海角社区官网

The city can boast about having Ontario鈥檚 oldest farmers鈥� market (Kingston Public Market), the province鈥檚 oldest brew pub (Kingston Brewing) and, most notoriously, Canada鈥檚 oldest max-security prison (Kingston Penitentiary, now a tourist draw). At the same time, there鈥檚 a sense of newness 鈥� the city buzzes with a vibrant restaurant scene, summer events and live music. And if you want to escape the bustle, head to the waterfront, where you can soak up summer while watching sailboats skimming past the shore, or embark on a scenic cruise to the neighbouring Thousand Islands region.

Here are just a few highlights for your next trip to :

Have breakfast at a beloved caf茅. At 聽downtown, everything is baked in-house, and the scent of buttery pastry hangs in the air. Their lemon currant rolls 鈥� they’re soft in the middle, with a crisp golden crust 鈥� are still warm by the time the doors open. Croissant breakfast sandwiches arrive with over-easy eggs, sharp aged cheddar and smoky bacon, the layers breaking apart with a satisfying crunch. The adjoining gourmet shop stocks fresh sourdough, small-batch preserves and local honey, so you won鈥檛 leave empty-handed.

Explore the city鈥檚 literary past. Charles Dickens was a visitor, finding the city itself disappointing but the Kingston Penitentiary admirable. One inmate, Grace Marks, later inspired Margaret Atwood鈥檚 novel 鈥淎lias Grace.鈥� Robertson Davies set his Salterton trilogy in a fictional city based on Kingston circa the 1900s. A young Ernest Hemingway, working as a reporter for the 海角社区官网Daily Star in 1923, covered聽the dramatic escape of convicts from Kingston Pen. You can learn this literary lore on a downtown walking tour with historian Arthur Milnes of . Afterwards, find your next great read at . It鈥檚 the kind of indie bookstore that draws you in with creaking floors and tables stacked with everything from Canadian small-press novels to the latest cookbooks. Ask the staff for recommendations 鈥� they rarely miss.

Head to the shore. Along Kingston鈥檚 eight-kilometre聽waterfront pathway, you鈥檒l move through a cross-section of the city: students jogging between classes, families pausing for ice cream at the marina, vendors at weekend markets, and visitors taking in the lake as it shifts with the light, from pale blue in the morning to deep green by late afternoon. For a wilder setting, head to , a 20-minute drive from downtown, where winding forest paths open onto rocky shorelines.

Stroll the historic landmarks. Kingston is flush with national historic sites, including Bellevue House (home to Sir John A. Macdonald), Kingston Penitentiary and . At the last one, you can take in vast lake views by day, or come back after sunset for a ghost tour with . The guides take their roles (and costumes) seriously, adding another layer of spooky delight to the experience. Also, on Fridays in August, history buffs can time their Fort Henry visit with the Sunset Ceremony, a ticketed show featuring the drums, drill squad and artillery detachments of the Fort Henry Guard.

Shop for one-of-a-kind souvenirs. As befits a historic city, Kingston is a fun place to browse vintage.聽 has turned an old pawnshop into a treasure trove, where mid-century chairs, antique maps and handmade ceramics share space with reworked denim. The聽 is part shop, part curiosity cabinet, with shelves of vintage glassware, rows of old postcards, and a restored, retro photo booth that spits out sepia-toned strips (bring your loonies and toonies). Just around the corner is , which feels like a secret passage, its mural-lined courtyards leading to tiny studios where artists sell everything from watercolours of the waterfront to modern sculptures.

Take a scenic side-trip. Next to Kingston is the聽Thousand Islands region, an archipelago that begins where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River. Local operators such as depart from Kingston鈥檚 harbour and offer scenic views of Wolfe and Howe islands (and more if you cruise for longer). But to see more on a shorter sailing, depart from a town or village a bit further east. If Boldt Castle is your priority, drive to nearby Rockport for a four-hour tour with , which includes plenty of time at the tourist attraction. If you prefer taking in the region鈥檚 overall atmosphere, start from Gananoque with an operator like . As you travel the St. Lawrence, you鈥檒l pass cottages clinging to rocks that are barely larger than the houses themselves, and pine-covered inlets that feel untouched.

Dine like a local. Popular with both year-round townsfolk and students, is an Asian fusion restaurant with a relaxed vibe. The signature baos arrive with soft, steaming buns, sandwiching fillings like tender, hoisin-glazed duck or slow-cooked jackfruit. The cocktails offer equally layered flavours; try the bright, fragrant Tom Yam Siam, made with vodka, coconut rum, lychee and chilies. Also notable is the kitchen鈥檚 zero-waste focus; they even grow microgreens in composted scraps.

If you stay: , a restored 19th-century mansion, blends Victorian elegance with modern comfort in its seven guest rooms. Picture: claw foot bathtubs, flickering fireplaces, and warm croissants with local jam in the dining room, where you can still hear the faint creak of the original floorboards beneath your chair.

WHERE CHEFS EAT: Chef Richard Nicholas鈥檚 favourites in Kingston

Want more food and drink recommendations for Kingston? Richard Nicholas is the head chef at , a dining institution ever since it was co-founded in 1979 by musician Zal Yanovsky of the Lovin鈥� Spoonful.

At the restaurant, located within a 1800s-era limestone stable, Nicholas鈥檚 menu shifts with the seasons but always balances comfort with global influences. Enjoy Korean fried chicken tacos or smoky jackfruit 鈥渞ibs,鈥� for instance, paired with a crisp Piggy Spritz. When he鈥檚 not leading the kitchen, you鈥檒l often find Nicholas at the following favourites.

:聽鈥淭his Sunday market aims to promote farmers and businesses within 100 kilometres, though most vendors are local. (There are) some of my favourite farmers to work with, and absolutely amazing food vendors as well. Go to Lori Anne鈥檚 Pizza for oven-fired pizza, but get there early because they sell out fast! (Also, go to) Fat Chance Farmstead for their ramps, scapes and strawberries, or Honey Wagon Farms for the best potatoes in the area and amazing squash.鈥�

: 鈥�(With) 40-plus flavours of sorbetto, gelato and frozen yogurt, there鈥檚 tons of choice for even the pickiest eaters. Both locations are in some of the oldest buildings in the city, so it鈥檚 got that old Kingston vibe. Get a scoop or two at the Ontario Street location and have a sunset stroll along the marina and waterfront.鈥�

: 鈥淔or when you want that super comforting, authentic German food, and a big stein of beer to go with it. Sausages, pretzels, schnitzel, spaetzle, kraut 鈥� it鈥檚 all there in huge portions. Even vegetarian versions (of schnitzel)!鈥�

: 鈥淥ne of my absolute favourites for a long time. There鈥檚 a huge selection of international tapas and amazing cocktails 鈥� you might stop in for one plate and leave after five! It has a super laid-back vibe, with red brick, wrought iron, green plants, and classic black and white movies playing in the background. Try the foie gras pintxo, tuna poke nachos or achiote grilled chicken.鈥�

: 鈥淥ne of my newer favourite places to stop, right across from Market Square. It鈥檚 a cosy spot to have a nice, curated glass of wine and some small bites in true Italian fashion, and people-watch across the square. Try the burrata with 24-month prosciutto di Parma, or the rotating selections on the tagliere.鈥