Kingston

Its historic streets and Lake Ontario waterfront give a walk downtown plenty to look at, while Springer Market Square and the Grand Theatre add reasons to stay a little longer. Queen’s University helps give the city a continuing relationship with people at several stages of life. For a prospective retiree, the attraction is a smaller city with culture and water close to its centre. The practical decision is where you would live in relation to those places. A residence elsewhere in Kingston can be a good fit, but your daily routine should be researched from that front door rather than borrowed from a weekend downtown.

The waterfront can anchor a familiar circuit through downtown and Market Square, with the Grand Theatre adding a reason to go out later. Kingston’s old buildings give even a short walk something to look at. There is pleasure in gradually learning a smaller city this way: a favourite stop, a regular outing and a few streets you take because you enjoy them. The route becomes as useful as the destination.