Local Tips: Kingston, Ontario

I spent my undergrad in Kingston from Sept 2006-April 2008; Sept-Dec 2009. Here are some things I’ve enjoyed while I was there.

Touristy Sites & Activities

Museums:
- Agnes Etherington Art Centre (Queen’s U)
- Archives (Queen’s U)
- Bellevue House – home of Sir John A Macdonald
- Fort Henry – Fort Fright around Halloween is the most frightening experience in my p.o.v.
- International Hockey Hall of Fame
- Marine Museum of the Great Lakes
- Kingston Mills Block House
- Murney Tower
- Penitentiary Museum
- Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment Museum
- Pump House Steam Museum
- Upper Canada Village
Haunted Walks – tour different sites w/ dark stories
Wolfe Island
Winter – ice skating at Market Square
Summer – anything I suppose!

Events

February: Feb Fest
May – September: Historic Famer’s Market (Tu, Th, Sa) – Market Square

June: Capital Day

June – August: Sunset Ceremony Series (Wednesday evenings) – Ft Henry
1 July: Canada Day
July: Summer Sidewalk Sale
July/August: Princess Street Promenade
September – October: Fort Fright – Ft Henry
October: Pumpkinfest
November: Santa Parade

Eatery

Amadeus – German cuisine
Chez Piggy
Copper Penny – affordable family dining
Grizzly Grill – also for clubbing
Lone Star Texas Grill
Mekong Restaurant – Vietnamese cuisine
Morrison’s Restaurant – all day breakfast/brunch
Pan Chancho – best bakery
Pilot House – best fish & chips
The Sleepless Goat

Tea/Coffee

The Tea Room (Queen’s)
Common Ground (Queen’s)
The Tea Store – wide array of teas

Pubs/Bars/Clubs

Alfie’s (Queen’s U.) – Queen’s students only
Ale House – fun when you’re 19 or in 2nd Year…
Kingston Brewing – charming interior
Tir Nan Og – fun Irish pub
Toucan

Universities/Colleges

History

Est. in 1673 as Ft. Cataraqui, later renamed as Ft. Frontenac, and eventually became Kingston in 1788. It was incorporated as a town in 1838 and became a city in 1846. Home of Canada’s 1st Prime Minister, Sir John A Macdonald, it was the first capital of the united Canadas from 1841-1844. It is nicknamed “Limestone City” because most of the historic buildings were made from limestone.