Kingston ON Ontario Canada, Lake Ontario
Frequently Asked Questions
At the edge of Confederation Basin, right in the historic centre, facing the city hall completed in 1844. You land within a few streets of everything.
The centre, entirely: Springer Market Square, Princess and Ontario streets, the waterfront and its Martello towers are all walkable. Only Fort Henry, up on the height, calls for a short taxi or shuttle ride.
Fort Henry for the military demonstrations and the view, then a stroll through the limestone centre. Boat excursions to the Thousand Islands leave from Crawford Wharf: the shortest run an hour.
Because limestone gives the city its colour and its architecture. Briefly the capital of the Province of Canada from 1841 to 1844, it kept a remarkable concentration of 19th-century buildings.
The centrepiece of the town's defences, completed in 1837, on the height commanding the entrance to the St. Lawrence. Casemates, drill demonstrations in period uniform and the view over the lake make it the most popular outing of the call.
Yes. The fortifications, with the Martello towers along the waterfront — Murney Tower and Shoal Tower in particular — form part of the Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage site.
Yes. Opened in 1835 and closed in 2013, it offers guided tours of its wings and yards, often led by former staff. They rank among the most memorable of their kind in the country.
It was his home base. Bellevue House, an Italianate villa in its gardens where he lived in the 1840s, is open with Parks Canada guides who cover both his achievements and the darker parts of his record.
Yes, excursion boats leave Crawford Wharf for the archipelago, where Lake Ontario becomes the St. Lawrence. Check the ship's all-aboard time before booking, especially for the longer trips.
The city claims one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per capita in Canada. A patio near the market, an ice cream shop on Princess Street or a local brewpub near the harbour all do the job nicely.
