Niagara-on-the-Lake Vacation Rentals

Niagara-on-the-Lake is an affluent town in southern Ontario, Canada. The city is gorgeously lined with trees, lush parks, and carefully-restored houses. While on a vacation in the Niagara region, visitors might want to take advantage of the lakefront cottages or stay a cozy bed and breakfast that the area is known for. When you rent cottages, condos, or apartments in the city, you have more room and privacy plus extra money in your pocket to spend on excursions or restaurants.

Fine dining coupled with the best wines from Canada

There’s a plethora of wineries and restaurants on Niagara-on-the-Lake, you’ll be amazed at the choices of food. Restaurants are sophisticated owing partly to the affluence of the city and the innovative chefs who have created locally-inspired treats. The Peller Estates Winery Restaurant boasts of an incredible dining experience with expert wine pairings. Try their Atlantic salmon, roasted elk, and Muscovy duck. Zees Grill is another fine dining restaurant where you can sample mouth-watering lamb shank, seafood pappardelle, salmon croquettes and of course, Albertan beef tenderloin.

After a hole-in-one at North America’s oldest golf course, head to the waterfront patio of their 1875 restaurant for good food and pleasant views. Delicious crab cakes, seafood bouillabaisse soup, and fish and chips await those who love the produce of the sea. If you’re craving for Irish hot pot, steak or a Guinness, head to the Irish Harp Pub on King Street. Tasty sandwiches, pies, salads, and quiches are served at Epicurean while Escabeche offers exquisite dishes such as Canada East Coast oysters, woodland mushrooms, spiced bass, smoked duck breast, and many more.

Niagara-on-the-Lake Activities: Bike Rides, Cruises, and Gelato in Town

There are several things that you can do if you’re on a vacation with your kids. Rent a bike if you don’t have one with you and cycle with your children on the Niagara Parkway, a scenic road from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake. It’s a healthy way to exercise and there are attractions on the road such as Whirlpool Rapids and the Butterfly Conservatory. Alternatively, you can hike on the many trails of the Niagara Parkway.

Otherwise, there are several parks in town where you can relax and let the kids play. The Queen’s Royal Park is on the waterfront and has a small gazebo, picnic tables, and restrooms. Other parks include Simcoe Park, Ryerson Park, and Queenston Heights Park. A stroll in town is also not a bad idea especially if you get gelato and fudge as treats. Kids can join winery tours and taste grape juice or go on a boat cruise on the Niagara Falls.

Niagara on the Lake Wine Tours and Wartime History

Niagara-on-the-Lake is known for its wineries which produce the famous ice wine. The Ontario ice wine gained prominence after having won the coveted gold medal at the Vinexpo 1991 in Bordeaux, France. Made from frozen grapes left on the vines after the regular harvest, ice wines are carefully pressed and left to age in barrels for a year. From your vacation rentals at Niagara-on-the-Lake, drive through amazing vineyards such as the Puddicombe Estate Farms & Winery for fruit wines and the Kittling Ridge Winery or the Reif Estate Winery for ice wines.

In town, visit the Lincoln & Welland Regimental Museum for its displays of Canadian military regalia and the Niagara Historical Society Museum for its extensive collection of First Nations artifacts. At Fort George, join ghost tours, watch battle re-enactments, or explore the area which was the site of many clashes. If you still have the time, drive to Niagara Falls and admire the powerful waterfalls on the Canadian side.

Food and Theatre Festivals in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Two major events that are held annually at Niagara-on-the-Lake are the Fabulicious Food Festival and the Shaw Festival. The food festival happens in late February or early March and usually lasts for a week. During the festival, enjoy a 2-course lunch which consists of a main dish/dessert or entrée/main dish or a 3-course dinner consisting of an appetizer, entrée, and dessert at some of the finest restaurants in town. The main attraction of the Fabulicious Food Festival is that you can experience fine dining at amazing prices.

If you love the theatre, don’t miss the Shaw Festival that usually features shows from April-December. In 1962, lawyer and playwright Brian Doherty, together with a group of residents, produced 8 performances of George Bernard Shaw’s Don Juan in Hell and Candida in the Court House Auditorium. Today, the performances are part of Canada’s cultural tradition, and each year, there are 10 or more productions, that entertain and regale theatre lovers.

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