canada
niagara TRAV E L
timeless
niagara A FOUR SEASON ESCAPE
the falls TWO DAYS I TWO WAYS
a weekend in niagara
wine country
PLUS
hundreds OF WONDERS
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
Yes, we’re home to one of the world’s most stunning natural wonders, but Niagara also offers visitors a host of small treasures that inspire on a completely different level. Want to know the best part? You don’t have to choose between them. Combine casino excitement with an intimate cellar dinner at one of our award-winning wineries. Blend the flash of the Falls with the nostalgia of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Fuse indoor water park fun with outdoor attractions that highlight the natural beauty of Niagara. To help you plan your next visit, we’ve teamed up with some of the country’s leading travel writers and asked them to share their can’t miss spots in Niagara. Anna Olson is also chiming in with some of her Niagara favourites. So browse through the pages of our premiere issue and let this top-notch team of Niagara insiders surprise and inspire you with the options available for your next vacation.
Welcome to Niagara, a place of wonders...big and small.
visitniagaracanada.com www.visitniagaracanada.com
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
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inside 20
Features
Departments
Niagara Falls: Two Days, Two Ways
Notable Niagara
Non-stop glam or nothing but nature? By Betty Zyvatkauskas
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Timeless Niagara Niagara is irresistibly fresh in every season. By Barbara Ramsay Orr
Niagara Discoveries
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Inside Niagara with Anna Olson
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Niagara by the Numbers
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Five-Minute Niagara Guide
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Wonderstuck
Add up these numbers for a guaranteed good time.
Your next wine country getaway, planned in mere minutes.
Great Drives Freewheeling Niagara
Niagara Agenda
Great Trails Naturally Reserved
History and Culture Journey through History
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Must See
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Just a Taste
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Oh Canada!
By Mark Stevens
Niagara Food and Drink A Weekend in Niagara Wine Country Sip and savour along Niagara’s Wine Route. By Margaret Swaine
There’s much more to see than the Falls. Palate pleasing news about the food and wine scene. Niagara is red, white and proud.
In Every Issue
Step back in time during the War of 1812 Bicentennial.
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Find out what all the buzz is about.
We asked for your favourite Niagara wonders and boy, did you answer the call.
Niagara’s natural beauty revealed on a hike through the Niagara Glen. By Barbara Ramsay Orr
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Niagara Gets Noticed
Travel secrets from one of Canada’s favourite foodies.
Find out where to rediscover the lost art of the Sunday drive. By Betty Zyvatkauskas
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Niagara 365
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Niagara Places
No matter the season, there’s always something happening.
Find your way to our local tourism organizations.
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EXPERIENCE THE FUN
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
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niagara TRAVE L
contributors barbara ramsay orr Barbara Ramsay Orr is a freelance journalist and author of the Frommer’s Guide to the Niagara Region, third edition, Day Trips from Toronto and the Travel Guide iPhone app for Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Wine Country. Her work has appeared in many national and international publications, including Chatelaine, Canadian Living, The Globe and Mail and Reader’s Digest. While she has visited and written about exotic destinations, from Thailand to Norway, her heart belongs to Ontario. You can follow her adventures at www.upperendtravel.com. See her stories on pages 31 and 40.
Publication Director & Marketing Director Tina Truszyk Circulation: 500,000 Published by The Tourism Partnership of Niagara 5881 Dunn Street Niagara Falls, ON Canada L2G 2N9 Design & Production Loud+Clear For general information and advertising sales contact: 289-477-5344 info@niagarasrto.com Printed in Canada Niagara Travel © 2012. Niagara Travel is published once a year by The Tourism Partnership of Niagara with funding provided by the Government of Ontario. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permissions is prohibited. All information is current at press time. At the time of publishing, we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible, but details may change. The publisher cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy of all information and will not be responsible for errors, changes or omissions. We ask that you refer to visitniagaracanada.com for the most up-to-date information. Special thanks to Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership (OTMPC) and Niagara tourism partners for allowing us to use their photos throughout this publication.
a place of wonders...big and small.
www.visitniagaracanada.com Follow us online for Niagara travel info on the go.
mark stevens Award-winning writer Mark Stevens has been a history-lover since a childhood visit to Fort George and Queenston Heights, becoming a lifelong fan of General Isaac Brock. His passion for travel is matched by his passion for writing, penning stories on Canadian destinations for publications from the Washington Post to the Boston Globe. Mark has been recognized with three Canadian Tourism Commission Northern Lights Awards and as a finalist in the Ontario Tourism Awards. See his story on page 34.
margaret swaine Margaret Swaine is the weekly wine columnist for the National Post newspaper, a position she took after two decades as the wine and drink columnist for both Toronto Life and Chatelaine magazines. She pens a regular spa column for Best Health, writes the bimonthly Global Gourmet column for Travel Industry Today and is a wine and spirit critic for WineAlign.com. She also contributes travel and other articles to Ensemble Travel, Arrival, Zoomer, the National Post, NUVO, Hello! Canada and more. See her story on page 48.
@visit_niagara visitniagara The Tourism Partnership of Niagara (TPN) was established in 2010 as one of Ontario’s 13 Regional Tourism Organizations (RTOs). Representing all of the municipalities within the Regional Municipality of Niagara, the TPN is an independent, industry-led, not-for-profit organization responsible for working with tourism partners to enhance and grow Niagara’s tourism products and marketing activities. For more information on TPN go to www.niagarasrto.com Images courtesy of Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership (OTMPC) and Niagara Tourism Partners including, City of St. Catharines Tourism, Illuminaqua, Inn on the Twenty, Niagara Helicopters, Niagara Parks Commission, Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery, Strutt, Twenty Valley Tourism, Whirlpool Jet Boat, Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Wine Council of Ontario, Winter Festival of Lights.
betty zyvatkauskas For more than 25 years, Toronto-based writer Betty Zyvatkauskas has specialized in covering all things Ontario, first as a freelance travel columnist for The Globe and Mail, then as the author of two critically acclaimed Ontario guidebooks. Two-time winner of Ontario Tourism’s award for best travel journalism, Betty has a special fondness for Niagara. “As new immigrants in the 1960s, my parents couldn’t wait to see Niagara Falls. It was our first family outing in our new land and one that I have had the pleasure of revisiting many times with my own children. Happily, the thrill never fades.” See her stories on page 20 and 27.
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EXPERIENCE THE DIVINE
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
NIAGARAFALLSTOURISM.COM/DIVINE
NOTABLE NIAGARA
Niagara gets noticed
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Culture Crown
The anglers have spoken. When the World Fishing Network went on a hunt in 2011 to find Canada’s top fishing towns, Port Colborne took the number two spot in a competition that drew over 240 nominations for towns and cities across Canada. Port Colborne offers the challenge of some of the best bass and walleye fishing on the Great Lakes.
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Niagara has been named a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2012, a designation that recognizes Niagara’s ongoing commitment to the arts and culture. This year, Niagara will celebrate its distinctive regional cultural identity with a number of special projects, events and celebrations, many of which will commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.
NO FISH TALE
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The secret’s out. Niagara is a great choice for couples and families looking to get away.
SPA AWE
WORLD-CLASS COOL
The Daily Meal, a website that covers every aspect of the food and drink experience, recently included Stratus Wines in its list of the world’s top ten coolest wineries to visit, noting, “It’s an adjective that escapes definition, but each of the 10 wineries on our list has some element that fits the description of that je ne sais quoi of cool.”
