“Nestled in the corner of the Niagara Region just beyond Niagara Falls, the picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake epitomizes old town charm.”–niagarafallstourism.com
Hidden Gem 💎
Niagara Falls is a popular travel destination with good reason. John, my husband, and I visited the falls last year for the first time. However, not far from the falls, and to the north, is an often overlooked gem-of-a-destination: Niagara-on-the-Lake. John and I traveled to the idyllic NOTL after spending a week in Charlton Lake Camp in the northern part of Ontario.
We had the good fortune of booking a couple of nights at Green Oaks Bed and Breakfast, conveniently located to all things Niagara. Surrounded by vineyards, farms, orchards, and scenic views, our B & B was located in St. David’s, not far from Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL). As we arrived, we took note of the B & B’s picturesque setting: draping willow trees, flower-lined walks, the expansive front porch with a patio off to one side, a large vegetable garden in the back, and chickens–as well as a few rogue squirrels–roaming a side yard.
Trish, our host at Green Oaks B & B, was warm, welcoming, and quite engaging in her beautifully appointed home, circa 1908-1910. Her B & B sits on a winery, Ravine Vineyard Estates, and it is located 15 minutes from Niagara Falls and 10 minutes from NOTL. Numerous wineries, restaurants, and biking/walking paths are all around it, so upon our arrival, Trish set us up with a map of the area and offered tips and advice for our stay. I should further add that her “country breakfast” proved to be wonderfully delicious, and she even accommodated my dietary restrictions.
Charming and Historic 🌆
“Old Town” NOTL, we discovered, maintains its historic, 19th-century charm. It is often described, with good reason, as the “prettiest town in Ontario.” It is located in the heart of Ontario’s wine country. In fact, there are nearly 100 wineries in the NOTL and Niagara Escarpment. While the area boasts around 40 different grape varieties, the area is well-known for its Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. However, it is best-noted for its Icewine and traditional method sparkling wines.
In fact, the availability of wine, fresh produce, and stunning floral gardens are a large part of the area’s appeal. Wine tastings and tours are easy to schedule and quite popular. Roadside stands and markets dot the countryside, brimming with fresh fruit, vegetables, honey, and cheeses. Some orchards and farms even advertise, “Pick your own _______,” depending upon the season, and all throughout the thoroughfares are flowers galore.
According to several sources, 90% of Ontario’s tender fruit is produced in what is known as the Niagara peninsula. And most of that fruit is grown in orchards in and around NOTL, which John and I witnessed first hand. We drove by miles and miles of orchards and vineyards. Specifically, we noticed the area focused on its local peaches with numerous peach-centered dishes as well as peach wine varieties in many shops and restaurants during the time we visited.
Flowers, vineyards, and orchards . . .oh my!
Places to go 🚗
While in NOTL, John and I visited a few sites, including spending a good deal of our time strolling through the historic area of NOTL on both days of our stay. We also visited a small, local winery, Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory, and Centennial Lilac Garden. Additionally, we had dinner at local favorites, The Grist and The Irish Harp.
The Old Town of NOTL is picturesque. The streets are lush with flower gardens and lined with quaint shops. Horse drawn carriages clip-clop through the streets, and numerous bistros and restaurants can be found interspersed between shops. Historic buildings can be seen throughout the town, while throngs of tourists mingle about the sidewalks. Honestly, simply walking along the streets and side streets was a fascinating experience for John and I as we listened to multiple languages being spoken all around us.
Wine Country 🍷
The local winery we visited was Marynissen Estates. This winery was not far from our B & B. This estate focuses on “small-lot winemaking.” A former pig-farm, the Marynissen Estates’ land was purchased in 1953 by founders, John and Adrianna Marynissen, and it has the oldest commercial planting of Cabernet Sauvignon in Canada. This vineyard offered tastings or a by-the-glass experience. John and I opted for a tasting flight while learning about the estate’s winemaking process and history.
butterflies and flowers
Afterwards, we drove through the verdant countryside, on the Niagara River Parkway towards the Butterfly Conservatory. This was an amazing experience as it boasts the largest glass-enclosed butterfly conservatory in North America, and it was filled with a plethora of prolific tropical vegetation. Within those glass walls were over 2,000 colorful butterflies zipping about the plants, waterfalls, and visitors. Outside the conservatory, the grounds offered winding paths with benches surrounded by a proliferation of flowers, grasses, shrubs, and other forms vegetation all labeled and identified for visitors
On the way back from the butterfly conservatory, we stopped by the Centennial Lilac Garden. This ten acre area of land was overflowing with lilacs in a range of colors as well as a heady variety of fragrances.
While visiting the lilac garden, we were also able to check out the Floral Clock, a clock made of flowers that keeps time and chimes every quarter hour! According to the official website, the floral design is changed twice per year with 15,000 to 20,000 carpet plants and annuals. It was quite the impressive attraction!
Good Eats 🍔 🥗
Both nights were filled with delicious dinners. The Grist advertised itself as a “craft kitchen and brewery” with a family-centered atmosphere located in a refurbished barn that was once used as a packing shed. It was located in St. David’s, about 10 or so minutes outside of NOTL, in the midst of farm/vineyard/orchard country, not far from our B & B. Their pizzas, burgers, and other eclectic original dishes were clearly favorite fare with local residents as the place was packed.
Meanwhile, for the second night’s dinner we headed into historic NOTL and dined in The Irish Harp, which had live music. Though the food offerings were completely different from the previous night, our meals were every bit as tasty. As with the other restaurant, the pub was absolutely packed on the night we visited.
If you are looking for a unique adventure, and you don’t mind traveling, NOTL offers something for everyone–from the shopper, to the outdoors enthusiasts, and from the site-seer to the foodie. While we happened to visit the area when it was alive with peak produce, flora, and fauna, I have every reason to believe that all seasons in NOTL offer unique and exceptional experiences for travelers. This is definitely one area I highly recommend visiting if you have never before visited. I know I hope to return one day!
Steph Simply 