Paddle Challenge

Kingston and area is a great spot for water sports and a new festival has popped up this summer for kayaking enthusiasts. The 1000 Islands Paddle Sport Challenge will be held for the fist time the weekend of July 25th and 26th at Joel Stone Beach in Gananoque. The best part about the festival is that is starts with clinics and lessons so no matter what level you’re at you can tune up your skills before the Sunday races. There are even special lessons for kids and a kid’s race. Hopefully the Challenge is a success and back again next year!

Turbine Tours

For many people who visit Kingston the draw of the city is the historical relevance and beauty of the city. What most tourists rarely get to see are the many efforts made to make Kingston as eco-friendly as possible. For example with the Wolfe Island Wind Farm visitors can view the huge turbines up close during a free one hour tour over the course of the summer. Also, many tourists don’t realize that even their hotels have green initiatives to conserve energy and promote sustainability.

Busker Tips

One of the biggest events in Kingston’s summer calendar is undoubtedly the Buskers Rendezvous. This year there were over 30 performers and from July 9-12 downtown Kingston was transformed; the streets were closed for fire eaters, acrobats, magicians and spectators were awash in face paint and balloon animals. For those who have never experienced Buskers I have made a list of tips so you will be ready for next year.

Make sure you have lots of change
Bring kids with you
Participate! Some of the acts get spectators involved.
Laugh, clap and shout – the performers love it
If you’re from out of town make sure you book a downtown hotel so you’re close to the action

Free Movies and Music

I happened to be on a long weekend visit to Kingston and arriving Thursday evening decided to take a quick walk around downtown by my hotel, the Radisson. A couple blocks up at the city’s market square there was a huge movie screen set up and a bunch of people with folding chairs enjoying a movie. There was no admission fee and it was like being at the drive in without spending the gas money. Arriving back at the hotel I commented to the front desk staff about the movies and they told me there were free lunch time and evening concerts through out the summer as well in different areas downtown. It’s great coming to Kingston because every time I’m here there’s another little surprise like Movies in the Square and Music in the Park both of which are organized by Downtown Kingston.

Kingston and Frontenac County New book

A friend and colleague of mine, Alec Ross, has just published a wonderful and beautiful book about Kingston that every visitor and Kingstonian should own. Here's a sneak peak! Kingston and Frontenac County

A scenic tour of one of Canada's most historic and lively regions.

The history and character of Frontenac County have been shaped by its geography -- the numerous rivers and lakes, the farm-friendly limestone bedrock, the granite of the Canadian Shield, which includes the Frontenac Arch, a UNESCO-designated area of extraordinary biological diversity -- and its people.

Also fascinating is the social and economic history of Kingston. French explorers, British Loyalists and later arrivals all helped transform it into a key naval and military base, thriving port and center for shipbuilding and the railroad. The book pays particular attention to Limestone City, home to Sir John A. Macdonald, but it also explores the surrounding towns and villages and the entire county''s wealth of artists, writers and musicians.

This captivating collection of new and archival photographs and essays will delight and inform residents and visitors alike.

It has wonderful pictures on the cover too, one of Fort Henry and one of the 1000 Island Cruises, as well as others.

Get Mom Something Good!

Mother’s Day is a couple weeks away and I’m going to try my hardest not to fall into the standard card and bouquet trap. I’m bored of giving that stuff so I can only image how bored my Mom is of getting it. So this year will be different and hopefully the start of a new Mother’s Day tradition as I have invited my Mom for a weekend getaway in Kingston. Kingston’s Tymparon Inn has a great Mother’s Day package that will make me #1 daughter. To cap the weekend off we’ll be having brunch at Fort Henry’s Officers’ Dining Rooms. For once it will be a Mother’s Day to remember!

Sad but not bitter

Times are changing even in city so rich in history. One of our landmarks and much loved stores by both tourists and residents, S & R, is closing. Yes, it's sad day. But one thing I always tell my son, is that on the other side of rain (or tears) there's often a rainbow. Maybe something really cool will go into that spot, something like a Children's museum or science centre, a history museum. Something else that will serve both tourists and residents. It's a perfect location with parking, near marinas, near great hotels, cool building, etc.

Maybe the nearby hotels like the Holiday Inn, Four Points or the Frontenac Inn should weigh in on the issue since they're so close. What would like to see there? What would their visitors like to see there?