Niagara-on-the-Lake

If you thought Niagara was just about its wondrous falls, think again. Just 30 minutes north of Niagara Falls and 90 minutes south of Toronto lies the picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake. Its main street is a heritage district with charming, well-restored buildings from the 1800s, like the Niagara Apothecary and St. Andrew’s Church. Theatre lovers will want to check out the Shaw Festival’s lineup of shows at its three venues, spanning ten months of the year.   

But the best part of Niagara-on-the-Lake really is the hundred-plus wineries growing grapes like Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Riesling. Ice wines – when grapes are pressed after they’ve frozen on the vine – are the speciality here. Try renting a bike to pedal from winery to winery, touring facilities and sampling pours along the way. Or, if you need a break from grapes, head down to the Niagara Gorge, where you’ll find 15 kilometres of hiking trails to explore.  