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Kingston Travel Guide >>
Cananda Travel Guide
A historic city with old-fashioned charm and the first
capital of Upper and Lower Canada, Kingston was built
where Lake Ontario empties into the St. Lawrence River.
Kingston's major attraction is Old Fort Henry, which was
built by the British during the War of 1812. Once the
principal military base in this part of the country, the
fort has been restored to serve as a military museum.
There are a number of parades to see, including a
children's military muster parade, where kids can
participate in the pageantry.
Two museums along the waterfront showcase the technology
and transportation that helped shape Ontario. The Marine
Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston is located in
dry-dock buildings that date to the 1700s. There are
displays about shipping and shipwrecks, and you can
visit the Alexander Henry, an icebreaking ship used on
the lakes. We recommend an overnight stay aboard the
vessel in one of its bed-and-breakfast accommodations.
The Pump House Steam Museum, located in an 1850s
waterworks plant, is dedicated to the uses of steam
power. View enormous steam engines and pumps as well as
an extensive model-train display.
We liked the quirkiness of the Canadian Forces
Communications and Electronics Museum (east of town off
Highway 2), which traces the history of military
communications devices, including semaphore flags and
heliographs. The International Ice Hockey Federation
Museum (not to be confused with the Hockey Hall of Fame
in Toronto) showcases players and coaches from
professional and amateur leagues.
Cruises of the Thousand Islands depart from Crawford
Dock in Kingston and usually last two to three hours.
Shorter harbor cruises are also available. The Kingston
Summer Festival, a series of theater, music and comedy
performances, takes place June-September. If you have
time, we recommend heading to Merrickville, a charming
village off the beaten track northeast of Kingston.
There you can putter in antique shops, stay in a
charming bed-and-breakfast, sample regional cuisine and
simply enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. 160 mi/260 km east
of Toronto.
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