Things to do in Kingston, Ontario

Experience the 1000 Islands from the air on a breathtaking helicopter tour. Choose your own adventure with three unique tour options ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. Depart from Gananoque Heliport, located within a 20-minute drive east of Kingston via Highway 401 in beautiful Gananoque, Ontario.  Check in at the front desk then relax in the lounge before your pre-flight briefing. Feel the thrill as you rise above lush greenery, sandy beaches, and rocky cliffs, admiring the sights from your guaranteed window seat.  Wear audio headsets complete with microphones for easy communication. Enjoy pilot-narrated commentary in English or select one of the recorded multilingual audio tours. The duration depends on your selected option. Choose the 10-minute tour for a taste of the 1000 Islands, including the town of Gananoque, the Admiralty Islands, Navy Islands, and the Lake Fleet Islands. Explore further on an Ontario Signature Experience: a 20-minute tour that includes both the U.S. and Canadian spans of the Ivy Lea Bridge, and Boldt Castle on Heart Island.  The most popular option is a Canadian Signature Experience: an extended 30-minute ‘Two Castle’ tour that sends you flying over sunken shipwrecks and nation-spanning bridges, as well as Boldt and Singer Castles.

Experience Kingston like never before. Go on an adventure that takes you through Kingston’s old Sydenham Ward and hear some of the most spine-tingling ghost stories from the earliest days of Kingston. This night tour departs from the ticket office on Ontario Street. Your cloaked tour guide will lead you from the heart of the historic city to the oldest residential area. Listen to chilling tales and see a darker side to Kingston's history. Immerse yourself in haunted hotels, hidden burial grounds, grave robbings, hangings at the old courthouse, and Kingston's haunted bed and breakfasts. You will never look at the city in the same way again. After being led through the streets of Downtown Kingston, your guide can walk you back to the start location, or leave you to enjoy a sleepless night in the city.

Experience the beauty of the holiday season in Downtown Kingston with the whole family. Hop aboard a festive heated trolley for a ride around town. Gaze at heavily-decorated homes and lit-up buildings as you snuggle up on the bench-style seats. Look for the stylish red trolley at the visitor's center and hop on for a journey full of Christmas spirit. Bring the little ones along on this magical experience through the winter landscape of Kingston. Sing along to classic holiday songs and keep an eye out for the best decorations in town. Capture lovely selfies as you ride and make sure to snap a photo next to the trolley before or after your tour. Jump right into the holiday season with this heartwarming tradition to share with loved ones.

Discover the history and architecture of Kingston on a sightseeing trolley tour through downtown. Step back in time as your guide tells you stories from the city's past. See sights like Queen's University and the notorious Kingston Penitentiary. Hop aboard a red trolley at the conveniently located trolley stop in downtown Kingston. Enjoy a family-friendly ride and capture some selfies on a bright red trolley. Roll through the streets pas art galleries and museums.  Take in the old buildings at Queen's University, one of Canada's oldest degree-granting institutions. Ride the iconic trolley by sights like the Maximum security Kingston Penitentiary which was built in 1835 and is now a museum.  Pass by visitor attractions and historic sites like Fort Henry which is perched atop Point Henry. Return to your starting point at the end of your tour. 

There’s no better way to experience Thousand Islands than the sky. Head to the heliport in Gananoque and hop onboard your helicopter for your 30 minutes aerial adventure.  Soar through the skies and soak up panoramic views of the many islands below. From the helicopter, see famous landmarks including Boldt Castle, Singer Castle, Millionaires Row, Thousand Islands International Bridge, and more. Back on land, visit BUSL Cider, the region’s newest cider mill. Enjoy a guided tour of the mill and learn how cider is produced while tasting a selection of ciders. Wander through the mill’s sprawling orchards, and stop at a nearby bakery. End the experience with a light lunch, and sample the region’s world-famous Thousand Islands Dressing.