Explore Kingston, a WORLD HERITAGE destination & stay in a heritage B&B, The Tymparon Inn, located in the heart of Kingston's charming east side, 2 Km south of the 401.

Facts About Greater Kingston

History - Kingston was established in 1673 and is the oldest city in Ontario.  Strategically located midway along the wealthiest business corridor in Canada, it is the major city for commerce, education and health services in southeastern Ontario.  Kingston has been shaped by a powerful sense of geography.
  


The City was built at a watery cross roads, where the southernmost end of the Rideau Canal meets Lake Ontario at the source of the St. Lawrence River and the western gateway to the Thousand Islands . The City's strategic location provided prosperity through shipbuilding and national defense during the 1800s. Kingston was the first capital of the united Upper and Lower Canadas from 1841 to 1844, and was one of the contenders to remain as Capital before Confederation. Unfortunately, Kingston lost out to an alternating location of Montreal and Toronto, and then later to Ottawa in 1857, where it has resided since. Kingston was, however, the home of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald and on June 13, 1841 was the site of the first meeting of the Parliament of Canada.

Population of Greater Kingston was 152,358 based on the most recent 2006 census.

Geography - "The Limestone City" stands on a solid limestone foundation, deposited thousands of years ago by ancient geological activity.  Level terrain covering some 1,906 square kilometers (or over 735 square miles) comprises a patchwork of freshwater lakes and mixed forests.  

Climate - Proximity to Lake Ontario yields a moderate climate with four distinct seasons.  Typical summer days are mostly sunny and lovely with average temperatures that are quite comfortable 24C (75F);  average winter temperatures are a moderate -8C (17F).  

Proximity - 
Montreal, QC            290 kilometres (174 miles)
Toronto, ON              260 kilometres (156 miles)
Ottawa, ON               175 kilometres (105 miles)
Syracuse, NY             185 kilometres (111 miles)
Albany, NY                 294 kilometres (177 miles)
Rochester, NY            323 kilometres (194 miles)
Buffalo, NY                450 kilometres (270 miles)
Boston, MA                673 kilometres (404 miles)
New York City, NY    630 kilometres (378 miles)
Philadelphia, PA        642 kilometres (385 miles)
Baltimore, MD           773 kilometres (464 miles)
Washington, DC        841 kilometres (505 miles)

Rankings & Kudos
Kingston is proud to boast it has the "Smartest Workforce in Canada" according to StatsCanada June 2007. Having a well educated workforce is essential to building a knowledge-based economy.
Kingston is one of the fastest growing alternative energy communities in North America.
73% of Kingston's labour force has a post secondary education. Kingston is energized by its strong educational sector and an ability to build and maintain a world class talent force in research and development and cutting edge information services. education.
One of Canada's Best Cities in which to live and work in 1997 (Report on Business Magazine)
15th for creativity
 
Did you know that Kingston is home to:
Canada's oldest degree-granting institution, Queen's University, The Royal Military College and the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics, St. Lawrence College
Canadian Forces Base Kingston
Canada's oldest daily newspaper, The Kingston Whig Standard
Multinationals such as Novelis Inc. (formerly Alcan); Dupont Canada, Bombardier; Hummingbird and Bosal Canada
Canada's oldest law enforcement agency, the Kingston Police Force, formed in 1841
Popular recording artists The Tragically Hip and Sarah Harmer, Georgette Fry, among others
Award-winning authors like Helen Humphreys, Diane Schoemperien, Peter Trueman and Mary Alice Downie

