✦ Weekend Itinerary

Kingston
& the Islands

Eddie & Leanne · June 5–7, 2026 · Markham → Kingston

3
Days
12
Activities
2.5h
Drive
0
Checked off
🚗
Day 1 · Friday June 5 · Depart Noon
Arrive, Trolley & Set Sail
Leave Markham 12pm · Kingston by 2:30pm
2.5h drive · Hwy 401 E Booked ✓ Trolley 9:50am Booked ✓ Cruise 6:00pm
🕑 2:30 PM
Arrival
Check In & Waterfront Walk
📍 Ontario St, Kingston Free ~1.5 hrs

Drop your bags and head straight to Kingston's Lake Ontario waterfront pathway. It stretches past marinas, parks, and iconic limestone buildings — a perfect way to decompress after the drive and take in the city together before the big evening.

💡 The limestone City Hall is right on the waterfront — best photo spot in Kingston with the lake behind you.
🕙 9:50 AM
Optional
City Tour · Booked via K-Pass
Trolley: Hop On Hop Off (Optional)
📍 248 Ontario St pickup Board 9:50 AM · Jun 5 ~1 hr guided tour

Kingston's iconic red trolleys take you through the city's historic limestone landmarks — from the 19th-century fort to the Kingston Penitentiary. A great way to get oriented to the city right after you arrive. Pick up from the same place as your cruise tickets: 248 Ontario St.

💡 This is optional — skip it if you'd rather just explore on your own after arriving. But it's a great way to get oriented to Kingston right away since the pass is already included in your K-Pass booking.
🕔 5:30 PM
Logistics
Pick Up Cruise Tickets
📍 248 Ontario St ~10 min ⚠ Must do before boarding

Tickets must be picked up in person at Waterfront Gifts & Apparel at 248 Ontario St — you cannot board without collecting them first. The cruise dock at Crawford Wharf (1 Brock St) is just a 2-minute walk from there.

💳 The bar on board is cashless — credit/debit only. Dining deck accepts cash. Bring ID for the bar.
🕕 6:00 PM
⭐ Highlight
Dinner Cruise · Confirmed ✓
1000 Islands Sunset Dinner Cruise
📍 248 Ontario St pickup ⏱ 3 hours ⚓ Vessel: Island Star Board 6:00 PM · Jun 5

Board the glass-topped Island Star and sail into the Admiralty Islands as the sun sets over the St. Lawrence. A three-course dinner is served at your table with live music and hosted commentary the entire cruise. You'll glide past Napoleon's Hat, Mandalay Mansion, and dozens of tiny cottage islands. One of the most romantic things to do in Ontario.

🎟️ Sells out weeks ahead on weekends. Book at ktic.ca or call (613) 549-5544. Ask for a Premium Window Table.
🏰
Day 2 · Full Day
History, City & Fine Dining
Kingston's best landmarks, food, and nightlife
Book Fort Henry + Pen ahead Reserve AquaTerra
🕙 10:00 AM
Must-Do
National Historic Site
Fort Henry
📍 1 Fort Henry Dr, Kingston ⏱ ~3 hrs 🕙 Open 10am–5pm Parade 2:30 PM

Kingston's crown jewel — a restored 1832 British fortress perched above Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence. The Fort Henry Guard performs precision military drills, fife-and-drum music, and artillery demonstrations. The rampart views are stunning and the best vantage point in the entire city.

🎺 Don't miss the Garrison Parade at 2:30pm (late May–Sept). Guided tour is included with admission. Best photos from the east rampart.
🕐 1:30 PM
Lunch
Princess Street Lunch
📍 Princess St, Downtown ⏱ ~1 hr 🍽 Chez Piggy recommended

Wander Kingston's vibrant downtown after Fort Henry. Chez Piggy is the local favourite for a couple's lunch — eclectic seasonal menu, gorgeous courtyard patio, full of character. Alternatively, Union Restaurant has great sharing dishes and cocktails if you want something livelier.

📖 Book Chez Piggy ahead for weekend patio seating — it fills fast. Worth every minute.
🕞 3:20 PM
Booked ✓
Historic Tour · Confirmed ✓
Kingston Penitentiary Tour
📍 560 King St W ⏱ 3:20–4:50 PM Booked · Jun 6 English Standard Tour

Step inside Canada's oldest maximum-security prison, closed in 2013 after 178 years. The Standard Tour takes you through the cell blocks, segregation wing, shop dome, and recreation yard, led by retired corrections officers with real stories of riots, escapes, and daily life behind the walls.