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Niagara-on-the-Lake is a must for the spa set, according to the Spas of America annual ranking of Canada’s Top 50 Spas. The Pillar and Post’s 100 Fountain Spa was recognized as the best spa in Canada, and the Prince of Wales’ Secret Garden Spa as the fifth.
Travellers Choose Niagara
Ears tend to perk up when the world’s largest travel site releases its annual list of top rated destinations based on millions of unbiased reviews from travelers around the world. And according to TripAdvisor’s 2011 Travelers’ Choice Awards, Niagara’s got a lot of big fans. Niagara-on-the-Lake was rated as Canada’s #1 Food and Wine Destination and Niagara Falls was chosen as Canada’s #1 Best Family Vacation Destination.
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NIAGARA AGENDA
Must see
Those who visit Niagara to see the Falls are often amazed by just how much else there is to see. Here are a few suggestions for your next getaway. ▲
STARR GAZING
Rock legend and former Beatle Ringo Starr returns to Niagara Falls with his newest All-Starr Band to kick-off their summer tour with a pair of concerts on June 14 and 15. Fallsview Casino will be the only Canadian venue on the 24-stop tour. For tickets, visit www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com
▲ Highwire
AcTS
This summer all eyes will be skyward as Niagara Falls visitors take in the amazing feats of two world renowned sky walkers. Multiple world record holder Jay Cochrane will walk between the Skylon Tower and the Hilton, everyday at dusk from June to September (weather permitting).
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Nik Wallenda, a seventh-generation circus performer, scion of the famed Flying Wallendas, and world record holder, plans to walk across the Falls. During his 40 minute performance, he will walk approximately 1,800 feet while balancing on a two-inch-diameter steel cable. Summer is the time for this blockbuster high wire event, with date to be announced.
Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
Ship Shape
The Welland Canal ranks as one of the outstanding engineering feats of the twentieth century. Whether you’re three or 93, watching a huge ship travel through a lock is fascinating. The elevated viewing platform at Lock 3 in St. Catharines is the perfect spot for a close-up look at ships as they travel through the canal from April to December.
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NIAGARA AGENDA
Strutt your stuff
Photo illustration of Ragtime by Emily Cooper/emilycooperphotography.ca
Canada’s largest, most exciting Wearable Arts Show, STRUTT, blazes through St. Catharines every November. From a skirt made entirely of cigarettes to a dress made from barbie dolls, these runway fashions are like nothing else you’ve ever seen. This long-running show organized by the Niagara Artists Company gets the whole town talking! For tickets visit www.nac.org/strutt
MUSIC AND WINE AL FRESCO
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Whether you’re a lover of music, wine, food or all three, the Jackson-Triggs Summer Concert series has earned a reputation as a must-do event. Previous headliners that have wowed the crowds at this open-air vineyard amphitheatre include Chantal Kreviazuk, Colin James, Jann Arden, Jim Cuddy, Gord Downie and The Canadian Tenors. This year’s lineup will feature 13 amazing concerts to be announced this spring. For tickets visit www.jacksontriggswinery.com Just down the road, music fans shouldn’t miss Hillebrand’s Jazz and Blues at the Winery. The series has been bringing premier Canadian talent to Niagara wine country for over 20 years and pairing it with fine wines and great local cuisine. Hillebrand Jazz at the Winery is scheduled for July 14th and Hillebrand Blues at the Winery for August 11th. For tickets visit www.hillebrand.com
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The Draw of The Shaw
Fresh on the heels of celebrating its 50th Season, the Shaw Festival is brilliantly poised to usher in the next 50 years of presenting world-class theatre in the heart of Niagara wine country. One of Canada’s most brilliant cultural icons and one of the world’s finest theatre companies, The Shaw is like no other theatre in North America. The 2012 Season features 11 plays on four stages including the Tony Award-winning musical extravaganza Ragtime featuring Broadway stars Kate Hennig (Billy Elliott) and Thom Allison (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert). For tickets visit www.shawfest.com
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery
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NIAGARA AGENDA
Just a taste Wondering what to bring on your next Niagara escape? With over 80 awardwinning wineries and some of the country’s leading chefs, we have one suggestion: your appetite.
meet me on the patio
Looking for an outdoor meal with a view? Niagara has plenty of options.
summer camp... for adults Make your way to Stoney Ridge Estate Winery on June 30th or September 29th and relax around their outdoor firepits with a glass of their unique port-style wine paired with a hand-rolled cigar and great live music.
clubhouse AT the niagara-on-the-lake golf club THE VIEW Sailboats entering the mouth
of the mighty Niagara River. THE MEAL Everyone is welcome at the
recently renovated Clubhouse at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club where full breakfasts, complete lunches and delicious dinners are served at reasonable prices. Ravine Vineyard
edgewaters tap & grill THE VIEW A panoramic view of both the American and Horseshoe Falls. THE MEAL Edgewaters Tap & Grill offers reasonably priced roadhouse fare in a casual, relaxed atmosphere.
lakehouse restaurant THE VIEW An unparalleled view of Lake
Ontario sunsets. THE MEAL The Lakehouse Restaurant in Vineland features fabulous Mediterranean cuisine. Locals rave about the Semolina Crusted Calamari.
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
ravine vineyard estate winery bistro THE VIEW Rolling rows of vineyard vines. THE MEAL Escape to the back porch of
the Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery Bistro in St. Davids and enjoy a fresh, local, organic meal with a view that will make you feel like you’ve travelled to the Old World.
the smokin’ buddha THE VIEW Huge ships making their way through the Welland Canal. THE MEAL The Smokin’ Buddha, located in Port Colborne’s old train station, features a funky vibe, feel-good foods from all over the world and great live entertainment.
watch and learn Why not enjoy local cuisine while learning from some of Niagara’s best chefs? Brush up on your culinary skills at The Good Earth in Beamsville, where intimate cooking demo classes are held regularly with both in-house and guest chefs. The Wine Country Cooking School at Strewn winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake offers hands-on cooking classes, weekends January through November, designed to illustrate the relationship between food and wine. Passionate epicureans shouldn’t miss the culinary journey at Mark Picone Culinary Studio in Vineland. A regional culinary pioneer, Picone offers private dining in an idyllic rural location where diners become guests in his own kitchen.
NIAGARA AGENDA
bricks and brix Many local wineries are notable for their architecture as well as their wines. In Twenty Valley, Fielding Estate Winery’s Wine Lodge pays tribute to Northern Ontario’s cottage country in a thoroughly contemporary way, while a Quonset Hut built with recycled materials houses the gravity flow winery at Malivoire. In Niagara-on-the-Lake, enjoy a leisurely lunch on the patio of Southbrook Vineyards’ Hospitality Pavilion, which was awarded the 2009 International Architecture Award. Down the road, Stratus was the first building in Canada to receive LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the Canada Green Building Council. Fielding Estate Winery, Beamsville, Architect Superkül
the peninsula’s tastiest party
culinary stars of tomorrow
A favourite rite of fall is the Niagara Food Festival in historic downtown Welland. The fun-filled festival runs from September 7th through 9th and features more than 25 food vendors from Niagara and beyond; the Experience Niagara Market, where food producers showcase the best of Niagara; and a mobile culinary theatre with chef demonstrations.
Break for lunch with a meal prepared by a top-notch crew of Canada’s future celebrity chefs at Niagara College’s Canadian Food & Wine Institute. The Institute’s restaurant, Benchmark, showcases the culinary program and its students by offering local, fresh food options at great prices.
