always been a location noted for its beauty, vast resources, and spiritual being. Long before Europeans settled the area, the Iroquois and Algonquin Indians spent their summer months fishing and hunting here.

Shortly after the Civil War, the popularity of the Islands increased with the improved transportation system. Wealthy sportsmen and gentlemen from leading US cities inquired into purchasing islands for private use. The social era of Alexandria Bay began when George Pullman invited General Grant (then running for President of the United States) to visit his Island home. The press traveling with General Grant wrote articles in the leading US city papers that sparked an interest that resulted in the explosion of recreation in the Alexandria Bay area.

Today, Alexandria Bay and the 1000 Islands Region are an international destination for a wide variety of tourists. Because the area isn't located on a super highway, A Bay and the surrounding area have maintained their original quaint characteristics. 

I borrowed a few of these photos just to show what the area looks like.

Just a few of the islands that are across from A Bay.

Sept. 17 - Yuengling Brewery

“I only go out to get a fresh appetite for being alone.” -Lord Byron

On our way home from Lancaster county we decided to visit the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville. Yuengling was founded in 1829 by German immigrant David G. Yuengling making it the oldest operating brewing company in the United States. It's been run by the same family for six generations. Originally known as the Eagle Brewery it was renamed in 1873 to D.G. Yuengling & Son. 

We waited for the tour start in the gift shop...of course and it ended in the tap room where we were treated to samples of their beer. During the tour we learned how the brewery has operated since the beginning.

Yuengling has endured because its owners were willing to change the business without discarding its identity. During Prohibition they switched to producing “near beer” containing no more than 0.5% alcohol and constructed a dairy across from the brewery where they sold milk and ice cream. It was a practical response to an existential problem. Yuengling already understood production, refrigeration, packaging and distribution. The dairy gave the family another source of revenue while alcoholic beer production was prohibited. When Prohibition ended Yuengling celebrated by brewing Winner Beer and sending a truckload to President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Yuengling now operates its historic brewery and Mill Creek facility in the Pottsville area, along with a brewery in Tampa, Florida. Traditional Lager remains the flagship, while the current lineup also includes Light Lager, FLIGHT, Black & Tan, Golden Pilsner, Lord Chesterfield Ale, Dark Brewed Porter, Premium, Premium Light and Bongo Fizz.

A fire destroyed the original 1829 building; the current brewery was rebuilt on Mahantongo Street in 1831.

This is the store and tap room now. When the building was built it was the dairy and creamery.

Our tour began in the rack room. It was where "rackers" would transfer beer from the conditioning or fermentation tanks into kegs or barrels. The process was all done by hand. At Yuengling, a well-known perk of being a racker was that any kegs that failed to seal perfectly during the filling process were left aside for the workers to enjoy themselves.

The beer caves were hand-dug between 1831 and 1841. Carved out by local coal miners using basic hand tools rather than explosives. It was used for cold storage, aging and fermenting beer at a steady, natural temperature before mechanical refrigeration existed.

Murals and a stained glass ceiling in the brew house. The ceiling was installed in the 1930s to cut down the sunlight that would heat up the copper kettles. The kettles are now made out of stainless steel. The murals show the cooperage shop, a bottle washing crew and a man holding a bottle of "Winner" beer, the first label to leave the brewery after Prohibition.

The historic workers' lunch room at the brewery is known as The Rathskeller. In the years before modern workplace safety regulations, Yuengling workers used this basement bar during their lunch breaks to eat and enjoy free brewery beer. It was built in 1936 shortly after the repeal of Prohibition. 

This is part of the modern production line.

The Yuengling tasting room (tap room). I tried the Golden Pilsner and Bongo Fizz and Stan had the Lord Chesterfield Ale and Dark Brewed Porter. 

Golden Pilsner was created in 2018. This modern pilsner is pale gold in color and clean in flavor, with a snappy hop bite.  

 

Bongo Fizz was introduced in 2022. It's light, refreshing and crisp. This premium-style beer embodies tropical relaxation, finishing with a juicy burst of natural mango.

 

Lord Chesterfield Ale has been brewed since 1829. It's crafted in a unique two-stage brewing style that utilizes both conventional kettle hopping and dry hopping after fermentation. The result is a dry, sharp finish and a distinct, robust flavor derived from a combination of sweet maltiness and lingering herbal bitterness.

 

Dark Brewed Porter has also been brewed since 1829. Using generous helpings of caramel and dark roasted malts to create a rich, creamy taste with hints of dark chocolate. It offers a smooth character, balanced body and refreshing finish that makes it a truly distinctive Yuengling brew.