Any tourist destination that offers a bus or trolley tour must have something to boast about. And Kingston is no exception. First-time sightseers like me to this beautiful university town of 125,000 at the confluence of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence Seaway will want to get ready to hop-on, hop-off at any one of the eight trolley stops. I stepped-off at Fort Henry, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a quick visit to the strategic stronghold with a great view of Kingston, the Royal Military College of Canada and parts of Wolf Island.
Unfortunately, my whirlwind tour of Kingston didn't allow me to take advantage of any other great stops like Canada's Penitentiary Museum or beautiful Kingston City Hall--those would have been my two first choices. Pick a stop, hop-off and head anywhere on foot in this very walkable community.
But my limited time for a more focused day is why good narration is so important. The bright red trolleys are commanded by tour guides with expert knowledge of the town so you'll get all sorts of historical insight and factoids that leave you in-the-know. They also use pre-recorded narration for some tour segments with several popular foreign languages available via headset.
My tour guide was a town native and part time jazz singer whose musical voice and pleasant style offered lively insight into, among others, "The Tragically Hip Way," the "Singing Bridge" as well as the colorful Sir Johnny MacDonald, a Scottish emigre to Kingston and Canada's first prime minister. She also provided an array of dining tips as we scooted down bustling Princess St. lined with period buildings.
I was seated in a trolley that had two large open sides which allowed unobstructed photography. I really enjoyed this delightful tour and the price was right. Surface parking by the hour or day is available within easy walking distance. Restrooms are located in the basement of the ticket office that also doubles as a souvenir shop. read more