Kingston 
Explore the attractions of Kingston, the former capital of the United Province of Canada, without stretching the family travel budget.
Credit: Natasha Gerschon/Destination Ontario
Set where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence and Cataraqui rivers, the “Limestone City” brings together waterfront scenery, military landmarks, museums and historic neighbourhoods.
Until Thanksgiving, you can use the K-PASS to turn the journey into a final shared break before classes begin. Available in 24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour options, the pass combines a cruise, trolley transportation, admission to participating attractions and dining discounts, making it a practical way to experience more of Kingston comfortably together for less.
What is K-Pass:
K-PASS is billed as an “all-inclusive ticket to Kingston and the 1000 Islands.” The 24-hour pass starts at $119 for adults, includes 18 attractions and represents more than $305 in stated value.
The 48-hour version starts at $144, includes 19 attractions and adds the Kingston Pen Tour. The 72-hour pass starts at $169.
Credit: Natasha Gerschon/Destination Ontario
Each pass includes a Kingston 1000 Islands Cruise, Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour, and admission to Kingston’s famous attractions. You can choose from a Discovery Cruise (sightseeing cruise) of Kingston’s historic waterfront, or a 3hr Heart of the Islands Cruise winding through the 1000 Islands. If you add a brunch/lunch or dinner cruise, an additional fee applies.
Infants do not receive a K-PASS, although a nominal cruise charge applies. Each attraction can be used once while the pass is active. Passes are collected at 248 Ontario Street and begin with the first attraction scan.
The pass is valid until October 12, 2026.
Museums and historic sites:
Credit: Natasha Gerschon/Destination Ontario
- Fort Henry: Step into 1860s British military life through tours, drills and demonstrations, then pause for refreshments at the Battery Bistro onsite.
- Murney Tower: Browse military and household artifacts inside this tower for a closer look at life in 19th-century Kingston and its defences.
- Bellevue House: Explore Bellevue House, hear multiple perspectives, and examine the challenging legacy of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald.
- Canadian Health Care Museum: Discover Canada’s healthcare history through stories and objects connecting past medical experiences with health issues people continue to face today.
- Great Lakes Museum: Explore Kingston’s maritime past and learn how ships, waterways and waterfront activity shaped the history of the Great Lakes region.
- Military Communications & Electronics Museum: Closely follow the development of communications and electronics through the history of this specialized branch of the Canadian Armed Forces.
- PumpHouse Museum: See the steam-powered machinery that supplied Kingston’s first running water in 1851, alongside exhibits exploring technology and local urban history.
Tours and sightseeing:
Credit: Natasha Gerschon/Destination Ontario
- Ghost & Mystery Trolley Tour: Ride through Kingston’s darker history on a 90-minute trolley tour exploring local mysteries, paranormal stories and tales from the past.
- The Haunted Walk: Walk through Sydenham Ward while hearing stories about haunted hotels, burial grounds, grave robberies, courthouse hangings and a notorious courtyard.
- Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour: Travel Kingston at your own pace, using nine stops to reach sights or staying aboard for the complete 75-minute loop.
- Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises: Choose a sightseeing or dining cruise featuring live entertainment, Kingston waterfront views and the scenery of the 1000 Islands region.
- Kingston Pen Tour: Go behind the walls of Canada’s oldest maximum-security prison on an express tour included with 48-hour and 72-hour K-PASS options.
- Kingston Walks: Join local historian Arthur Milnes for a guided walking tour exploring Kingston’s political history, events and stories from its past.
Adventures and experiences:
Kingston Pen Tours
- Ahoy Rentals: Pick up a bicycle for two hours from Ahoy’s downtown waterfront location and explore Kingston’s streets, pathways and shoreline independently.
- Improbable Escapes: Work with your team through a 60-minute escape game, solving unusual puzzles and using creative thinking before the buzzer sounds.
- Juniper Cafe: Stop at this seasonal waterfront cafe behind the Tett Centre and choose an included cookie, muffin or baked scone there.
- Neptune & Salacia Diving: Cool off with a two-hour snorkel kit rental at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour Beach; participants must bring swimwear and swim confidently.
- Something in the Water Brewery: Visit this downtown Princess Street craft brewery for an included guided tasting flight, available with alcoholic or zero-proof selections.
- Symphony Spa Smoothie Bar: Take a wellness-focused break in central Kingston with an included 16-ounce smoothie from the Symphony Spa Smoothie Bar during your visit.
Dining offers:
With a K-PASS, you can explore Kingston’s dining scene while saving through exclusive discounts at participating restaurants, cafés, patios and waterfront spots.
Dining discounts include $10 off a $50 bill at AquaTerra, Battery Bistro, Black Dog, Bombay Velvet, Daal Roti, The Dawson Restaurant, Harper’s and Jack Astor’s. Columbus Café, The Helm Dockside Patio and Stone’s Throw Café offer $5 off $25. Together, the deals cover waterfront dining, burgers, rooftop and courtyard seating, coffee, pastries, soups and sandwiches during the visit.
