Kingston offers winter getaway with skating, markets and European charm
The Ontario city features an outdoor skating rink, over a dozen Christmas markets and limestone buildings that evoke a European feel.
Kingston, Ontario, offers a winter getaway about three hours from Montreal with an outdoor skating rink, Christmas markets and historic limestone buildings that evoke a European feel. Once snow falls, the city known as Limestone City reveals a different character, particularly in the Sydenham neighbourhood near downtown with its Victorian homes. Some of these old houses have become inns for overnight stays. Visitors can warm up with a hot drink at the Kingston Coffee House, which serves creations like a chai-nog blending chai spices with eggnog and several varieties of hot chocolate.
The city provides outdoor activities like a 13-kilometre cross-country ski network at the Little Cataraqui Creek conservation area, plus trails for snowshoeing. The outdoor centre rents all necessary equipment in January and February. A tip for visitors is to bring birdseed, as chickadees can be fed at rest stops along the route. More than 35 museums, galleries and heritage sites offer indoor alternatives when the temperature drops too low. Film fans can visit the independent Screening Room cinema, which shows both classics and new releases. For entertainment, Improbable Escapes offers escape rooms and its Wonderland cafe has more than 450 board games available.
In the evening, the action centres on Springer Market Square, home to an outdoor skating rink in the heart of downtown. After skating, people can warm up by fire pits on the square or cross the street for a BeaverTail pastry. Those planning a trip before Christmas will find themselves in the peak season for holiday markets, with a dozen scheduled in and around the city this year. The markets feature pottery, jewelry, Indigenous beadwork, local crafts and gourmet products, providing gift-shopping opportunities amid festive atmosphere. Even without buying anything, a stroll along Princess, Brock and King streets allows for admiring store windows decorated for the occasion. The city aims to transform a simple winter weekend into a timeless escape.
With files from Narcity