Kingston

Ahoy Rentals

Downtown Kingston, sailing lessons ($95/2 hr) and bicycle rentals ($25/day).

$40/day canoe/kayak $105/day sailboat

Balzac's Coffee Roaster

Eastern outpost of the Stratford ON-based chain. Offers the full range of coffee and tea, as well as baked products.

Daily 7:30AM - 6PM

Beamish-Munro Hall

For kids who are interested in how buildings are made, the Integrated Learning Centre, or Beamish-Munro Hall may be worth a visit. This building is the new centre of Applied Science (Engineering) at Queens. This 'live building' was designed to allow people to see how the building works and interact with it.

Bellevue House National Historic Site of Canada

A finely-maintained Italianate villa with lush gardens which served briefly as the home of first Canadian prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald. House and grounds restored to the 1840s with guided tours by interpreters costumed in clothing of the era. (During the 2018 season, interpretive programming and guided tours of the heritage grounds and heirloom orchard will continue but the interior of the house will be closed for maintenance; there will be no admission fee.) A Parks Canada national historic site. Visit time: 1-2 hours.

May–Oct: 10AM-5PM·$4/person

CFB Kingston

Modern military structures. Full of soldiers, including the Joint Signals Regiment (JSR), 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment, and their Military Communications and Electronics Museum (95 Craftsman Blvd. at Highway #2).

CRAVE Coffee House & Bakery

Kingston's largest independently owned and operated coffee house, scratch bakery, and a full-service kitchen.

8AM-6PM

Cambodiana

Used to be some of the best Thai/Cambodian food in Southern Ontario before the owners of this establishment sold it to other proprietors. To follow the original owner/chef and his food, go to Pat's Restaurant.

Casa Domenico

Serves excellent quality Italian food, and has consistently good service. The wine list is also quite good.

noon-11:30PM

Cataraqui River and LaSalle Causeway Bridge

Water and steel. 1915 two-lane Strauss trunnion bascule lift bridge carries Highway 2 across the southern endpoint of the Rideau Canal waterway directly to the foot of downtown Kingston. Fine scenic view of the downtown when approaching from Fort Henry Hill. Visit time: 15 min max.

Chez Piggy Restaurant & Bar

Hidden inside the same block as Chien Noir. It has a reputation for serving good food. Quality of service is dependent on the extravagance of one's meal, as well as whether wine or water is ordered as one's primary drink.

City Park

Although the surface isn't as regularly conditioned as Market Square, this the place to go if you want to play hockey, since hockey isn't allowed on the Market Square rink.

Coffee and Company

Espresso, coffees, and good teas prepared from loose leaves. A common student study hangout downtown.

Confederation Tour Trolley

Local tour bus operated May–October by Kingston's Chamber of Commerce, designed to resemble a locomotive car which departs from the former Kingston & Pembroke Railway inner station. Stops at Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Bellevue House, Fort Henry & Penitentiary Museum.

10AM-6PM (high season)·$17/person

Cooke's Old World Shop

A family-owned 1865 "old world" shop specialising in fine English and European sweets, sauces, preserves, and cheeses. Cooke's roasts their own coffee daily (approximately $9/pound) and prepares premium-quality gift baskets.

Copper Penny

Cozy atmosphere, great for lunch (wraps, sandwiches, gourmet burgers) or dinner (pastas and pizzas). Known for its French onion soup, gigantic wraps, and homemade pesto. The service is always friendly. Go early as this restaurant does not take reservations.

$10-13/person

Cornerstone Contemporaray Canadian Craft and Inuit Art

Nunavut native carvings, prints, wall hangings and dolls with government of Canada label of authenticity and card with the artist’s name and community.

Mon-Fri 10AM-8PM, Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 11AM-5PM

Dianne's Fish Shack & Smokehouse

An upbeat restaurant featuring Mexican-inspired seafood and BBQ fare, plus a full bar with margaritas.

11:30AM - 9PM

Fort Henry

Historical military structures. 1850s stone fortress with cannons defends access to the Rideau Canal from US attacks; the fort is guarded by Fort Henry Guard in British uniforms and regalia of the era. Live military drills. Additional cost for parking and sunset ceremony. Seasonal (May–September). Visit time: 3 hours max.

$15/person

Frontenac County Schools Museum

History of education, back to the era of one-room schoolhouses.

Summer: Tue-Sat 10AM-3PM, reduced hours off-season

Frontenac Provincial Park

30 minutes north by car, opportunities for walking and picnicking, fishing, canoeing, wildlife viewing, boating, swimming and cycling. Winter activities.

Fruition Berry Farm

Pick your own strawberries, raspberries, peas and beans. Fall corn maze and pumpkin patch. Picnic, nature walk, children's playground in a beautiful country setting.

June-Oct (weather and crop conditions permitting)

Grand Theatre

Built in 1901-02, and home of the Kingston Symphony since 1964,. The main theatre seats 776 people for live theatre and musical performances.

Grecos

Long-running, informal gathering place for wine & traditional Greek cuisine such as lamb & souvlaki.

Daily 11:30AM-10PM

Harper's Burger Bar

A licensed gourmet burger joint. The meat is sustainably raised and a number of veg options are also available. A selection of microbrews and off the beaten path wines are served, as are shakes and beer floats.

$7-12/burger

Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises

Three boats (Island Queen, Island Belle, Island Star) leave Kingston downstream on the St. Lawrence River to circle the Thousand Islands. A round-trip is 1½, 2 or 3 hours; selected runs offer sunset cruises, dinner or dancing.

May-Oct: 11AM-6:30PM·$25-73/person

Kingston Brewing Company

Clarence St. near the intersection of Ontario St. As implied by its name, this pub brews its own beer and offers many seasonal beers. Notable brews from KBC include White Tail, Dragon's Breath, Regal Lager ("the palindromic pint"), and the pub's own apple cider. KBC also offers beers from other companies, including Guinness, and other well known brands. They have a monthly "Brewer's Whim" which is usually a Canadian microbrew.

Kingston City Hall

Designed by architect George Browne and completed in December 1844 to house the city government and marketplace. You can't fight City Hall, but guided tours of this national historic site are offered on weekdays from mid-May through Labour Day and on weekends during July and August.

Kingston Penitentiary

One of Kingston's most famous institutions. One time home of notables such as Clifford Olsen and Paul Bernardo, people would kill (and have killed) to get in for well over a century. The Penitentiary Museum in the old warden's house (555 King W,, May-Oct: daily 10AM-4PM; Nov-Apr: M-F 9AM-4PM, by donation) is open to visitors, as is the Olympic Harbour marina (adjacent to the jail) which served as home of the sailing events for the 1976 Summer Olympic Games. A guided tour of the jail is available seasonally (mid-June to end-Oct, $35/person); this is separate from the museum tour. Visit time: 2 years to life. If 'just visiting', allow a little over an hour to tour the museum and 90 minutes to tour the prison.

Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area

Hiking, canoeing or kayaking in summer; snowshoeing, cross country skiing, or skating on the pond in winter. Rentals and lessons.

$5.50/person

MacLachlan Woodworking Museum

The most extensive, nationally significant collection of woodworking tools in Canada. This 1855 log house was relocated from Lanark County by a lumberyard owner who has since gone broke. 16 km (10 mi) east of downtown, free admission 5-8PM Thursday nights.

late May-early Sep: Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM; closed Victoria Day and Labour Day·$5.13+HST/person or $12.30+HST/family