Romance, Niagara-Style
by Dr Howe Sim,
Smart Travel Report
As host to over 20
million visitors a year, the Niagara region of Ontario is most renowned for
Niagara Falls, the seventh natural wonder of the world. Niagara Falls actually
consists of three waterfalls, with the Horseshoe Falls sitting within Canadian
limits. The town of Niagara Falls, Ontario, has successfully built up a
burgeoning tourist area surrounding the Falls, to enhance its appeal as a
vacation destination and as self-proclaimed “honeymoon capital of the world”.
However, many feel that the town has become somewhat of a garish tourist trap,
and that the nearby village of Niagara-on-the-Lake (‘NOTL’) is more deserving
of this title. Indeed, for those intent
on injecting a little romance into their lives, NOTL seems to offer ample
opportunities as well as the perfect idyllic setting.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is considered one of
the prettiest villages in Canada
Located approximately 16
kilometres from Niagara Falls, NOTL was named the Prettiest Town in Canada in
1996, and is still held in high regard to this day. Beautiful clapboard and brick period houses flank the tree-lined
streets, and the town’s main street is typically adorned in whatever flowers
happen to be in season. Those with a
rental car should take a drive through its neighborhoods, many of which feature
stunning properties for sale.
NOTL boasts many elegant and pricey homes for sale
Couples who have come for a
romantic weekend have a wide variety of accommodation choices, most of which
are listed on the NOTL Chamber of Commerce website
(www.niagaraonthelake.com). There is
something to suit every taste, whether you prefer small charming inns, intimate
B&B’s, or convention-size hotels.
Wherever you decide to stay, bear in mind that rooms may be hard to come
by at the peak of the busy summer season, so an advanced reservation is a good
idea. My wife and I enjoy the four diamond-rated Vintage Inn (www.vintageinn.com)
properties: the Georgian-style Queen’s Landing Inn, the elegant landmark Prince
of Wales Hotel, and the classic country styled Pillar & Post Inn.
Queen’s Landing Inn is an ideal waterfront setting for a romantic
getaway
In addition to all the usual 21st
century creature comforts (such as high speed internet access), these hotels
offer a variety of restaurants, ranging from the informal Cannery &
Carriages dining room at the Pillar & Post to the elegant Escabèche (Prince
of Wales) and Tiara (Queen’s Landing) restaurants. After dinner, before the sun
has set, cap off your romantic evening with a horse-drawn carriage ride through
town (arranged by your hotel’s concierge). If you or your partner enjoys being
pampered, consider a reservation at one of the two hotel spas: the 100 Fountain
Spa at the Pillar & Post and the Prince of Wales’ Secret Garden Spa.
The Prince of Wales is arguably NOTL’s most luxurious hotel
After you’ve checked into your
hotel or B&B, leave your vehicle behind and take a leisurely stroll down
picturesque Queen Street. While it does
have its share of touristy stores, it also offers more unique shops such as
Greaves Jam (tel: 905-468-7331; www.greavesjams.com) which has been making
old-fashioned condiments since 1927, Irish Design (tel: 905-468-7233;
www.irishdesign.com) which sells all things Irish, Maple Leaf Fudge (tel:
905-468-2211; www.mapleleaffudge.com) which offers over 20 varieties of the
sweet stuff, The Owl and the Pussycat (tel: 905-468-3081) with its charming
toys, and From Japan Inc (tel: 905-468-3151; www.fromjapaninc.com) which sells
fine Japanese handicrafts.
NOTL’s Queen Street boasts a wide array of interesting shops and cafés
One of the reasons NOTL overflows
with visitors in the summertime is that it plays host to the famous Shaw
Festival (tel: 800-511-7429; www.shawfest.com). From April to October, it puts
on a dozen or so plays by George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. These take
place in the Royal George Theatre, the Shaw Festival Theatre, and the historic
Court House. Seats are not easy to come by last minute, so try to book well in
advance.
Wine lovers also flock to the
Niagara region in the summer months, often using NOTL as their launching point.
Best known for its ice wine, NOTL itself is home to some 25 wineries, many with
restaurants pairing cuisine featuring local produce with an extensive selection
of Ontario wines. Most wineries offer free tours, with tastings ranging in
price from C$3-10 per person. Your B&B or hotel can provide you with a map
outlining the locations of the wineries, though some visitors prefer an
organized tour by van, bus or bicycle.
For more information on local vintners, contact the Wine Council of
Ontario (tel: 905-684-8070; www.winesofontario.org).
Peller Estates is one of many fine wineries in NOTL offering tastings
and free tours
Adventure seekers interested in a
more adrenaline-filled experience while in NOTL can take a 1,500-horsepower jet
boat ride with the Whirlpool Jet Boat Company (tel: 888-438-4444;
www.whirlpooljet.com). After a quick
ride up river into the Niagara Gorge, you will end up in the turbulent (Class
6) whirlpool rapids, a 1.5 kilometres north of the Falls. Bring a change of
clothes, as you will get drenched, even with the supplied rain suit or
poncho.
For an equally exhilarating (but
drier) close-up look at the Falls, splurge on a breathtaking and romantic
private helicopter sightseeing tour. There are several aerial tour companies
based on both the American and Canadian sides of the Falls, such as the locally
owned and operated Niagara Helicopters (tel: 905-357-5672;
www.niagarahelicopters.com) and the Toronto-based National Helicopters (tel:
800-491-3117; www.nationalhelicopters.com). Visitors interested in a view from
high above the Niagara River, who don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a
helicopter tour, should consider the Whirlpool Aero Car. In operation since
1916, this antique aerial cable car is suspended from six cables between two
different points of the Canadian shore of the Niagara River, and provides an
mesmerizing view of the Whirlpool Rapids during a 10 minute round trip. It’s
open from early March till late November; details are available at www.niagaraparks.com.
For a unique view of the Niagara River’s Whirlpool Rapids, take a ride
on the Whirlpool Aero Car
Nothing says romance like flowers,
and the Niagara Parks system delights visitors from around the world with
spectacular gardens, stunning floral displays, and beautifully cultivated
parkland. A leisurely drive along the curvy Niagara River Parkway (which
connects NOTL with the city of Niagara Falls) will give you a taste for the
diversity of wildflowers, shrubs, and trees that line what is referred to as
the Niagara Garden Trail. Be sure to make stops at Queenston’s
much-photographed Floral Clock, the Centennial Lilac Garden (in bloom from
mid-May to mid-June), and the 40-hectare Niagara Parks’ Botanical Garden with
its world-renowned Rose Garden, Arboretum, and Butterfly Conservatory.
The Niagara Parks’ Botanical Gardens is best known for its colorful Rose
Garden
Of course no trip to the Niagara
region would be complete without at least a day spent in Niagara Falls. Stop by
at any of the Welcome Centres for tips on what to see and when. Popular
activities here include the Journey Behind the Falls, the Maid of the Mist boat
tour (in operation since 1846), a stroll through the tacky Clifton Hill Tourist Area, and a visit to
the Niagara Falls Bird Kingdom, the world’s largest indoor free-flying aviary
(tel: 905-356-8888; www.birdkingdom.ca). If you’re there after sunset, don’t
miss the nightly multicolored illumination of the Falls. Fireworks displays over the Falls are also
held a few times a week at 10:00PM, in the summer months. For more information
about this and other popular tourist attractions in Niagara Falls, visit
www.infoniagara.com.
A day trip to Niagara Falls is an essential part of any visit to the
Niagara Region