Photo credit: Joanna Dickens
Jamie Kennedy comes to Niagara Celebrated chef and Order of Canada Recipient, Jamie Kennedy, has brought his signature style to Niagara Falls. Windows by Jamie Kennedy, located at the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel, champions Niagara’s rich bounty in a seasonally-based, tapas-style menu that is complemented by the most extensive wine list offered in the region. visitniagaracanada.com
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www.niagarafallsmarriott.com 1-888-501-8916 niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
www.marriottgatewayonthefalls.com 1-800-618-9059
Visit our websites or call to book today!
NOTABLE NIAGARA
Niagara by the numbers
Any way you add these up, it equals a guaranteed good time.
¢
5
The small price to pay for one of the best rides in Niagara. Visit Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie from Victoria Day through Thanksgiving and enjoy a ride on the fully restored and working 1903 Carousel which still charges the same rate as it did back in the 1900’s.
The number of kilometres per hour thrill seekers that brave the rapids of the Niagara River on a Whirlpool Jet Boat reach on their 45 to 60 minute guided tour. Guests pass historical landmarks and awe-inspiring scenery through the Devil’s Hole Class 5 rapids and into the magnificent Whirlpool.
4,500 The number of slot machines in Niagara to choose from at two great locations: Fallsview Casino and Casino Niagara.
27,000 The total number of square meters of indoor water park fun at Niagara Falls’ three indoor waterparks. Choose between the Great Wolf Lodge, Waves Indoor Waterpark at the Americana Resort and The Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, which features direct indoor connections
850
The number of different golf holes awaiting your next birdie. Home to 48 courses, Niagara has the greatest single concentration of golf facilities in one region, anywhere in Canada.
168,000
The number of cubic metres of water that spill over the crestline of Niagara Falls every minute during peak daytime tourist hours. Niagara Parks’ Journey Behind the Falls takes you deep below and behind it all, allowing you to stand in the mist where the mighty Horseshoe Falls tumbles from 13 storeys above.
to the Sheraton on the Falls, Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls-Fallsview Hotel and the Skyline Inn.
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
NIAGARA AGENDA
Oh Canada! Whether you’re looking for a new way to celebrate Canada Day or just want to share a little patriotic pride with visiting friends and relatives, Niagara’s got you covered.
Red, White and Proud Thorold has held the title of Canada’s most patriotic city since 2007.
A small team of volunteers ensures every home has a Canadian flag, but the whole city is behind them. Last year, 6,722 Canadian flags were blowing in the Canada Day breeze.
Hip Hip Hooray The Tragically Hip will show their true patriot love with
a huge show at the historic Butler’s Barracks in Niagaraon-the-Lake on June 30th. The day-long concert will also feature Death Cab For Cutie, The New Pornographers and The Rural Alberta Advantage. For tickets visit www.ticketmaster.ca
Photo credit: Clemens Rikken
Friendly Neighbours The Fort Erie Friendship Festival celebrates over 200 years of friendship
between Canada and the U.S. with concerts, entertainment, crafts and more between July 1st and July 4th.
did you know? St. Catharines was a stop on the Underground Railroad for hundreds of freedom seekers from 1830 - 1860s. The railroad included ‘The Crossing,’ which is located along the Niagara River by historic Fort Erie and the British Methodist Episcopal Church/Salem Chapel in St. Catharines. The St. Catharines Museum features a permanent exhibit highlighting the harrowing story of slaves that traveled the Underground Railroad.
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Drink it all in
Label this the ultimate getaway. Wine Country Ontario indulges more than a love of fine wine. Experience the charms of local shops, innovative menus, rejuvenating spas and biking and hiking trails that breathe in these regions’ unique landscapes. Explore Lake Erie North Shore, Pelee Island, the Niagara Peninsula and Prince Edward County.
Visit us at winecountryontario.ca
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
NOTABLE NIAGARA
Five-minute Niagara guide Niagara’s wine festivals and touring programs
Having trouble deciding which Niagara wine event is right for you? We can help with that.
experience a broad selection of wines Niagara New Vintage Festival
delve into a specific variety of wine International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration
In June, over 35 Niagara wineries celebrate the start of the new vintage with special events, tastings and a touring program. Don’t miss the New Vintage Niagara Tailgate Party for an evening of acclaimed wines, fresh produce and skillful vineyard grilling in a casual vineyard setting.
In July, wineries from around the world descend upon Niagara during this three-day celebration of all things Chardonnay that features great events, tastings, seminars, and even a Sommelier Boot Camp.
Niagara Wine Festival
The Niagara Icewine Festival
In September, the 61st annual Wine Country celebration features 100+ events including tastings, a touring program, concerts and one of Canada’s largest street parades.
Twenty Valley Winter WineFest In January, Icewine, sparkling wine and premium VQA wine all share centre stage on Jordan Village’s Main Street during this outdoor festival. The event also includes a touring program at local wineries.
Cuvée March’s Cuvée Gala has earned a reputation as one of the wine industry’s hottest events, where hundreds of food and wine enthusiasts savour Ontario’s best alongside winemakers and industry insiders. The fun continues throughout the weekend with the en Route touring program.
In January, join in on Niagara’s celebration of one of Canada’s most iconic products. Activities include an Icewine Gala, and a winery touring program throughout the region.
Niagara-ON-THE-LAKE Icewine Festival Throughout January, Niagara-on-the-Lake heats things up in a celebration of Canada’s liquid gold that includes an Icewine Village, a cocktail competition, and dozens of events at area wineries and restaurants.
enjoy unique wine and food pairings Get Fresh! In April and May, celebrate spring in Niagara’s Twenty Valley region by sampling new vintage aromatic wines paired with fresh spring flavours from some of the area’s top chefs.
Wine and Herb Explore the Wineries of Niagara-on-theLake in May as they feature herb-themed food pairings matched to premium VQA wine selected to highlight the flavour and aroma of the herb.
Wrapped Up in the Valley In November, let the wineries and chefs of Twenty Valley inspire your tastebuds with three weekends of exceptional wine and food pairings at twenty-four premium wineries.
Taste the Season Take the chill off November and enjoy unique pairings of premium VQA wines with delectable bites at twenty-eight distinctive wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Go to visitniagaracanada.com for details on wine country events visitniagaracanada.com
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niagara falls
two days two ways BY betty zyvatkauskas
Whether you’re looking for family fun or heating up the romance, 48 hours at the Falls makes lasting memories.
Brink of the Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls. Photo credit: Christopher Meder/Bigstock.com
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
NIAGARA FALLS : TWO DAYS TWO WAYS
Go to visitniagaracanada.com for more itinerary ideas
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Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
NIAGARA FALLS : TWO DAYS TWO WAYS
going glam Our hearts pound louder than the chopper blades as we bank into the turn where the helicopter hovers over the Horseshoe Falls and rainbows rise through the mist. No wonder this is such a popular spot to pop the question. Thankfully Niagara Helicopters’ headsets make marriage proposals audible over the chop of the blades and the thundering water.
Table Rock, close enough to the Falls to be within spraying distance. But it’s not just about the view. Celebrity chefs have recently spiced up the local dining scene. Massimo Capra has revamped the Rainbow Room in the Crowne Plaza and Jamie Kennedy lends his expertise to Windows on the 14th floor of the Sheraton on the Falls.
Whether it’s your first date or fiftieth wedding anniversary, there’s plenty of romance to be found in North America’s perennial honeymoon capital. Start with a hotel room that boasts a view of the Falls or the raging Niagara River and you have a hypnotic scene to enjoy while indulging in chocolates or the in-room Jacuzzi. Yes, we could join the throngs gathering at the brink of the Falls, but we prefer the elevated view for two.
