As the temperature drops and the cardigans come out, Kingston offers a variety of activities to explore the city’s fall foliage.
We’ve created an autumnal itinerary featuring brunch, a scenic boat ride, and a picturesque walking tour or trip to the farm.
Indulge in apple cider french toast or a chorizo breakfast wrap
Grab brunch at Lay Low Cafe (241 Princess Street), adorned with earthy green furniture and a marble coffee bar serving tiramisu lattes and nutrient-dense smoothies.
The Princess Street cafe serves classic brunch fare including a chorizo breakfast wrap, loaded with scrambled eggs, chorizo, cheddar, romaine lettuce, garlic aioli, and a side of bacon home fries. For a nourishing breakfast spread, order Lay Low’s Brekkie Board–smashed avocado toast on sourdough with goat cheese, a coconut yogurt bowl with seasonal fruit, and supreme house fries.
On Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm, Chez Piggy (68 Princess Street)–a 19th-century limestone horse stable turned fine dining establishment–serves brunch made with locally sourced ingredients.
Their apple cider French toast is the ultimate fall dish, topped with caramelized apples, Calavados, caramel crème fraïche, salted caramel, and fresh fruit. If you’re craving a savoury meal, order the breakfast ham-burger loaded with greens, a house sausage patty, cheddar cheese, peameal, fried egg, hollandaise sauce, crispy shallots, and a side of home fries.
Discover Kingston’s fall foliage from the water
After enjoying pancakes and a cup of coffee, walk to Crawford Wharf for your trip with Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises.
The Discovery Cruise on the Island Belle ship is a one-hour nautical tour around the 1000 Islands region. Admire the gold and orange leaves while gliding past Fort Henry and the Kingston Penitentiary.
Grab your tickets on the Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises’ website. The Discovery Cruise is available until October 27.
Visit a coffee shop
After travelling along Kingston’s waterfront, head to a local coffee shop for a pastry and a pumpkin spice latte. Crave Coffee House and Bakery (166 Princess Street) serves seasonal sweet treats, unique latte flavours, bagels, and ready-made meals.
Kingston Coffee House (322 King Street East) offers warm chai lattes and views of Springer Market Square. The quaint cafe is the perfect place to start your Creative Kingston Walking Tour.
Explore Kingston’s artistic scene or experience a pumpkin harvest
Kingston offers nine free walking tours that explore the city’s historical architecture and limestone alleyways.
The downtown film tour is a 75-minute excursion starting in Springer Market Square. You’ll learn how Market Square transformed into a turn-of-the-century marketplace for Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro’s movie Crimson Peak. The tour will also delve into the history of The Screening Room–a locally owned cinema serving buttered popcorn and a variety of sweets.
If you love to curl up with a cozy mystery novel or indulge in a romance book, the downtown literary tour is perfect for you. The 75-minute tour will take you to the buildings that inspired popular novelists’ work.
You’ll encounter local bookstore Novel Ideas and visit Skeleton Park–an artistic epicentre hosting summer festivals and pop-up events where creatives showcase their work. The park also boasts vibrant fall foliage in September and October.
If you want to learn about the Limestone City’s music scene, try the 60-minute downtown music tour. The tour digs into the history of The Tragically Hip–an iconic Canadian rock band who performed their first and last concerts in Kingston. You’ll also stop at the Kingston Grand Theatre, where a fair share of notable artists have graced the stage.
You can explore additional tours by visiting the Kingston Creative Walking Tour’s website.
If you want to venture outside downtown Kingston, drive 20 minutes to Fruition Berry Farms (3208 Hughes Road) for a pumpkin harvest and corn maze, starting Sept. 14. The family-run farm offers a five-to-six acre themed corn maze, wagon rides, and pumpkin picking. The price of admission is $6 per adult and $4 per child.
Bundle up in your cozy scarf, grab a steaming hot chocolate, and head north to enjoy the autumn vibes.
For dinner recommendations, read about cheap eats in Kingston: 15 under $15 and the best-kept secret restaurants in Kingston (part 1 and part 2).
