subject: Niagara On The Lake [print this page] Niagara On The Lake Niagara On The Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake gave itself that name to let you know that you're not in Niagara Falls... not that you would confuse the two once you've seen them.
This cute little town with its Victorian architecture is only about twenty minutes from those world famous falls. If you don't want to stay in the hubbub of Niagara Falls, this is a great alternative.
It's a well-preserved 19th century village with spruced-up, charming inns and restaurants and oh-so-cute bed-and-breakfasts. Where Niagara Falls now has modern high rise hotels, Niagara-on-the-Lake has retained the romance with cozy accommodations.
If you're flying into Toronto, you can reach Niagara-on-the-Lake in about one and a half or two hours. (The closest airport is actually Buffalo, New York.)
What is there to see in town? Take a stroll down tree-lined Queen Street. It's the main street, lined with colorful storefronts with flower baskets hanging from all the light posts. You can start at the Clock Tower in the middle of the street and work your way toward Lake Ontario... that's the lake the town is on by the way.
Explore the side streets of town, and just enjoy the ambience. There might be a few too many candy stores and tourist shops, but check out the old Apothecary shop or English style pubs.
Near the lake you'll come to one of the oldest golf courses in North America... might be fun to play on if you're a golfer.
Walk to Fort George, a National Historic Site of Canada. This reconstructed fort was the main headquarters for the British Army during the War of 1812. You can tour the barracks and the officers' quarters. If you're into spooky things, see if you can take an evening ghost tour.
If you like theater, that enough might bring you to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Every year they have the Shaw Festival which runs from April to November. This festival showcases the works of Bernard Shaw, but also features works by others such as Oscar Wilde, and Agatha Christie. There is music too. There are about a dozen productions performed each season, in three different theaters. If you're interested, you should look up the Shawfest website and book ahead.
AND one more thing... it's right in the heart of Ontario's wine region. You can use this great little town as a base for exploring the Niagara Wine Trail. Yep, more wine in Canada. Nearby there is an impressive array of vineyards... something like 17 of them. They make some interesting varietals, but they are especially known for their Ice Wines. You can book a wine tour in town so you won't need to worry about tossing a coin about who will be the designated driver.
While there may not be any specific attraction that calls to you, the town itself as a whole should. If you just want a nice little respite from Toronto or Niagara Falls, this charming little town might just fit the bill.