The night is young. After dinner we take in the Vegas vibe at the casino’s 1500-seat theatre and try our luck on the gaming floor – one of the world’s largest. Even if we lose, it’s been a winning weekend.
Later, we’ll dress up for a stylish meal at the Sterling Inn & Spa where the retro red banquettes evoke 1950s glamour, but chef Cory Linkson’s innovative menu is very contemporary. We won’t soon forget the sea scallops with steamed clams, fennel bee pollen salad and chorizo. We might linger in the Sterling’s lounge listening to live music, but get back to the room well before midnight to watch the mesmerizing illumination of the Falls.
For more information visit www.niagarahelicopters.com www.sterlingniagara.com www.niagaraparksgolf.com www.fallsviewrainbowroom.com www.windowsbyjamiekennedy.com www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com www.mystniagara.com
We ease into day two with a leisurely room service breakfast in bed. But the day is too lovely to spend indoors, so we book a round of golf at Legends on the Niagara where we can opt for 18 challenging holes at Ussher’s Creek or, if we are feeling less ambitious, nine holes at the very walkable Chippawa course. Niagara is all about the view and there’s no shortage of restaurants where we can enjoy the spectacular scenery in comfort. Maybe cocktails at Myst Lounge, the chic bar on the 33rd floor of the Hilton’s south tower, then bison steaks grilled over open flame at Elements on the Falls, the stylish dining room at
Legends on the Niagara, Niagara Falls
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Whirlpool Aero Car, Niagara Falls
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
NIAGARA FALLS : TWO DAYS TWO WAYS
naturally niagara There’s no getting away from it. Princess Diana took her kids and you must take yours for at least one thrilling ride on the Maid of the Mist, one of the continent’s oldest and most enjoyed tourist attractions. These tour boats hover at the foot of the Falls long enough to soak passengers in the deluge that is the “mist” and thrill them with tales of rescues from the seething rapids. Going early beats the summer lineup plus it leaves us most of the day to take in Niagara’s natural beauty.
Here the Niagara River roars through Crips Eddy at more that 40 km per hour. We find massive boulders that once whirled in the river before it changed its course. Delicate ferns cling to damp rocks and wildflowers thrive in the shade. It takes three of us holding hands to reach around the trunk of a towering tulip tree, one of many southern species found in this protected wilderness. Feeling energetic? Rent bicycles to explore a section of the Niagara River Recreation Trail, a paved path paralleling the river.
After the foaming fury of the river, enjoy a little respite with a family picnic at Dufferin Islands Nature Area where flocks of ducks dabble in the waters between the interconnected islands. We can lie back and appreciate its serene beauty even more knowing that it’s free.
For younger children the easiest way to see the river up close is on the White Water Walk just 4 km north of the Falls. Easily accessed by an elevator, the one-kilometre boardwalk gets you close enough to the river’s edge to feel the drama of North America’s most intense rapids (Class 6) and even be splashed by a rogue wave. Safe and easily managed with a stroller, this riverside ramble is one we never miss.
Having been fed themselves, the kids are now ready to watch others feeding, the others being thousands of tropical butterflies inside Niagara Parks’ Butterfly Conservatory. “Wear something colourful,” we were told. The advice was good. Barely ten feet inside the door, a giant Blue Morpho butterfly settles on my daughter’s shoulder. One of some 2,000 tropical butterflies hatched in this indoor tropical jungle, it flutters off to a plate of juicy orange sections. Others prefer flower nectar, flitting between flowering porterweed and bleeding hearts. Butterflies live only a few weeks at most, so the supply must constantly be replenished in a hatchery where we watch them emerging from their cocoons. The kids have been great so we’ll treat everyone to a meal with a view. Suitably family friendly, the Skylon Tower’s buffet fits the bill with the added bonus of a ride to the observation decks in the price. Day two starts with an adventure: a descent down the metal staircase leading into the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, a wonderfully wild place to bring children old enough to enjoy a vigorous hike along the rocky paths leading down into the cool depths of the Gorge.
Should the weather turn gloomy we have a back-up plan. Hit an indoor waterpark for some spiral slides and spraying fountains, then visit Bird Kingdom, an indoor jungle filled with free-flying parrots and a historic Javanese teahouse. If we get the timing right, we’ll see fruit bats feeding on apples and bananas. And you don’t have to be a kid to beam with glee when tame lorikeets land on you to accept a drink of nectar. After nightfall, when the blinking neon lights of Clifton Hill’s wax museums and arcades light up the night, we’ll ride the Niagara SkyWheel, sharing an enclosed gondola that rises 50 meters above the Falls. We’re on vacation so let’s stay up late for an evening stroll along the river to Table Rock to see the stately falls illuminated with mega-watt colour. For more information visit www.maidofthemist.com www.niagaraparks.com www.birdkingdom.ca www.skylon.com www.skywheel.ca
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Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls. Photo credit: Roger Pilkington/Bigstock.com
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I GREAT DRIVES
Freewheeling Niagara REDISCOVERING THE LOST ART OF THE SUNDAY DRIVE BY BETTY ZYVATKAUSKAS
It’s a rite of summer: that leisurely drive past parks and
orchards to stop and shop, sip and taste. We’ll come home with peaches, pinot and great memories. Stretching some 56 km from Fort Erie to Niagara-onthe-Lake, The Niagara Parkway harkens back to the day when a Sunday drive required no destination. The name says it all. “Parkway” conjures up images of shady lanes and lush greenery. The speed limit—mostly 60 kilometres per hour—suggests leisurely touring rather than speedy transportation.
Even on a sunny day windshield wipers go on full tilt to clear away the mist from the Horseshoe Falls. It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve seen it, the green waters roaring over the Falls continue to hypnotize. We take our time driving past Queen Victoria Park’s orderly gardens and continue north following the Niagara River as it rushes toward Lake Ontario carrying roughly one fifth of the world’s fresh water through the Gorge, past massive hydro electrical generating stations. The river is in a hurry but we are not.
And who could hurry through a view like this? Stately oaks and maples shade the blacktop. “Shouldn’t a road this pretty be busier?” we ask ourselves as we head north from Fort Erie, following the Niagara River on our right. Here the water looks deceptively welcoming with willow trees along the banks, pleasure boats tied to docks and geese nibbling newly mown lawns. Picnic tables beckon to us to pull over and enjoy a view of the river.
Heading north, we could take in any number of riverside attractions, depending on the season: perhaps a walk through the Centennial Lilac Garden when the fragrant shrubs flower in May or a ride on the Whirlpool Aero Car over the Whirlpool Rapids in the autumn when the Gorge is flushed with colour. At Thompson’s Point we pull over to peer into the Gorge and marvel at the furious river below. Free parking and an eye-popping view make this a must-stop location on any drive along the Parkway.
As we approach Niagara Falls, the road widens to accommodate the throngs of cars and tour buses cruising past the upper rapids. We’re always fascinated by the wreck of the old scow trapped on a rocky shoal less than a kilometre from the Falls. It’s been there since 1918 when a daring nighttime rescue was performed to save its crew from going over the Falls. Nearly a century later, it remains precariously perched.
