1) Where are the washrooms?
Downtown public washrooms are located on the park side of the Tourist Information Office (209 Ontario Street). They are wheelchair accessible (36" width capacity) and have infant changing facilities.
They are open seven days a week on the following schedule:
May 24-September: 7am - 10pm.
March, April, October and November: 8am - 5pm
These washrooms are closed December -February.
Other public washrooms are located behind City Hall (216 Ontario Street) and down the steps on either side; Ladies facing Brock Street and Men facing Market Street. Facilities are open every day from Victoria Day to Labour Day (8am - 8pm) and Monday-Friday (8am - 5pm) for the balance of the year.
2) What are the 1000 Islands?
They are a group of islands, large and small, that occupy the St. Lawrence River shared by both Ontario and New York State. The First Nations people who inhabited the area long before the arrival of the first settlers called it the "Garden of the Great Spirit." Having been surveyed by the British, many of the islands of any size bear the name of a British Admiral, battle or ship.
3) When does the ferry leave for Wolfe Island and what is there to do on the Island?
The Wolfe Island Ferry departs from the Kingston (Ontario Street) dock every hour, on the half hour, from 8:30 to 12:30, then on the hour from 14:00 to 22:00, with early departures at 6:15 and 7:15 as well as late departures at 23:20, 00:40 and 02:00. The ferry is free of charge for persons and automobiles.
A ferry to Cape Vincent, New York departs from the south shore of Wolfe Island, with a passage fee.
4) I have just arrived in Kingston, what do I do now?
Kingston offers an astounding array of attractions and activities for visitors. City tours by trolley or on foot with professional guides provide an excellent introduction and give you a flavour for our lifestyle and our Loyalist heritage. If you like to explore and learn, each of our 19 museums is unique in its contribution to the story of Kingston. From tales of illustrious shipping days to displays of tools of infamous penitentiary inmates, you´ll be fascinated by some of the best collections in Canada.
Visit Fort Henry and experience the pomp, circumstance and majesty of the thundering cannons and delicate flutes of the world famous Sunset Ceremonies each summer. Take a lunch or sunset cruise on the Kingston harbour and the 1000 Islands, one of nature´s great masterpieces. Evenings in Kingston can feature witty and wonderful local stage performances, and when the lights are dim, the music begins for late-night lovers of pubs and bars.
5) I am looking for accommodations, do you have any suggestions?
Visitors will be delighted with the choice in hotel and motel accommodations in Kingston. You can wake up and enjoy a front-row view of cruise ships, tour boats and pleasure craft on sparkling Lake Ontario. Or you can enjoy breakfast and watch the boaters´ activity at our downtown marina. You can open your eyes to a pool and lovely secluded garden setting or you can have a pool and playground right in your hotel. Or you might like to be near easy highway access - whatever your preference, we have it all.
Please take a moment to scan through our "Where to Stay and Dine" section to select the right option for you.
6) What difference is there between the cruises that depart from Kingston and those that leave from other cities?
Many of the communities along the St. Lawrence River offer scenic sightseeing cruises through the 1000 Islands -- all with a slightly different perspective. Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises offers narrated 1.5 hour tours of the westerly islands and Kingston´s historic waterfront, as well as candlelit dining under the stars with live entertainment.
Gananoque Boat Line takes you through the middle of the 1000 Islands. Enjoy calm water cruising on the biggest tour boats in the islands, with many scheduled times to choose from. Gananoque Boat Line is fully accessible, see Accessible Kingston for more information. Rockport Boat Line launches from the historic village of Rockport and offers triple decker and double decker cruises with meal options and two castle tours. Parkway Boatlines lets you explore the heart of the 1000 Islands with 2 hour tours that include live english commentary.
7) Where are the beaches in Kingston?
Kingston stands on a solid limestone foundation, deposited thousands of years ago by ancient geological activity. Therefore the majority of our shoreline consists of huge rocky embankments. However, fantastic sandy beaches are only a short car or ferry ride away. Wolfe Island boasts Big Sandy Bay, while Grass Creek Park is located eastbound (approximately 10 km) on Highway 2, near the MacLachlan Woodworking Museum.
Leo Lafleur Memorial Pool is a seasonal outdoor pool operating during July and August. This 30-metre pool includes the largest outdoor waterslide in Kingston (303 York Street). The Artillery Park Aquatic Centre is a year-round aquatic and fitness centre that includes a 25-metre pool with sauna, fitness centre and gym.
8) Where can I exchange currency?
Wellington Foreign Exchange (located at 153 Wellington Street - in the downtown core) will buy and sell foreign currency. They stock over 40 currencies and offer very competitive rates and no service fees. They are open Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm) and Saturday from 10am - 4pm.
9) Where can I park my car for more than an hour or two?
There are several parking garages in the downtown core and throughout the city. Please take a moment to browse through the City of Kingston website for a complete listing.
10) Can you suggest a restaurant for lunch or dinner?
Kingston boasts an amazing array of excellent dining establishments. Culturally diverse, we offer cuisine from all corners of the world, including Greek, Portugese, Italian, Indian, Thai, Chinese and Szechwan, French, Tex-Mex, Japanese and Vietnamese as well as vegetarian, seafood, and pub fare. We invite you to try something new while in our city - browse through our "Where to Stay and Dine" section for plenty of options.
