Kingston A Rainy First Glimpse of Ontario’s Most Livable Lakeside Gem

🇨🇦 Kingston: A Rainy First Glimpse of Ontario’s Most Livable Lakeside Gem 🌧️🏡 Even a stormy summer stopover couldn’t dim Kingston’s charm—this limestone-clad university town left us craving sunnier explorations. Here’s why one imperfect night convinced us to plan a proper return visit. 🚗 Road Trip Pit Stop 📍 Route: Montreal (West Island) → Upper Canada Village → Kingston → Toronto ⏱️ Drive Time: 2.5hrs from Mtl (via 401W) 🌧️ Weather Woes: Swapped island cruises for Delta’s waterfront views of rain-dappled Lake Ontario 🏨 Hotel Hack: Delta’s 4th-floor lounge has board games and free hot cider on dreary days 🍜 Unexpected Culinary Win 📍 Noodle House (Local Secret): • Dish: Hand-pulled Lanzhou beef noodles ($14.95) with chili oil smuggled from Xi’an • Local Intel: Owner tipped us to Martello Alley’s hidden art studios (next trip!) 💡 Rainy Day Alternative: Cooke’s Fine Foods—since 1865, sells British teas and maple sugar shaped like hockey pucks 🚶♀️ Glimpses of Livability ✅ Walkable Core: Delta to Queen’s University = 8 mins umbrella stroll ✅ Waterfront Serenity: Rain turned the harbor into a moody J.M.W. Turner painting ✅ Community Vibe: Barista at Northside Coffee remembered our order after one visit 📸 Sneaky Photo Op: City Hall’s sandstone arches glow amber in wet weather ☀️ Next Time, Sunshine Plans 1. Queen’s Campus: Peek inside the Harry Potter library before 10AM crowds 2. Wolfe Island: Free ferry + Big Sandy Bay’s Caribbean-like shallows 3. Food Tour: Sicilian cannoli at Pasta Genova + smoked meat at The Toucan #KingstonFirstImpressions #RainyDayRescue #OntarioRoadTrip