Your boat captain and tour guide will provide you with narration and views of multiple locations on your Lake Ontario boat tour which includes Sackets Harbor, Horse Island, Madison Barracks, and Black River Bay. The boat ride/tour lasts for an hour and lively discussion is encouraged. Our boat will glide across Lake Ontario, while your children spot gulls, cormorants, and even bald eagles while imagining the warships that once filled these waters. Sackets Harbor, once a vital War of 1812 naval base, comes alive with stories of shipbuilders and battle. Madison Barracks stands as a reminder of the area’s military legacy all the way up through World War II. At Horse Island, kids can picture the dramatic 1813 British landing and American defense. Surrounded by the lake’s natural beauty and wildlife, the tour blends fun, history, and hands-on learning into an unforgettable experience for all ages. We will stay in relatively calm water for this tour and will go both slow and fast.

Historical discussion the Battle of Sackets Harbor during the War of 1812. From the water, Sackets Harbor Battlefield appears calm, but in May 1813 over 1,000 British troops attacked this vital U.S. naval base defended by about 900 American soldiers and militia. The harbor protected key shipyards on Lake Ontario. Today, gentle waves and birdlife contrast with its intense military past. This kids may not be into the history as much as adults, but they will love the boat ride and seeing all the sights from the water.

Sackets Harbor has evolved from a hard‑fought War of 1812 battlefield into a vibrant historic waterfront village that welcomes visitors by land and by water. The former combat zone is now Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site, with preserved earthworks, interpretive trails, and sweeping views over Lake Ontario that explain its role as a vital U.S. naval base. Around it, the village has embraced heritage tourism: historic buildings house restaurants, inns, shops, and a visitors center that connect guests to the battlefield, Madison Barracks, and the harborfront. Boat tours, marinas, festivals, and lakeside events now draw families, history buffs, and Great Lakes travelers, turning a onetime war zone into a lively destination where education, recreation, and small‑town charm come together.