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A Niagara-on-the-Lake vacation guide

Inniskillin Winery

A Niagara-on-the-Lake vacation guide

Close to Toronto and Niagara FallsExternal Link Title, pretty Niagara-on-the-LakeExternal Link Title warrants a trip all its own. This is Ontario's wine central, a fertile region of award-winning whites, reds, and world leader in icewine production.

 

Niagara-on-the-Lake is easygoing, charming, and inviting. Expect to spend relaxing hours on the veranda of your bed and breakfast after days filled with touring and tasting. Here's a quick guide to help you make the most of your time.

Do

Slow wine touring

Explore the area's 35 wineries the leisurely way: by bicycle. Grape Escapes Wine ToursExternal Link Title takes you all over the Niagara Peninsula and through the gastro-paradise of Prince Edward County. Pedal between wineries or ride in a passenger van if your legs need a break. Favourites include the cycle-and-lunchExternal Link Title and half-day tasting paired with artisan cheesesExternal Link Title. Cheers!

Boat to the iconic falls

It would be just plain wrong not to visit the fabled Niagara Falls 25 minutes away. Take a Hornblower boat tourExternal Link Title -- catamaran or smaller jet-boat -- right into the spraying mist and roaring rush of the falls' base 51 metres below.

Cycle sightseeing

Green, rural, and relatively flat with gentle, rolling hills, the Niagara-on-the-Lake area is ideal for two wheelers. Check out popular biking routes, plan your cycle tour, and find stops alnog the way at the Niagara Cycling Tourism CentreExternal Link Title. The most popular places to hit the road are sections of the 140-kilometre, paved Greater Niagara Circle RouteExternal Link Title, and the 53-kilometre Niagara River Recreation TrailExternal Link Title. This riverside ride has it all: views, restaurants, historic sites, attractions, and of course, wine tasting stops.

See

The historical town

A highlight is the lovely 19th century villageExternal Link Title. Well-preserved brick heritage buildings and turreted Victorians with ornate facades complement the leafy streets, well-manicured gardens, and overflowing flower baskets. The first capital city of Upper Canada (known today as Ontario), the town's history dates back to 1781 and Niagara-on-the-Lake also played a leading role in the War of 1812External Link Title. Stroll the graceful avenues, take a horse-drawn carriage rideExternal Link Title, or set out on an Old Town walking tourExternal Link Title.

Theatre: The Shaw Festival

Internationally renowned, the Shaw FestivalExternal Link Title puts on theatre performances by playwright George Bernard Shaw and others from the late 1800s in three venues from April to November each year. The world's leading directors -- both resident and visiting -- stage the acclaimed productions. Artistic director Tim CarrollExternal Link Title, a Brit who took the helm in 2016, has injected new excitement -- and more Canadian plays and contemporary North American theatre -- into the long-running festival. Plays vary by season, but the line-up usually includes one masterpiece, such as Shaw's revered Saint Joan, one adaptation of a famous work, like Bram Stoker's Dracula, and one musical.

Eat and drink

Niagara Icewine Festival

Trip Advisor ranks Niagara-on-the-Lake Canada's #11 food and wine destinationExternal Link Title. Time to indulge! Visit during January's annual Icewine FestivalExternal Link Title -- in winter, when the frozen grapes are harvested -- to eat and drink to your heart's content during the 17-day extravaganza of grand tastings, chef's longtable and winemakers' dinners, VIP parties, and classes. How often do you get to toast the season at an ice bar?

British-style afternoon tea

Lavish afternoon teaExternal Link Title in the ornate Prince of Wales HotelExternal Link Title drawing room with all the trappings is a requisite ritual in town. Picture decadent Devonshire cream, warm scones, candelabras, fine china, and silver. Don't miss the Icewine jelly and Himalayan Vintage Black tea.

Hit the town

It may be a village, but this one boasts cosmopolitan top-notch dining. Try Ravine Vineyard RestaurantExternal Link Title set in an historic farmhouse. The seasonal farm-to-table menu spotlights Niagara producers, and you won't want to miss the outstanding house charcuterie. Splurge at manor house Charles HotelExternal Link Title with a meal-to-remember under the sparkling chandeliers to the tune of live big-band entertainment. Foodies praise the high-caliber kitchen, noting the fresh diver scallops and succulent short ribs. Or, tuck into anything, really, at celebrated locals' hot spot BackhouseExternal Link Title, a celebration of everything homegrown and sustainable.

Stay

Prince of Wales Hotel

It's hard to imagine anything with more vintage appeal than this stately 1864 hotelExternal Link Title: swanky, elegant, and meticulously appointed with handsome period antiques. Enjoy feeling like nobility for a while.

Lakelands Bed and Breakfast

Theatre, shopping, galleries, biking, walking, and wine country are minutes away from this cheery, garden B&BExternal Link Title. In modern designer style, this intimate place is tranquil and centrally located. Guests rave about the bright and spacious rooms and sunny breakfast area.

Riverbend Inn & Vineyard

If you're imagining reclining in a gazebo with a view of vineyards, this 17-acre Georgian manor estateExternal Link Title is for you. Stroll the gardens and vines, sip a glass of local red on your balcony, or just sit and watch the sunset.

 

Niagara-on-the-Lake makes a well-rounded holiday getaway, in any season. Just be sure to leave room in your suitcase for all the wine.