Welcome to the Limestone City
Kingston Ontario Experiences
Come Early and Stay Longer
City of Kingston
Check out the City of Kingston, Canadas first capital and its rich diversity of shopping, cultural, natural and foodie experiences.
Tourism
Kingston is Canada’s museum capital. Many museums close during winter in Kingston. However, the following sites are open year-round:
- The Canadian Museum of Health Care
- The Great Lakes Museum
- The Pumphouse
- Military Communications and Electronics Museum
- Frontenac County Schools Museum
- St. Lawrence Parks Commission - Eastern Ontario, Morrisburg, Historical Attractions, Outdoor Recreation
- Parks in Kingston, ON - Eastern Ontario Local
- Bellevue House National Historic Site
Kingston Associated Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites
- Check out this link for the range of cultural sites to visit during your stay or to review prior to the conference.
Food
Kingston (allegedly) has the highest number of restaurants per capita. The highest density of restaurants can be found downtown, along Princess St. from Clergy St. to Ontario St. Sushi and Thai fusion food are particularly popular in Kingston right now. Your Kingstonian colleagues would be delighted to make recommendations.
Entertainment
The Tett Centre is one of Kingston’s art hubs. It hosts art shows, art workshops, the Kingston Pottery and Weavers’ Guilds, and is also the location of the popular Juniper Cafe.
Kingston is a common incubation and stop-over site for theatre and music. Check the following venues if you are looking for a show:
Princess Street
Downtown Kingston provides shopping and restaurants along with a great opportunity to explore pubs and gift shops along the street. Walking distance from the Hotels.
Events before and after the Conference
Weekend before:
- Road Trip Music Festival, Sept 12, 10 am - 11 pm, Springer Market Square
Dance your way through the day across 3 street stages showcasing local and emerging talent, with local vendors, artisan makers, eateries, and community groups filling the street with fun! Lineup here.
Travel Tips
Getting to Kingston
You will likely land in one of three cities, depending on what airline you book: Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa.
From Toronto Pearson:
- You can take the UP Express to Union Station and then take the VIA Rail to Kingston.
- You can book MegaBus to travel directly from the airport to Kingston (although you will have to travel through Toronto’s infamously bad traffic; MegaBus is not the most dependable option for arriving on time).
- Landline operates a direct bus from Pearson to the local Kingston airport. Typically it runs four times a day.
From Toronto Billy Bishop:
- Take the 509 Harbourfront or 511 Bathurst Streetcar to Union Station. From there, you can take the Megabus or Via Rail to Kingston.
From Ottawa:
- VIA Rail offers trains from Ottawa to Kingston. You will need to take a bus or O-Train to reach the train station.
- Megabus operates directly from the airport to Kingston. Fewer buses run on weekdays.
From Montreal:
A free shuttle travels from the airport to the Dorval train station. From Dorval, you can take a direct train on VIA Rail to Kingston.
General Tips:
- Book train or Megabus tickets early for cheaper pricing.
- Via Rail sometimes offers flash sales, typically on Tuesdays.
- Trains and Megabus both tend to run late. For travel in the corridor (which Kingston is located within), you are eligible for compensation from Via Rail if your train is delayed for an hour or more.
Navigating Kingston
Bus schedules and trip planning tools are available on Google Maps and https://www.kingstontransit.ca. Kingston buses do not have onboard debit machines and do not give change. You can pay with cash or purchase a reloadable card at any drugstore. Each ride costs $3.50. A day pass (unlimited rides for a single day) costs $10.00. A weekly pass (unlimited rides for seven consecutive days) costs $30.50.
Kingston has two main taxi companies, Amey’s Greenwood and Modern City. Uber is also available.