🎫 Book online at kingstonpentour.com — Saturday slots fill fast. Target 3:30pm slot. Mature content, 16+.
🕖 7:00 PM
⭐ Date Night
Romantic Dinner
AquaTerra Restaurant
📍 Delta Hotel, 1 Johnson St 💰 $$$$ Waterfront views Reserve ahead

Kingston's most celebrated restaurant. Waterfront dining with stunning Lake Ontario views, locally-sourced seasonal menus, and an exceptional wine list. Elegant without being stuffy — sophisticated, lakeside, and exactly right for a Saturday date night. Consistently rated the best meal in Kingston.

🪟 Reserve early and request a window table for lake views. A glass of wine watching the water at dusk is worth every penny.
🕙 9:30 PM
Nightcap
Musiikki Café — Live Music
No cover charge Walk-in friendly Live music nightly

Wind the night down at Musiikki Café, a warm local gem with live music every single night of the week. Grab a craft beer or cocktail, find a cozy corner, and let the music take over. Low-key, intimate, and exactly right after a full day out together.

🍕 No cover, walk-in only. You can even bring takeout food from nearby restaurants. Kingston's best-kept nightlife secret.
🌅
Day 3 · Head Home
Waterfront, Brunch & Home
Relaxed morning · Depart ~1:30pm · Home by 4pm
Free morning ~2.5h drive home
🕘 9:00 AM
Free ✦
Morning Walk
Waterfront & Gord Downie Pier
Completely Free ⏱ ~1 hr Named after The Hip

A slow, no-agenda Sunday morning walk along Kingston's Lake Ontario waterfront, ending at the Gord Downie Pier — named after Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie, with sweeping views of the water and Kingston skyline. Completely free, zero schedule, and a genuinely beautiful way to close out the weekend.

Grab a coffee from a nearby café first and walk with it. The pier is quietest in the morning — just the two of you and the lake.
🕦 11:30 AM
Final Meal
Brunch Before the Drive
📍 Princess St, Downtown ⏱ ~1 hr 💰 $$

Fuel up before hitting the 401. Princess Street has solid brunch spots for a proper sit-down with good coffee. On weekends, Springer Market Square often has a lively outdoor market worth a quick stroll through before you head out.

🕑 A 1:30pm departure gets you back to Markham by 4pm comfortably. The Big Apple in Colborne is a fun 20-min pit stop halfway home.
🕐 1:30 PM
Homeward
Drive Back to Markham
🛣 Hwy 401 West ⏱ ~2.5 hrs 🍎 Big Apple stop

Head west on the 401 and let the weekend sink in together. Good time for a playlist and road snacks. The Big Apple in Colborne is right at the halfway point — a fun 20-minute stop for a slice of apple pie and a silly photo in front of the giant apple. Home by 4pm easily.

🍎 The Big Apple is open 7:30am–8pm. Port Hope and Cobourg are also nice quick stretches if you skip the apple.
All Your Spots
📍 Open Full Route in Google Maps
Good to Know
🚢
Book the Cruise ASAP
Sells out weeks ahead. Call (613) 549-5544 or book at ktic.ca. Pick up tickets in person at 248 Ontario St before boarding.
🔒
Book the Pen Tour
Slots fill fast on weekends. Book at kingstonpentour.com — target the 3:30pm Saturday slot.
🅿️
Parking
Hanson Memorial Garage, 105 Brock St — closest to the cruise dock. Downtown is walkable so park once.
💳
Cruise Bar is Cashless
Bar/canteen takes card only. Dining deck accepts cash. ID required. Board 30 min before departure.
👟
What to Pack
Light jacket (breezy on the water), comfortable shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, and ID.
🛂
No Passport Needed
All 1000 Islands cruises sail in Canadian waters only. Just ID for the bar.
🍎
Drive Home Stop
The Big Apple in Colborne is halfway home on the 401 — great for apple pie, a stretch, and a photo.
🎟️
K-Pass Bundle
Bundles cruise + attractions for 50%+ off. Check kpass.ca — great value if doing multiple things.