Fort Frederick occupies Point Frederick, a peninsula across the harbour from the old city, and the first thing to understand is that it is now part of a military college. The Royal Military College of Canada was founded here in 1876, and cadets in scarlet or green still march across the parade square and jog around the campus. The point has been a naval and military site for more than two centuries, which gives it an unusual density of history.
During the War of 1812, the British built a dockyard here, and an arms race on Lake Ontario began. In 1814 the Royal Navy launched HMS St Lawrence, a huge warship with 112 guns, one of the largest wooden ships ever built on the Great Lakes, but peace came before it saw action and it was sold for scrap. The stone tower on the point, a Martello type built in the 1840s to guard the harbour, is open to visitors in summer, with a small museum, and offers wide views of the water. Next door, the Stone Frigate, a former naval storehouse, houses cadets, and the Cadet Museum tells the story of the college.
The setting is attractive. The nearby Kingston Penitentiary, the old stone prison that closed in 2013, and the limestone buildings of Queen's University add to the sense of a city that has always been tied to institutions. The college grounds are partly open to the public, so check access rules in advance.
For motorcyclists, the road to the point crosses the La Salle Causeway, a bridge between downtown and the campus, and can be busy at peak hours. The routes around Kingston are mostly flat, with good surfaces and moderate traffic. King Street West leads out along the water, past parks and small beaches.
Fuel, supermarkets and shops are close, and the downtown market square, which has a farmers' market on certain days, is a pleasant place to have lunch.
Park near the harbour and walk the waterfront trail in the late afternoon. The light on the limestone is warm, and the whole city seems to slow down.