As beautiful as Kingston is, it can be easy to get a little stir crazy in such a small town. If you’re ever feeling restless or adventurous, taking a weekend road trip with your housemates can be the perfect cure. Create some unforgettable memories while discovering the great wealth of restaurants, museums, shops and events the cities in this sample of possible destinations have to offer.

Watertown, New York

This city in the Thousand Islands region is the ideal place for a fun day of shopping. Salmon Run Mall is your all-in-one stop for shopping, dining and entertainment. It includes a wide range of stores like Bath and Body Works, DSW, Hollister, Victoria Secret and others as well as a variety of dining options and a cinema.

If you’re not interested in the crowded mall-scene, various farmer’s markets in the city offer  samples of local produce and specialities such as cheeses, jellies and honey.

Drop by the Burrville Cider Mill for some delicious apple cider and fresh fried cider donuts.

After your shopping adventures, you and your housemates can rent bikes and enjoy the scenery of the islands and warp up the day by watching a movie at the drive-in theater.

Watertown is only 45 minutes away and can make for a great day trip or an entire weekend adventure.

Muskoka, Ontario

The Muskoka Municipality holds an abundance of beautiful natural parks to enjoy and explore.

Although it’s a little farther away, it’s the perfect place to relieve the stresses of school by enjoying the great Canadian outdoors any time of the year. Muskoka is home to the Muskoka Lakes, Georgian Bay and Lake of Bays which is adjacent to the world-famous Algonquin Park. Algonquin is fantastic for hiking and camping trips.

Outdoor enthusiasts can spend a weekend here hiking, canoeing, camping or fishing. Muskoka also consists of Bracebridge and Hunstville which are full of unique local shops and friendly family owned restaurants.

Muskoka is the ideal place for spending a chill weekend in your favourite sweater with your friends at the cottage.

Muskoka is a 4 hour drive, giving you and your housemates a perfect amount of time to bond and clear your heads.

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo is packed with pockets of art, food and entertainment.

Elmwood Village is a prime example, where you can find cozy cafes, beautiful bouquets, creative fashion, iconic beer and wings and lively flea markets.

This urban hotspot also holds the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, a phenomenal center of modern and contemporary art with free admissions every first Friday of the month. Buffalo is home to many other exceptional museums including the Burchfield Penny Art Center, the Buffalo History Museum and the Buffalo Museum of Science. You can also check out the Buffalo Botanical Gardens to enjoy their beautiful exhibitions and fun workshops.

Lastly, Allentown, packed with live music bars, neighborhood galleries, restaurants and shops, is the perfect place for an exciting weekend night.

Buffalo is only a four hour drive south but will make you feel like you’re in a completely new place.

Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountain and one of the oldest vacation spots in the United States.

It’s the place for great hiking, world-class alpine skiing and Olympic heritage.

The Winter Olympic Museum, one of the town’s main attractions, celebrates the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic games. Check out cool Olympic venues like the Ski Jump Complex, the Bobsled and Luge Complex to feel the Olympic spirit. You’re also likely to see current Olympic athletes training at these venues on your visit.

Lake Placid offers plenty of outdoor activities including white-water rafting, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing and hiking.

In the winter, you can go skiing, snowshoeing tobogganing, ice climbing and fat-tire biking with your friends. Alternatively, you can wind down by enjoying some live music, local art openings, theatre productions or festivals. Lake Placid’s beautiful scenery and tranquil environment makes it a wonderful place to relax and reconnect with your housemates.

Lake Placid is a three-and-a-half-hour drive away but transports you to a completely different place for your weekend getaway.

Whether it’s the stresses of school, relationship troubles or simply a case of restlessness, taking a trip with your housemates can be the perfect way to refresh.