Kitchener Travel Guide

  The Clock tower in Victoria Park
by busychick66
 
  • The Clock tower in Victoria Park
      The Clock tower in Victoria Park
    by busychick66
  • King Street
      King Street
    by twilightmuse
  • City Hall
      City Hall
    by twilightmuse
  •   Kitchener
    by twilightmuse
  • The elderly - 175 year old church
      The elderly - 175 year old church
    by mikey_e
 

Explore Kitchener

Things to Do  

Outdoor Ice Skating

Outdoor Ice Skating, Kitchener

 twilightmuse Says:  Each winter city hall creates an outdoor ice rink in their fountain. It's free and there are so many cafes nearby that this makes a wonderful way to spend an afternoon or evening. 

Local Architecture

Local Architecture, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  Kitchener may be economically depressed now, but at one time it was a thriving community with a large industrial base and plenty of trade with the surrounding agricultural areas. The result was a fairly large number of stately Victorian buildings that were constructed right... 

St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  Kitchener has a lot of churches. That may seem like an odd statement, but it is something that really struck me when I first moved here. The vast majority of them are Protestant churches of one form or another (Lutherns, Baptists, Presbyterians, United Church of Canada,... 

Memorial to the Fallen

Memorial to the Fallen, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  The Canadian Forces often draws the larger portion of its recruits from places like Kitchener rather than places like Toronto or Montreal, and so commemoration of the sacrifices of soldiers is a bit deal in Kitchener. The memorial for those residents who died during the... 

Waterloo Gaol

Waterloo Gaol, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  The Waterloo Gaol is still a functioning judicial centre. Of course, this is a heavily residential area, and provincial and federal law, I’m pretty sure, require that penitentiary institutions be located a bit farther from homes and schools than this building is. So, the... 

Kitchener Main Library

Kitchener Main Library, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  The Kitchener Main Library is a typical 1970s structure that does not leave much of a pleasant taste on one’s architectural palate. It is, however, the largest library in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and puts on a number of educational and cultural events throughout the... 

Firefighters' Memorial Park

Firefighters' Memorial Park, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  The Kitchener Firefighters’ Memorial Park contains an interesting memorial to those who have died in the line of duty, protecting the residents of Kitchener from fire. The central memorial is in the shape of a large eagle, which has inscriptions commemorating all those who... 

Walper Terrace Hotel

Walper Terrace Hotel, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  The Walper Terrace Hotel is a Kitchener landmark. When I stayed in Kitchener on a trip in high school, we stayed in the Delta Chelsea, so I have to admit that I don’t actually know what the interior of the hotel is like. It is one of the historic buildings in the centre, and... 

The Church of the Good Shepherd

The Church of the Good Shepherd, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  The Church of the Good Shepherd is quite remarkable. An Anglican Church, it was established 175 years ago and is a beautiful example of traditional Canadian architecture in the midst of many houses that have also preserved their Canadiana character (which, to be honest, was... 

Centre in the Square

Centre in the Square, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  The Centre in the Square is Kitchener’s premier performing arts centre – largely because the historic theatres of King Street have died out. It is a rather ugly 1970’s style construction that sticks out in all of its massive proportions, which are contrasted by the older,... 

The Farmers' Market

The Farmers' Market, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  The Kitchener Farmers’ Market is probably the biggest draw for tourists who come to the city, in part because of it’s long history and, in part, because it is pretty much the only thing to do in Kitchener proper. The market used to be located in the Market Square shopping... 

Hotels  

Comfort Inn Guelph

 32 Opinions

Restaurants  

The Cake Box: Satisfy that sweet tooth.

The Cake Box: Satisfy that sweet tooth., Kitchener

 twilightmuse Says:  No place would be complete without a cupcake shop! This one is yummy and so cute and chic inside. Peanut butter cupcakes. Need I say more? 

The Rum Runner Pub: Amazing food and history

The Rum Runner Pub: Amazing food and history, Kitchener

 twilightmuse Says:  Don't be fooled by the word Pub as there is nothing pub like in the menu. The food here is gourmet pub food if such a thing exists. The chef here also run the kitchen for the hotel above it which caters to lots of weddings and events. They age their own cheese and smoke... 

