Discover the unique shopping experiences in Kingston’s walkable downtown. You can explore the city and learn its history with a guided trolley tour and take in the beauty of the Thousand Islands on a sightseeing Kingston 10000 Islands boat cruise. A number of hotels and inns offer special packages that bundle Kingston experiences and attractions with your stay.
In the summer, you can experience:
Cool off this summer with a dip in the pool – or in the lake. Breakwater Park in downtown Kingston offers an accessible lakeside beach, as well as picnic amenities. Grass Creek Park, in the city’s east end, also offers a large sandy beach and swimming area (plus an off -leash area for your canine friends). To the west, Lake Ontario Park, Kingston’s largest urban waterfront park, has a cobble beach, splash pad, beach volleyball court, and boat launch. Kids will enjoy the splash pad at McBurney Park and the Outdoor Aqua Park at the Memorial Centre.
What things are there to do in Kingston during the fall?
Autumn is the perfect time of year to take in Kingston’s architecture and historic sites. Take a guided tour or explore on your own. Today, some of these historic limestone buildings are home to restaurants, bookstores, boutiques, and more.
In the fall, you can experience:
Kingston is home to more than 20 museums, national historic sites, art galleries, and archives. Explore geology, Canadian history, baroque and modern art, hockey, technology, medicine, and more. Enjoy hands-on learning with the kids or savour a quiet moment with a favourite painting.
What things are there to do in Kingston during the winter?
Kingston loves winter. As the winter evenings grow darker, downtown Kingston lights up in response. Enjoy the ambiance as you window-shop. Take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. Bring your skates and take a spin around the public rink at Springer Market Square.
Outside of downtown, there are plenty of other opportunities for you to get active in Kingston this winter! Go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, or tobogganing. Or stay in and explore the many Kingstonlicious prix fixe dining options offered throughout the city.
In the winter, you can experience:
How do you get to Kingston?
Via Highway 401 westbound, take exit 623. Via Highway 401 eastbound, take exit 615. Scenic eastbound route: take Highway 33 along Lake Ontario into Kingston. From Cape Vincent, N.Y., take Horne’s ferry to Wolfe Island, then the Wolfe Island Ferry to Kingston.
VIA Rail offers service to Kingston from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto. Visit viarail.ca or call 1.888.VIA-RAIL. VIA Rail’s Bike Train offers bike racks on board select passenger rail trains. Visit biketrain.ca.
Coach Canada/Trentway-Wager Bus Lines (coachcanada.com) and Megabus (ca.megabus.com) offer service to Kingston. Please check with operators to confirm service and schedules.
Kingston has both city-operated and privately owned marinas. Confederation Basin Marina (City of Kingston): 613-546-4291 ext. 1823 (seasonal) Portsmouth Olympic Harbour (City of Kingston): 613-546-4291 ext. 1827 Collins Bay Marina (West end): 613-389-4455 Treasure Island Marina (East end): 613-548-1239
Getting around Kingston is easy. While many attractions are within walking distance of the downtown core, you have other transit options as well. Kingston also has accessible transportation options, as well as accessible tours and attractions.