Few roads in Canada share this much history. An aboriginal trail was already established when 18th century surveyors set out the route that would move troops and supplies up and down the length of the Niagara River during the War of 1812. Driving up to the shady lawns of Queenston Heights, it’s hard to imagine the bloody battles fought along this now-idyllic roadway. Atop its tower, General Brock’s statue surveys the former visitniagaracanada.com
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NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I GREAT DRIVES
battlefield where the hero was killed in action—the same battlefield from which heroine Laura Secord retrieved her wounded husband a year before she embarked on her famous trek to warn the British of an impending American attack. Two centuries later, war zones are now vineyards and orchards. Famous wineries—Inniskillin, Reif Estate, Peller Estates, Riverview Cellars, The Ice House and Lailey Vineyard—tempt us with tours and elegant lunches. Roadside fruit stands beckon with displays of fresh peaches that seems to glow in the late afternoon sunshine. Kurtz Orchards is a particular favourite for local cherries, many of which will be eaten on the way home. With such deep history, it’s not surprising that Niagaraon-the-Lake, the Parkway’s northern terminus, is famous for its antique shops and venerable old inns. Its many ghosts inspire nighttime tours of the old town and the reconstructed Fort George. By day, its flower-decked main street throngs with shoppers and theatregoers taking in a play at one of the Shaw Festival’s four theatres. Like us, they will want to linger, watching the river emptying into Lake Ontario, sipping wine on a patio and strolling in the shade of the sycamore trees. The drive has been a delight, but so is the destination. For more information visit www.niagaraparks.com www.inniskillin.com www.reifwinery.com www.peller.com www.riverviewcellars.com www.theicehouse.ca www.laileyvineyard.com www.friendsoffortgeorge.ca/ghost.htm www.niagaraonthelake.com www.shawfest.com www.kurtzorchards.com
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Niagara Parkway, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Photo credit: Cosmo Condina/The Image Bank/Getty Images
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Our Key to the City
Only In
Visit Ontario’s premiere wine region, landmark shops and world renowned gourmet restaurants. Discover for yourself why we are The Culinary Capital of Canada. 30
niagara. a place of wonders...big and small. Call for reservation assistance
and more: 1-888- 619-5984 or visit www.niagaraonthelake.com
NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I GREAT TRAILS
naturally reserved EXPLORING THE NIAGARA GLEN BY BARBARA RAMSAY ORR
Niagara Glen, Niagara Falls
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Niagara River
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NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I GREAT TRAILS
One of the best ways to experience Niagara is by taking a hike through the Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, one of more than 35 Niagara conservation areas. Part of the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the reserve is home to a myriad of bird species, mammals, reptiles, fish and flora, including 37 different types of wild orchids. The Niagara Glen Nature Reserve allows hikers to explore this special and bio-diverse area. Its trails take you down to one of the lowest points of the Escarpment, guiding you through rocks and outcroppings over 450 million years old, to the edge of the Gorge. On the trails beside the Niagara River, you are only eight kilometres from the Falls, and dipping your hand into the cold water that is rushing past at 48 km/h is as close as you can get to feeling the pulse of the Falls and the Niagara Gorge.
BRING YOUR BIKE For a weekend of memorable hiking, book a hotel in either Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake, and bring your bikes, as the reserve is an easy ride along the Niagara Parkway bike trail from either location. The Bike Train from Toronto makes it simple to transport yourself and your bikes to the Falls area, or you can rent from a local provider like Zoom Leisure. You can leave your bikes at the Nature Centre, and then descend to the lower gorge via the metal stairway. If you drive, there’s parking here at the top of the trails. You’re ready to choose your first trail from seven different options, four kilometres in total. Try to explore no more than two of the trails before you stop for lunch. The reserve is in a Carolinian forest zone, where tulip trees, sassafras, black cherry, paw paw and shagbark hickory grow along the pathways. It’s truly breathtaking so take the time to really drink it in. There is a picnic pavilion at Wintergreen Flat and you can get cold drinks and snacks at the Nature Centre where there are also public washrooms. At the centre you can sign up for seasonal guided hikes (11am and 2 pm).
ESSENTIAL GEAR You’ll need a backpack to carry your lunch and sun block. The trails are rocky and sometimes slippery so good shoes are a necessity. While not overly difficult, the trails wind down a 200 foot elevation and will give you a workout. Be sure to pick up the trail map at the gift shop. It costs $3 and it has the history and not-to-be-missed highlights of the reserve. If you’re botanically inclined, bring along a field guide to Ontario wildflowers to identify the many species that grow here, like yellow lady’s slipper and Indian Pipedream. You might also want binoculars and, depending on the weather, a hat.
PICK YOUR HIKE For those who prefer a more level hike, head to the blue River Path which will take you north and south along the Niagara River. At the junction of the River Path and the green Eddy Path, you’ll have spectacular views of the Whirlpool. It should take you approximately two hours of steady hiking to cover all the trails, but it is far better to go slowly, see everything and appreciate the wonder of this special area.
Wind IT Down After your day of hiking, you’ll be ready to unwind. Try a casual meal, like panzerotti at Antica Pizzeria in Niagara Falls, or the take-out poutine at Rest to Go Go, part of the Stone Road Grille, in Niagara-onthe-Lake. If you’ve still got energy, there are casinos, nightclubs and often fireworks over the Falls to end a perfect day. For more information visit www.niagaraparks.com www.anticapizzeria.ca www.stoneroadgrille.com www.biketrain.ca www.zoomleisure.com
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Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Photo credit: J.T. Lewis/Shutterstock.com
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NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I HISTORY AND CULTURE
A JOURNEY THROUGH
Immerse yourself in the history of the War of 1812 and celebrate 200 years of peace. WRITTEN BY MARK STEVENS
Dan LaRoche, a staff member at Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Fort George, stands at attention on the ramparts beside a cannon aimed at Old Fort Niagara, a stronghold that sheltered enemy American soldiers two hundred years ago. The Niagara River flows like a Dowager Queen between the two forts. It’s hard to imagine a more peaceful morning. But LaRoche wears a scarlet tunic. A glittering sword slung from his waist jangles when he points. “They came across in a fleet of boats just before dawn. They bombarded the fort.” He pauses. “Almost none of it survived.” Just then there is an ear-shattering explosion, echoing inside the palisades. A group of school children gasp despite the grins painted across their faces. They’ve just witnessed a demonstration of a cannonade. Now they hear the cadence of a platoon of quickmarching soldiers, accompanied by the stirring strains of fifes playing “Rule, Britannia.” A group of children
wearing redcoats is issued wooden muskets and mustered into formation. Five or six girls cluster around a lady on the porch of the officers’ quarters, marveling at her costume – homespun blouse, flowered sunbonnet, inhaling the aroma of fresh bread she’s just baked in a massive fireplace. Forget facts and figures, stifling classrooms. These children have embarked on a journey through history – an adventure you can share. Ten years ago I brought my son here. It was an epiphany for him: battlefields a mere 150 kilometres from home. Forty years ago my parents brought me here. I went home and devoured every book I could find about the War of 1812. I became a student of history. Two hundred years ago this June the United States declared war. Two hundred years ago this October they invaded nearby Queenston Heights. In May, 1813, they leveled Fort George.
