Whether it’s sweater weather, parka season, or a sunny summer day, Kingston boasts places to stroll year-round. Here are some pathways and neighbourhoods you can visit during your getaway to the city.
Want to learn more about the areas featured on this list? Take one of the Creative Kingston Walking Tours, free guided excursions that reveal the city’s rich music, literature, and film history.
Looking for a scenic view of Kingston’s waterfront? Kingston’s Waterfront Pathway is a picturesque 8-km. walk from Lake Ontario Park to the downtown core. Along this path you’ll see Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, Kingston Penitentiary, the Tett Centre, Fort Frontenac, and other historic locations. Learn more about accessible parking and the trail here.
Barriefield Village was key to Kingston’s boatbuilding industry throughout the early 19th century. After its tenure as an economic hub, Barriefield became the first village in Ontario to become a Heritage Conservation District in 1980. Travel across the LaSalle Causeway and explore this historically rich village overlooking the Cataraqui River on a self-guided walking tour.
Known for its 19th-century architecture, Sydenham Ward, located near downtown Kingston, is a must-visit neighbourhood for history buffs. Stop by notable buildings including the Kingston Courthouse, built in 1858 on land that was acquired in 1840 for a house of parliament, when Kingston was being considered to become Canada’s capital city (it held that status 1841–1844). You’ll also see The Spire—a 170-year-old church and community arts hub—and Chalmers United Church.
This historic university was established by Royal Charter on behalf of Queen Victoria, in 1841. The campus is situated on 100 acres of land bordering downtown Kingston and facing the city’s waterfront. Queen’s University’s campus is home to limestone structures and lavish buildings like Grant Hall which served as a military hospital during the First World War and an entertainment centre and meal hall for soldiers during the Second World War.
Featuring green spaces and pathways lining Kingston’s tranquil waterfront, Lake Ontario Park is great for summer picnics or long fall walks. The park also includes a cobblestone beach, playground equipment, and a sandy beach area where you’ll find visitors and locals playing pickleball during the warmer months.
Founded in 1784, Portsmouth Village was known for its tanneries, breweries, shipyards, and limestone quarry. From 1833 to 1834, the iconic Kingston Penitentiary was built from local limestone. You can now tour the penitentiary (which opened in 1835 and closed in 2013) during the summer and fall months. Next to the former federal prison is Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, which hosted yachting and boating events for the 1976 Summer Olympics. The area today retains its quaint historic charm with its stone and brick homes and features the scenic Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. Portsmouth Village became part of the city of Kingston in 1952.