Did you know that Kingston:
Home to Ontario's only and Canada's 14th UNESCO World Heritage Site - Fort Henry, the Rideau Canal and Kingston's fortifications
Is the birthplace of Ontario's brewing industry
Is the fresh-water sailing capital of the world and Portsmouth Harbour was the venue of the 1976 Yachting Olympics
Has the best fresh-water shipwreck diving in the world
Kingston is a choice destination for the growing trend in extreme sports with a wealth of opportunities for rock climbers, mountain bikers, scuba divers and other adventure seekers.
Is the birthplace of the world famous 1000 Islands Salad Dressing
Was the original birthplace of Hockey in 1870
Is home to North America's oldest operating 19th century canal
Is home to Canada's oldest operating Farmer's Market
That there are actually 1,864 islands within the 1000 Islands
That there are 4 wilderness conservation areas within the city limit and over 40 provincial, federal, and state parks within an hours drive
Is a migratory route for over 325 bird species
Is the birthplace of Tanith Belbin, 2006 Winter Olympics Ice Dancing Silver Medalist with partner Ben Agosto in Torino, Italy
Is the birthplace of Jamie Forsythe, 2006 Canadian Jr. Mens Bronze Medalist and former member of Canada's National Figure Skating Team;  The Kingston Skating Club is his home club and he currently trains with his Dance Partner in Montreal, Quebec.
Is home to Jayna Hefford, member of the 2006 Canadian Olympic Women's Hockey Team, that captured the Gold medal in Torino, Italy scoring 3 goals and adding five assists in five games for Canada.
Is where 2006 Skating with Celebrities winner Lloyd Eisler was Program Director for SHARP (Skaters High Achievement Readiness Program) for competitive skaters at the West Kingston Skating Club during 2005 and 2006. Kristy Swanson, an actor, was Lloyd's Skating with Celebrities partner. Lloyd and his former competitive skating partner Isabelle Brasseur were the 1993 World Pairs Champions and earned the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics Pairs Bronze medal.
 

Fort Henry, UNESCO World Heritage Site , is a majestic 19th Century British Military Fortress, features performances by the famous Fort Henry Guard, complete with canon fire, guns, and the music of the fife and drum. It is one of Kingston's greatest historical treasures. Visitors can also experience "History through Food" at the Barrack's Banquet, featuring authentic feasts from the 1860s and service fit for an Officer of the Queen's Royal Military. Fort Henry proudly presents the spectacular Sunset Ceremonies, complete with fireworks finale, every Wednesday evening throughout July and August. Each August the Fort Henry Guards host the U.S. Marines for a spectacular military tattoo. In September, the Celtic festival takes over the Fort. 

There is no better way to experience the beauty and serenity of the World Famous 1000 Islands and Kingston's history and culture than from the air. The Kingston Flying Club offers "Flights Through History" Aerial Sightseeing tours, an opportunity visitors and Kingstonians should not miss. Kingston Flying Club



Kingston is a genuine hub for sports and outdoor enthusiasts. Try your swing at Kingston's challenging aquatic golf accuracy range or play a round of golf at one of our seven golf courses. Enjoy hiking and bird watching at one of Kingston's several conservation areas.  Bicycle along our lakeside paths or through the surrounding countryside.  Soak in the excitement of a hockey, soccer or rugby game featuring players from all over the world.

While it is Kingston's festivals that attract the most public attention, there are also dozens of museums worth visiting.  From displays of woodworking tools to infamous penitentiary inmates to military and technological advances, each of Kingston's seventeen museums is unique in its contribution to the story of the City and the founding of a nation.

Unique collections are located at the Penitentiary Museum, the Museum of Health Care, the Miller Museum of Geology, the Military Communications & Electronics Museum, The Princess of Wales' Own Regiment Military Museum and the International Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum, the oldest of it's kind in Canada.
 
Bellevue House, deemed a National Historic Site, features interpreters in period costume welcoming visitors to the home of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.

Discover Canada's nautical heritage at the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes. Explore fascinating exhibits at the Correctional Service of Canada Museum located in the home formerly used by the warden of Kingston Penitentiary.

Get acquainted with Kingston's darker side with The Haunted Walks of Kingston offering guided walking tours of the city's ghost stories and off-beat history by lantern-light. Separate tours are offered nightly through Kingston's old Syndenham Ward and Kingston's spooky 19th century fortress, Fort Henry, from May through October. Special Halloween Tours take place from mid to end of October.
Haunted Walks of Kingston
 

Visitors can enjoy an historic one hour tour of the "Limestone City" aboard the Confederation Tour Trolley, including the campus of Queen's University, one of Canada's oldest learning institutions.