Location
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Brock’s Monument. Queenston Heights Park, Queenston
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NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I HISTORY AND CULTURE
But commemorations are already ramping up. In August, the nearby river will host a fleet of historic naval vessels and the Fort will resound with the pulse of pounding horses’ hooves and patriotic music as the RCMP’s Musical Ride pays a visit. Summer-long demonstrations will offer lessons in history and glimpses into the lives of soldiers, their wives and their children. On some nights when the sun goes down you can experience a delightfully shivering haunted tour; thanks to the War of 1812, Niagara-on-the-Lake is reputedly Canada’s most haunted town. Come October re-enactors will recreate the attack on Queenston for the first time. At Fort Erie in the south, they will stage a siege, a night-time display of pyrotechnics. Through history lesson and spectacle combined today, it’s a re-enactment of one of the war’s bloodiest battles. Families with children, retired engineers and teachers, firemen and farmers, will sleep in canvas tents, cook on open fires, offer up fashion shows and period music demonstrations, to make history come alive. At Queenston Heights, interpretive plaques guide you through the battle, moment by moment. Here a tower climbs skyward above the tomb of General Brock, Canada’s first hero. Standing at the parapet high above the trees, two young children gaze at the vista. The son scans the battlefield. The daughter studies the panorama of the Niagara River. At the Laura Secord Homestead, a lady in a barrel hoop skirt tells of a homemaker who ventured into the dead of night to warn of an impending American attack. The woman continues the tale; she bends over the open fireplace where Laura Secord herself once upon a time cooked supper. “How cool is that,” says a young boy, eyes wide in amazement. A girl beside him seems even more fascinated by the tale of this Canadian heroine. They’re happy wanderers on a journey through history. A journey where everyone’s invited.
guidebook For a complete overview of War of 1812 from a chronological history, to special events, to historic attractions and museums, this is a site you’ll want to check out on a regular basis: www.discover1812.com For hours, admissions and special events at Fort George, log on to: www.friendsoffortgeorge.ca Niagara Historical Museum is a great starting point to understand the events of the War of 1812, including an excellent 1812 walking tour of Niagaraon-the-Lake followed, this year, by a special theatrical presentation called “Petticoats, Boots and Muskets.” Though better suited for older students and adults, both attractions are a wellspring of information: www.niagarahistorical.museum For special events at Old Fort Erie check out: www.niagaraparks.com/old-fort-erie/index.html Even if you’re not a war buff the views from the top of Brock’s Monument at Queenston are spectacular. And if you are a war buff you’ll find it hard to tear yourself away: www.niagaraparks.com/heritage-trail/brocksmonument.html Recent refurbishments have made the Laura Secord Homestead a state-of-the-art facility and offer both a fascinating tale of heroism and an excellent glimpse of everyday life at the time of the hostilities: www.niagaraparks.com/heritage-trail/laurasecord-homestead.html Dedicated at historic sites in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, War of 1812 Bicentennial Peace Gardens celebrate the two hundred years of peace and longstanding friendship between two countries that share the world’s longest undefended border. The Grimsby 1812 Bicentennial Peace Garden is a beautiful garden overlooking Lake Ontario next to the Grimsby Pump House at the foot of Elizabeth Street. www.ipgf.org/gardens/go.asp?siteid=grimsby1812
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HERITAGE I BICENTENNIAL WAR OF 1812
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war of 1812
bicentennial
festivities
Though many of the bicentennial commemorations will take place later in the year and during the next two years, the excitement is already beginning.
Don’t miss these highlights: june 1 to august 31
Thursday to Sunday. Historical 1812 walking tours of Niagara-on-the-Lake. For more information visit www.niagarahistorical.museum/visit/tours.html jUNE 15-18
Opening ceremonies weekend, with events across the region marking the declaration of war juNE 23
Grande Military Parade, Fort Erie july 13-15
Naval Re-enactment Weekend at Navy Hall and Fort George august 11-12
The Siege of Fort Erie Re-enactment august 18 -19
25th Annual Fife and Drum Muster and Soldiers’ Field Day at Fort George august 31
RCMP Musical Ride, Fort George october 12-14
Education Day and Re-enactment of Battle of Queenston and Burial of Brock, Fort George and Queenston Heights Siege of Fort Erie
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spring Queen Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake
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FOUR SEASONS IN NIAGARA
Timeless Niagara BY Barbara Ramsay Orr
People often ask when would be the best time to visit Niagara. That’s not an easy question to answer. Niagara shines in every season and there is a tantalizing variety of attractions all year round, from the grandeur of the Falls themselves, to botanical gardens, great theatre, festivals, vineyard visits and superlative dining.
spring fever If you schedule a springtime visit to Niagara, you will see an awesome display of nature, a vision that should be declared a national treasure. Miles of fruit trees burst into pink and white bloom and the orchards look like puffy clouds, just in time to celebrate Mother’s Day. It’s a photographer’s dream. A walk through the cherry, plum and peach orchards is a visual and olfactory overload. For a perfect spring Sunday drive, begin at Grimsby and head out along historic Highway #8, now Highway #89, a roadway that began as an Indian footpath. This drive allows a more leisurely tour through the fruit growing area, making it easy to stop in the small towns, or to visit one of the vineyards. In June, stop in at the tiny village of Beamsville as it celebrates Berries and Blooms, its 36th annual strawberry festival. At this time of year, the roadside fruit stands are bulging with spring produce. You’ll make serendipitous
discoveries of hidden gems like the Inn the Pines Market in St. Catharines, just one of many fresh market farm stands in the Niagara area. Here, Cheryl and Barney Barnes offer local seasonal produce, like strawberries, lettuces and asparagus. The couple also raise Chanticleer chickens that roam the property and are willing to pose regally for photos. There are fresh eggs, along with homemade preserves and freshly cut flowers, and later in the season, heritage tomatoes, cherries and plums and potatoes. For lunch, stop in at one of the superb restaurants that take advantage of the bounty of Niagara, like August Restaurant in Beamsville. For more information visit www.strawberryfest.ca www.innthepinesonline.com www.augustrestaurant.ca
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summer Tall Ships, Port Colborne. Stockbyte/Getty Images
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FOUR SEASONS IN NIAGARA
summer days In summer, Niagara is a green paradise, a beacon for hikers who can explore the Niagara portion of the Bruce Trail as it winds along the Escarpment. This is high season! The Shaw Festival is in full swing and there’s a palpable buzz in the shops along Queen Street in Niagara-on- the-Lake, in the historic district of Jordan, and on the walkways beside the Falls. The Falls take on a new drama with nightly illuminations and weekly firework displays. Summer temperatures in Niagara can get surprisingly steamy, but there are sandy beaches on Lake Ontario and Lake Erie that are havens for summer visitors. Waverly Beach has shady trees as well as a sandy beach and views over the water to the Buffalo skyline. The beach was once a huge complex with a dance pavilion and casino, long gone now, but it remains a perfect place for a family beach visit. Nickel Beach, also on Lake Erie, is famous for its sand dunes and for the protected and rare Fowler Toads which inhabit the beach. Long Beach is a gem, with a busy cottage community, beach volleyball, sand castle building and large expanses of sandy sunning area. If you are a diver, the Sherkston Quarry Beach, a large spring-fed quarry, lets divers explore the ruins of a hundred year old mine on the quarry floor. The beach at Queen’s Royal Park is on the Niagara River and offers unforgettable landscape views – Fort Niagara across the river in New York State, and the ever-changing river, with its jet boats and sailboats. In St. Catharines, Municipal Beach, best known to locals as Garden Beach, is just off the Waterfront Trail and close to the famous Welland Canal.
Canada Cheese in Jordan Station to pick up artisanal goodies then heading to one of the scenic pull-offs along the Niagara Parkway to enjoy the great weather. For the cycling enthusiast, the Bike Train allows travelers to come to Niagara with their bikes and tour the Niagara Circle Route, or test their stamina with the uphill Welland Canal Route. Summer is also festival time, with Canada Day celebrations happening in every town. Welland presents Illuminaqua, a festival of music with its floating stages and concerts on the water, and in Port Colborne, there’s Canal Days, a three day marine heritage festival. Boat lovers shouldn’t miss the Henley Regatta. For outdoor pleasure, anyone who loves horses would enjoy a horse trek along the beaches of Lake Erie with Horseplay Niagara. If you plan it right, you can enjoy great food and wine at the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration with special dinners, wine tastings and events at participating wineries. In the summer months, Niagara buzzes with its best on display for the over 11 million visitors who will come to enjoy her attractions.
