The Experience

 
 

Discover

Kingston, Ontario

Established in the late 1600’s, Kingston is the birthplace to some of Canada’s earliest history. Located on the traditional lands of the Huron-Wendat and the Mississauga of the Ojibways, to the local Indigenous Peoples, this place has long been known as Katarokwi (hence current “Cataraqui”).

 
 

Kingston began as a French trading post and a defensive fort, and grew as a center of Canadian military and marine history. Today, we are a city of industry and learning, celebrated for our connection with the creative arts and natural beauty. Conveniently located midway between Toronto and Montreal, we are here to welcome you on your next great journey. From curated destinations to unexpected delights, we share a few of our favourite experiences here with you. Whether you prefer to pursue passions or are guided by curiosities, come find inspiration through discovery.

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Eat, Drink & Be Merry

Let us feed both your body and soul. With more restaurants per capita than almost anywhere in Canada, Kingston boasts world-class cuisine, farm-to-table delights, and an abundance of hand crafted brews and ales.

  • For a sampling of the best, Kingston Food Tours is a walking tour of Kingston’s hip and historic downtown that blends tastings at our best local restaurants with an insider’s perspective on our city’s history and culture. Tours focus on unique shops, restaurants, artisans, and farmers who contribute to Kingston’s thriving local food movement. Want smaller bites? Enjoy the Tapas Tour which offers four stops with delicious small tastings paired with an alcoholic beverage.

  • Bring home the spoils of travel from the Public Market at Market Square or the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market. For a true gastronomical shopping experience, visit Cooke’s Fine Foods for a nostalgic selection from a bygone era, and stop by General Brock’s Commissary for their curated offering of local delights. Across the street is Kingston Olive Oil Co, home to inspiring savoury blends proudly embraced by Kingston’s finest restaurants. There is always something for everyone: Tara’s Natural Foods shines for health and sustainability, while The Grocery Basket and Daughter’s General Store elevates the bar on vegan and gluten-free.

  • If time is on your side, reserve a wine country tour with County Sips for an epicurean tour of select Prince Edward County wineries. Spend a day learning about the County’s terroir and discover handcrafted, award-winning wines. Bring your favourites back to the inn and enjoy a glass on our porch or by the fire before heading out for dinner.

    Let us know what inspires your palate and we will be delighted to recommend a dining experience for you. Bon appetit!

A Historian at heart

Canada’s first capital and home to Canada’s first Prime Minister, the Limestone City is the beating heart of Canadian heritage. A city steeped in history yet always changing, Kingston is an enriching feast for those in pursuit of knowledge and culture.

  • Fort Henry

    Stroll down historic Princess Street and see the distinctive limestone architecture that’s the namesake of our city. Take a seat in Confederation Park and enjoy the view; set against the lake is the Royal Military College with Fort Henry rising protectively above. Next to you is the Shoal Tower, one of the four remaining Martello Towers in Kingston still standing vigilant from bygone battles. Continue the immersion with a tour of Fort Henry, Ontario's 19th-century British military fort, where you can catch heart-pounding performances and military demonstrations, all with sweeping views of Kingston and surrounding waters.

  • Kingston Penitentiary

    Step inside the walls of Canada’s oldest penitentiary and explore the living and working areas, some dating back to the 1830s. Hear the personalized accounts from former staff and learn about the history and the daily routines, including stories of escapes, riots and everything in between on this guided tour. Available in French as well.

  • Return back on Ontario Street and discover the Pumphouse, the artery of Kingston since 1851. Enjoy a private tour of one of Canada’s oldest original water works, and follow with a guided walking tour of the Ontario Street South for a captivating narrative of where Kingston began.

    If you continue on King Street, you’ll find Murney Tower, sister to the Shoal Tower as well as the oldest operating museum in Kingston. A few more steps beyond Queens’ University is Bellevue House, family home of Sir John A. Macdonald.

  • Aching feet? Skip the steps and hop on the Kingston Trolley to enjoy a guided tour through downtown highlighting National Historic Sites and visitor attractions like Queen's University and the notorious Kingston Penitentiary.

  • Return back to our inn in Old Sydenham, Kingston’s most distinguished neighborhood and a designated heritage conservation district, where you’ll find some of the city’s most distinctive architecture.

    End the day with a dark delight and take the Haunted Walk through our streets. Let fact and fancy become one before closing your eyes for the night.

Connect With Nature

Resting on the shores of Lake Ontario, Kingston lies at the meeting point of the St. Lawrence and the Cataraqui River with the great lake. As such, we are home to world-class sailing, all-season trails, and are the gateway to the world-famous Thousand Islands.

  • Sightseeing cruises for the Thousand Islands are truly memorable experiences. Cruises depart from downtown Kingston and range in duration to suit your fancy. Combine two pleasures and indulge in a dining cruise for a scenic brunch or a sunset dinner. For an expanded experience, embark on a cruise from nearby Gananoque instead. While you are there, explore the historic town and take the Thousand Islands Parkway scenic drive to discover delightful vista points along the St. Lawrence River.

  • For staying closer to home, meander through City Park and beyond the ancient trees, find yourself on historic King Street. Walk westward along the Waterfront Trail for a day on the beach at Breakwater Park, or turn east to find Ahoy Rentals. Charter a sailboat for the afternoon, and enjoy lunch on a secluded island surrounded by sparkling blue waters. Or rent a kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or bicycle to embark on your own expedition.

  • For an all-season experience, the K&P Trail, Cataraqui Trail and Lemoine Point offer excellent trails for hiking as well as for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Trailhead will rent snowshoes, cross-country skis, skates, and an assortment of outdoor gear, so you can take full advantage of each beautiful day.

    After your adventures, return to the inn and warm up by the fireplace. Relax with a glass of wine before grabbing your skates and heading to City Hall for some fun under the stars.

Of sight and Sound

Sate all senses and immerse yourself in a cultural and creative exploration with us. We are immensely proud of our arts and creative community, and they have always had a sacred role in Kingston’s identity.

  • Of course, the best memories are made when you least expect it. So as you cradle a cocktail at Musiikki, raise a glass at The Mansion, or catch a show at Kingston’s newest live music venue, The Broom Factory, keep an ear out for you might have just discovered the next great thing.

    Explore Kingston’s vibrant music scene at your own pace, with three free self-guided tours, each narrated by local musicians and music-lovers. Each tour features both archival and recent photos and videos.

  • The Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queen’s University features innovative exhibitions and programs year round, and holds a superb collection of historical and contemporary art. Continue westwards towards Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, where you can explore Canadian arts through classes, workshops, and exhibitions. While you are there, stop at Modern Fuel for an invigorating immersion in contemporary interdisciplinary arts.

  • For those who chose to appreciate art on a more intimate scale, head downtown to Studio 22, where “first time art buyers become established collectors, and established collectors feel like first time art buyers”. Tickle your senses through a colourful and unexpected adventure that is Martello Alley, and end your tour at the Kingston Glass Studio where you delight in a spectacle of handmade beauty.

  • Catch a show at The Grand Theatre, Kingston’s prime performing arts venue for professional and amateur performances since 1879. Conversely, indulge in both sight and sound with a musical performance at the The Isabel Bader Centre, a 90,000-square-foot world-class facility with sweeping lakeside vistas.

  • The Screening Room

    For the nostalgic cinefile, stay downtown and catch an indie movie at The Screening Room, Kingston’s independent movie theatre that specializes in art-house, foreign, and classic cinema.

    Take a free self-guided walking tour and learn about Kingston’s film history that explores the city’s historic cinemas, notable filmmakers, and the vibrant film and television production scene.

The stage is set

Be the star of your own adventure


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