Last but far from least to mention, Kingston has water, and plenty of it to enjoy for all kinds of water enthusiasts. Canada's newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal is the best-preserved "slackwater" canal in North America, and the only canal from the great 19th century canal-building era that still operates along its original route and with most of its original structures intact. Surely you will want to experience this engineering marvel firsthand during your visit to Kingston. Kingston is the port of call for fabulous cruising. Step aboard a riverboat for a scenic tour or enjoy dining and entertainment, not to mention the stars aboard Ontario's only glass top ship. Or visitors can sail for several days aboard a beautiful steamboat replica from Kingston to Montreal or Quebec City. Kingston's shores offer a myriad of water-sports to enjoy, from swimming to fishing, windsurfing to the best fresh water sailing in North America .

Each August, hundreds of sailors travel to Kingston for C.O.R.K., the annual Canadian Olympic Training Regatta. Land-Lovers can enjoy the colourful vistas from any of Kingston's waterfront parks.

Kingston is quickly becoming renowned for the best shipwreck scuba diving in the world. Dozens of shipwrecks lie off her shores for divers to discover and thanks to the zebra mussels, waters are crystal clear to about 60 feet. Kingston's dive shops and charters can cater to the most experienced diver or supply lessons and certification for the novice.

Kingston's unique heritage and personality are not defined by museums alone. They are present in every stone, brick and timber of its eclectic architecture... within the trees of its many parks and green spaces... upon the breezes as they rise over the sun-kissed waterfront... and in the hearts of its residents who delight in a wonderful lifestyle.

Kingston at Night
When the sun goes down, Kingston is anything but asleep. In fact, as dusk settles there is a myriad of activities underway to capture your imagination and soothe your spirit.

You can enjoy an evening at the theatre and a late-night martini or dance the night away at a club. One of the many patios is a great way to start a night and when the snow flies there are many cozy, warm pubs to reunite with old friends.

A night of dinner, music, or art can be found easily at the numerous nightspots through out the city - whatever your entertainment palate desires.

Kingston’s pubs are an important part of the city’s culture. It’s where people gather to share a pint, break bread and catch up on news. Take the tour...many of these historic buildings are almost as interesting as the characters that frequent them.

Start out at the Pilot House, a traditional, neighbourhood pub featuring Kingston’s best selection of Fish & Chips and other specialties like meat pies. In summer, the outdoor patio is cheery and inviting and placed perfectly to catch the breeze rolling off the lake.

Move on to The Kingston Brewing Company, Ontario’s first Brewery Restaurant that features Dragon’s Breath Ale, Pooh Lager and Cran-Apple Cider among others on tap. Excellent Pub Fare and friendly staff invite you to try the creative curry dishes, inside or on the courtyard patio and take a mini-tour of the on-site brewery.

Wander down and across the street to the Tir Nan Og Irish Pub – an amazing limestone building that includes 3 distinct settings in one; The Old Speckled Hen captures the mood of a classic, country pub and Monte’s features vintage spirits and Belgian beers – relax and experience their welcoming service and warm hospitality, true to the Irish Spirit. Then make your way along Ontario Street, past City Hall to the Merchant MacLiam and discover casual fine dining in a cozy pub atmosphere – the Merchant offers the charm of a public house menu and international specialties in a beautiful heritage building. Linger on the patio and enjoy the live entertainment.

Kingston's blue crisp clear sunny days and balmy summer nights with lake breezes await your visit.  We are confident that once you have visited, you will return to enjoy our beautiful community again and again.  Kingston exudes a special energy, one which you will feel when you visit. Please share our culture, visit our many attractions, and experience our pleasant lifestyle on the shores of the St. Lawrence Seaway Corridor.