Pyrus cafe: Vegan galore

Pyrus cafe: Vegan galore, Kitchener

 twilightmuse Says:  This cafe eatery reminds me of someplace you expect to find in Seattle or Oregon. It is a large cafe that serves all locally sourced ingredients that are fair trade and organic. Everything is vegan. The place is decorated with mis-matched 1970's cast off furniture including... 

Kim King Restaurant: Classic Chinese Food

Kim King Restaurant: Classic Chinese Food, Kitchener

 HappyWanderer7 Says:  Classic Chinese-Canadian cuisine at great prices. Not one of those big franchise restaurants, just a small mom-and-pop operation. Atmosphere is cozy and quiet, prices are extremely cheap at $5 - $10 CDN per person. I visit this place everytime I'm in Kitchener. Cantonese... 

Shopping  

Encore Records: Indi music shop!
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twilightmuse 68 reviews

An actual independantly owned music store straight out of back in the day. This place well rocks! It sells new and used music, dvd's, t-shirts, music books and bio's, local concert tickets and posters. You could literally spend hours here perusing the selection that is all neatly chaotic in this hole in the wall gem.

Written Jun 22, 2011

Address: 54 Queen Str. South.

Related to:
 Music

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Off The Beaten Path  

Puslinch Lake

Puslinch Lake, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  Puslinch Lake is a park not far from the Kitchener-Waterloo region that provides excellent opportunities for those who enjoy outdoor activities of all kinds. The park can be reached by taking the 401 east from Kitchener to exit 284 (Puslinch Line), turning right and then... 

Pioneer Park

Pioneer Park, Kitchener

 mikey_e Says:  Pioneer Park is actually in Cambridge, right off of Hespeler Road. It forms the eastern part of Homer Watson Park, and clings to the eastern shores of the Grand River. Pioneer Park is not nearly as spectacular as Homer Watson Park, largely because it lacks the views of the... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Homer Watson Park
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mikey_e 1956 reviews
View of the Grand River
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Homer Watson Park, which is located along the western edge of the Grand River in Kitchener, is a beautiful hiking area with great views of the river below. There is a main, paved trail that goes directly through the park and that does not in fact have views of the river. The other paths, which are essentially carved out by hikers, provide nice views and the opportunity to enjoy the flora and fauna of the area. There are plenty of frogs, squirrels and birds for all to enjoy. Hikers should be aware that the area can be dangerous after heavy rain falls, as some of the paths are actually gulleys that become slick with silt after storms. I've skidded down one once, luckily with only dirty clothes to show for it.

Equipment: Good shoes, an umbrella and bug spray for the summer.

Written Aug 28, 2009

Address: 35 Green Park Drive

Related to:
 Cycling
 Hiking and Walking

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Favorites  

Kitchener, Ontario..known to the locals as KW
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busychick66 3 reviews
The Clock tower in Victoria Park

Favorite thing: KW stands for Kitchener-Waterloo, as the cities are really intertwined.. You will be in Kitchener if you are Downtown, and Waterloo if you are Uptown. Both of these areas have had recent face lifts, to make them very appealling for window shopping.
KW is an hour from Toronto and an hour from London. About 30 mins from Stratford and 15 mins from St Jacobs. This means you have lots of options.

There is a very international flavour due to the College [Conestoga] and Universities [Wilfred Laurier and U of Waterloo], but come October, everyone is German. Kitchener was called Berlin, but the name was changed in 1916. I won't even get into the politics of that.

KW boasts the second largest Octoberfest in the world, and it gets bigger every year. There is something for everyone, including Rocktober and Dogtober.

One of my favourite things about KW is the fact that we are so close to so many things. You can be a tourist in your own city. I still wave to the mennonite children in the buggies, and marvel at the horse stalls at Walmart.

Written Nov 21, 2011

Related to:
 Budget Travel

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Map of Kitchener