For more information visit www.brucetrail.org www.shawfest.com www.uppercanadacheese.com www.biketrain.ca www.illuminaqua.com www.pcetdc.ca/page/canal_days www.henleyregatta.ca www.horseplayniagara.com www.coolchardonnay.org
If beaches aren’t your thing but you still want to be outdoors, plan a picnic, stopping at places like Upper
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fall
HERITAGE I BICENTENNIAL WAR OF 1812
Twenty Valley
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FOUR SEASONS IN NIAGARA
fantastic fall Autumn is a fine time to visit, too, and brings its own special charm. There’s no better time to visit wine country than in harvest time, and the Niagara Wine Festival in September is an excuse for the wineries to showcase their best vintages and to host wine-themed gourmet dinners. Henry of Pelham Winery often invites the dedicated oenophile to join them in a day of harvest in the vineyards. If you take that drive along old Highway #8 in autumn, there’s the opportunity to visit a cornucopia of the smaller new wineries that are producing exciting wines, like Foreign Affair in Vineland whose amarone style wines are very special, or Megalomaniac Winery in Vineland for a sip of Big Mouth Merlot or Narcissist Riesling. Stop in at The Good Earth Food and Wine Co. in Beamsville for a wine tasting and perhaps a slice of their gourmet pizza, baked in their outdoor oven. Sample the award winning Chardonnays at newcomer Pondview Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake or go eco-friendly at Frogpond Farm, Ontario’s only certified organic winery. Five Rows Craft Winery in St. Davids is a true boutique winery with only 14 hectares of grapes, whose wines are rarely available anywhere but at the farmgate.
At this time of year, the Falls are a bit quieter, and take on a golden glow. This is a good time to grab a romantic martini at R5 on the fifth floor of the Niagara Fallsview Casino with a sunset over the Falls in the background. And on Clifton Hill, the line-ups for the SkyWheel are shorter. For more information visit www.niagarawinefestival.com www.henryofpelham.com www.foreignaffairwine.com www.megalomaniacwine.com www.goodearthfoodandwine.com www.pondviewwinery.com www.fiverows.com www.frogpondfarm.ca www.treadwellcuisine.com www.niagaraparks.com/dining/elements-on-the-falls.html www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com www.skywheel.ca
Where fine wine flourishes, good food is a natural partner. Fine dining restaurants, like Treadwell Farm to Table Cuisine in Port Dalhousie or Elements on the Falls in the Table Rock Centre in Niagara Falls, feature local wines and area specialties on their menus.
The Good Earth Food and Wine Co., Beamsville
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winter
Icewine Festival
embrace winter’s chill Winter brings a quieter but, in some ways more beautiful, time to visit the region. The Falls are transformed, as trees are turned into ice sculptures by the mist. Splashed with colour during the Festival of Lights, they are a real spectacle. Restaurants are less hectic, and their menus turn to hearty local dishes to warm their guests, with plenty of big reds featured on the wine list. The Charles Inn, for example, closes up its veranda dining room, and guests cocoon in the warm ambience of this historic old home, or sit by the fireplace in the bar and enjoy a drink. It’s also easier to book afternoon tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel. In January, there is a unique festival to celebrate our most famous libation, Icewine, when outdoor bars carved ice serve our liquid gold along with local specialties during
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the Icewine Festival. Glamour is in the forefront during Cuvée with galas and dinners to celebrate the awards for the area’s best wines and winemakers. You’ll be kept nice and warm if you visit Niagara in winter. But when can you see the region at its best? Impossible to decide. Niagara is an irresistible destination in every season! For more information visit www.wfol.com www.charlesinn.ca www.vintage-hotels.com www.icewinefestival.com www.cuvee.ca
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NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I NIAGARA FOOD AND DRINK
Go to visitniagaracanada.com to plan your next wine country getaway
Riverbend Inn, Niagara-on-the-Lake
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a inweekend niagara winecountry BY MARGARET SWAINE
Put your wine glass on a 100-mile diet. The Niagara Wine Route awaits.
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NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I NIAGARA FOOD AND DRINK
The Niagara Wine Route starts about an hour’s drive from downtown Toronto and meanders along rural roads from Grimsby to Niagara-on-the-Lake. There are dozens and dozens of wineries you can visit on your journey, each offering unique features such as patios to picnic al fresco, fine dining tasting menus, wine samplings paired with tapas and the like. You’ll want a designated driver or be sure to sample and spit. Follow the maps in the Wine Country Ontario Year Round Travel Guide or just watch for the blue Wine Route signs. Begin your tour at exit 68 off the QEW at Peninsula Ridge. The wine tasting room in a beautifully restored barn is large and stocked with goodies. Check out the charming restaurant in a renovated Victorian home on the property for future dining plans. Sample the winery’s racy single vineyard Sauvignon Blancs and plump Syrah, then head to Angel’s Gate on Mountainview Road. Picturesque grounds with flowers and fountains lead to the large tasting room overlooking Lake Ontario. The terrace is a perfect place to sip some of their old-vine Chardonnay and have a nibble. Next stop: Tawse Winery on Cherry Avenue. The gorgeous six-tier gravity flow winery specializes in burgundian style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Now it’s time for lunch at spectacular Vineland Estates up the escarpment overlooking vineyards and Lake Ontario.
Executive Chef Justin Downes’ in-season approach to cooking focuses on local ingredients. No visit to the Twenty Valley part of Niagara would be complete without visiting Flat Rock Cellars, home to great wines with fun names such as Twisted, Rusty Shed and Riddled. President Ed Madronich offers participatory programs such as “In the Winemaker’s Boots,” where you can get down and dirty in the vineyards. Further along the back roads is the historic Henry of Pelham winery, housed in the cellar of a former 1842 inn, carriage house and horse shed. The three Speck brothers own and run this Pelham winery – try their well priced and juicy Sibling Rivalry wines. Buy some Ontario cheeses and charcuterie from their Coach House Café to take home. Cave Spring Cellars in tiny historic Jordan Village is one of Niagara’s pioneering wineries. Put your feet up for the day here and check into the Inn on the Twenty, a charming property owned by Cave Spring Cellars with top notch accommodations. Dine at On the Twenty restaurant overlooking Twenty Mile Creek and sip on their renowned wines. In the morning, drive about 30 minutes to the Niagaraon-the-Lake district to visit Château des Charmes near the teensy town of St. Davids. The winery’s grand French château inspired building is a local landmark and home to many excellent wines. Founder and oenologist
Peller Estates Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake
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Pillitteri Estates Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake
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your chariot awaits
NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I NIAGARA FOOD AND DRINK
Sit back, relax and let someone else take the wheel. Niagara has several companies that offer a variety of guided touring packages. With its unique fleet of vehicles, Niagara Classic Transport will shuttle you along the Wine Route in style. The popular Vine and Dine tour with lunch package allows you to select the four wineries you want to visit. www.nctcanada.com Crush on Niagara Wine Tours offers a range of tours including its The Nose Knows package, which includes behind the scenes experiences at four wineries. www.crushtours.com
Take the train from Toronto on Niagara Wine Tours International’s Niagara By Rail, Lunch and Wine Tour and a local guide will meet you at the train station in Niagara Falls and transport you in a luxury vehicle to four outstanding wineries and one of Niagara’s finest winery restaurants for lunch. www.niagaraworldwinetours.com
Paul Bosc Senior is a viticultural pioneer who isolated new clones of grapes.
bar, Reif offers several wine tasting experiences such as “taste the terroir” and “wine and chocolate.”
