Kingston - an interesting destination in Canada

A corner of Kingston city.

Sedimentary history

Kingston is located in the middle of Highway 401, which connects Toronto and Montreal. Most major cities in Canada have train or bus routes through Kingston. For international visitors, the best option is to fly into Toronto Pearson International Airport and then take a bus to Kingston.

Kingston is an ancient city, where Native Americans lived since prehistoric times. In the 17th century, the city was officially founded by immigrants from France. Kingston is nicknamed the “limestone city” because many of the buildings here were built from locally quarried limestone. Visitors who want to visit limestone structures should visit the old town of Sydenham. The houses are 2-3 centuries old and still full of life thanks to their colorful paint and carefully tended gardens. There is even a “ghost-hunting” tour in Sydenham at night. Guests participating in this discovery journey will be introduced to the legends and anecdotes “creepy” but closely related to the history of the city.

Fort Henry - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built in the 1830s to protect the British Navy's dockyard in Kingston. Although the fort no longer has military value, it serves as a "living museum" with a military band dressed in British military uniforms performing military parades. Tourists should visit Fort Henry in July and August. Every Wednesday afternoon, the band holds a mock battle with cannon fire, followed by a flag-lowering ceremony at sunset.

Not far from Fort Henry is another historic site: Kingston Penitentiary. It was once Canada’s oldest and most fortified prison, but closed in 2013 and became a historical site. Visitors to Kingston Penitentiary get to learn about the daily lives of prisoners, escapes and rebellions. Some of the guides at the site are even former guards or inmates of the former prison.

There are many interesting museums in Kingston, such as the Great Lakes Maritime Museum, the Electronic Intelligence Museum, the MacLachlan Carpentry Museum... But perhaps the most popular is the Hockey Museum. Canada has two Hockey Museums, one in Kingston and one in Toronto. The Kingston museum is home to many artifacts contributed by famous players such as Gordie Howe and Maurice “Rocket” Richard. Recently, the museum has also been equipped with virtual reality equipment so that visitors can experience hockey on the spot.

Colorful experiences

Kingston's fertile soil, abundant water resources, and temperate climate make it an ideal place to grow vegetables and fruits. Visitors looking for fresh produce should visit the Memorial Centre Farmers Market on Sundays near the stadium. The produce is authentic and the vendors are responsible for the produce. Gelato and wine are two of the best sellers.

Romantic scenery on Lake Ontario.

Kingston is where the St. Lawrence River flows into Lake Ontario. Visitors should not miss the opportunity to take a walk and admire the rare beautiful estuary scenery. The route chosen by many tourists stretches more than 8km from Lake Ontario Park along the riverbank to the south. On one side is the lake water stretching to the horizon, on the other side are rows of ancient pine and willow trees, the scene is perfect. This route also has many restaurants, cafes, and fishing spots for visitors to stop and immerse themselves in the romantic space.

Lemoine Point Reserve is a popular destination for both locals and visitors. It was originally a 136-hectare farm that was donated by the owner to the government to be turned into a nature park. The reserve is famous for its diverse terrain and habitats, with many different environments such as ancient forests, marshes, beaches, etc. The best time to visit Lemoine Point Reserve is in early spring, when ducks and geese return from the south and hibernating animals such as squirrels begin to awaken.

For tourists who love sports, Kingston has no shortage of interesting activities such as surfing, kite surfing, kayaking... In Kingston there are 6 beaches, of which Richardson beach is loved by many sports athletes because of its good water quality, moderate wave height and speed, and quite wild coastline. For tourists with better economic conditions, they should rent a sailboat. When Canada hosted the 1976 Olympics, Kingston was chosen as the venue for the sailing competition.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/kingston-diem-den-ly-thu-o-canada-690988.html