Nearby Coyote’s Run Estate Winery is a picture in contrast – a small, cute little house-like winery with hand-crafted wines. On the 60-acre property, there are two very distinct soil types: one with a reddish colour and the other black. Wines from the particular soils are called, respectively, Red Paw and Black Paw and are a great way to discover how much difference soil (or “terroir” to the French) makes.
Don’t miss Inniskillin, the winery which heralded in the new era of Ontario winemaking in 1975 when it was granted the first winery licence in Ontario since 1929. In the Riedel Tasting Room, you can sample wines served in specific crystal glasses designed and shaped for each type of wine. Their outdoor piazza offers picnic tables and the large demo kitchen has wine and food pairings.
Go for lunch in the fancy dining room of Peller Estates where Chef Jason Parsons works magic with local produce. Peller is the largest of the over two dozen wineries in the district of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The restaurant at Peller and sister winery Hillebrand offer haute cuisine of the tastiest kind.
Call it a day at Riverbend Inn, a stately 1860’s Georgian Mansion that’s been converted into 21 unique guest rooms and a fine dining restaurant with a fabulous view of neighbouring vineyards.
After lunch, visit Stratus Winery. The stunning contemporary visuals of Stratus will have you in awe. At this innovative gravity flow and environmentally sustainable winery, winemaker J-L Groux believes in “assembling” wines from a blend of grapes. His very best wines mix a host of varietals to get great complexities. Drive from there to Reif Estate Winery, which has a wine sensory garden where you can sniff herbs invocative of the scents of wines. At the sensory wine
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Grape Escape Wine Tours’ Golf, Wine and Dine package whisks you from the green, to a selection of Niagara wineries, with a great lunch and an afternoon stop to satisfy your sweet tooth at Willow Pastries. www.tourniagarawineries.com
niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
plan your wine country weekend Wineries www.winecountryontario.ca
Accommodations www.riverbendinn.ca www.innonthetwenty.com
Wine Country Tourism Information www.twentyvalley.ca www.niagaraonthelake.com www.tourismstcatharines.ca
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Celebrity chef Anna Olson is best known as host of two cooking programs, Sugar and Fresh with Anna Olson, which air in Canada on Food Network. She has authored six bestselling cookbooks, two of which were written with her husband Michael, a well-noted chef and culinary instructor.
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
NIAGARA DISCOVERIES I INSIDE NIAGARA
inside niagara with
Anna Olson
“Ask a local” – it’s always the best way to find out about the best-kept secrets of a destination. Who better to share her knowledge of Niagara’s hotspots, culinary and otherwise, than local resident Anna Olson? She is proud to call Niagara home, and has lived and cooked here for 15 years. You’re known for showcasing Niagara’s regional and seasonal foods in your cooking. Do you have favourite farmers’ markets that you frequent? The Welland market is closest to home, so we do frequent it the most often, but we do love to wander the region, especially on a summer Saturday morning. When out-of-town visitors come to stay at the Olson house, what’s a typical day out when you play tour guide? A trip to see the Falls is essential, with a leisurely drive down the Niagara Parkway to get a sense of geography, and popping by a few wineries is a great way to “show off” a little, sharing the abundance that this region offers. An essential stop: Italian Ice Cream on Victoria Avenue – they have the BEST gelato! If someone is looking for a unique cooking experience to add to their Niagara getaway, what would you recommend? Some of the area wineries host cooking classes, and if just appreciating good food and wine is more what you had in mind, many of the wineries offer tours that include food and wine matching or feature dinners. I also like the outdoor concert lineup that JacksonTriggs offers each summer.
Patio or picnic blanket? What’s your outdoor dining preference and a can’t-miss spot? We’re not very patient picnickers (we are usually eating our sandwiches before we get to the end of our own driveway), but I do love to relax and catch a great view off the deck at Vineland Estates winery, or feel I’m at the cottage when visiting 13th Street Winery. To connect with nature, a stroll through Shorthills Provincial Park is a must! Niagara’s got some great roads and routes. Do you have a favourite Sunday drive? Michael knows every winding road and lane on the peninsula, so while I get completely turned around on our jaunts, he knows exactly where he is going, and the final stop is usually an antique store, to get that perfect plate or cake stand for a food photo. A favourite stop is The Green Barn at Highway 3 and Sherkston Road. Red or white? What’s in your glass and where do you head to when you want someone else to do the pouring? I do love my aromatic white wines, and the Beamsville Bench wineries do a super job. A visit to Cave Spring Cellars, Tawse or Malivoire never disappoints. The Cave Spring Dolomite Riesling is out of this world, though a trip to Stratus in Niagara-on-the-Lake to grab a taste of the Charles Baker Riesling is also a must.
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This collection of can’t miss events is a quick snapshot of what’s happening in Niagara. Go to visitniagaracanada.com for a complete list.
Bicentennial Commemoration Launch
may
June 15-18 Niagara Parks niagaraparks.com
Get Fresh in the Valley 2012
May 5-6 Wineries in Twenty Valley twentyvalley.ca
Folk Arts Festival
May 12-27 St. Catharines folk-arts.ca
Bicentennial of the War of 1812 Grand Opening
June 15-18 Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake pc.gc.ca/fortgeorge
2012 Gumball 3000 Celebrity International Car Rally
May 25 Skylon Tower, Niagara Falls gumball3000.com/history/2012
june 7th Annual Niagara Italian Festival
June 14-16 Thorold niagaraitalianfestival.com Wine and Herb, Niagara-on-the-Lake
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
June 16-24 Wineries in Niagara newvintagefestival.com PoultryFEst Niagara
Wine & Herb
May 4-6, 11-13,18-20, 25-27 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com
Niagara New Vintage Festival
Photo credit: Michael DeGasperis
June 23 Smithville poultryfest.ca
Doors Open Niagara
S.C.E.N.E. Music Festival
June 15-17 Niagara doorsopenniagara.ca
June 24 St. Catharines scenemusicfestival.com
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Canada Day Celebrations
June 29-July 2 Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines portlionsclub.ca
july Canada Day at Fort George
July 1 Niagara-on-the-Lake pc.gc.ca/fortgeorge Fort Erie Friendship Festival
July 1-4 Fort Erie friendshipfestival.com
Canada Day Celebrations, Port Dalhousie
Ontario Ladies Senior Golf Championships
July 31-August 2 Twenty Valley Golf & Country Club Vineland twentyvalley.com
The Siege of Fort Erie, 1814
August 11-12 Old Fort Erie, Fort Erie niagaraparks.com Bicentennial Fife and Drum Muster & Soldiers’ Field Days
august
August 18-19 Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake pc.gc.ca/fortgeorge
Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival
RCMP Musical Ride
August 3-6 Canalside, Port Colborne portcolborne.ca
August 31 Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake friendsoffortgeorge.ca
Annual Rotary Ribfest
August 3-6 Montebello Park, St. Catharines rotaryniagara.org
Ontario Family Fishing Week
July 7-15 Niagara familyfishingweekend.com Music Niagara Summer Festival
July 13-August 11 Niagara-on-the-Lake musicniagara.org Navy of 1812-Sailors on the Lakes St. Catharines International Busker Festival
July 14-15 Fort George, Niagara-on-the-Lake pc.gc.ca/fortgeorge International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration
July 20-22 Wineries throughout Niagara coolchardonnay.org
August 31-September 2 St. Catharines lyndesfarnetheatreprojects.com Royal Canadian Henley Regatta
August 5-12 St. Catharines henleyregatta.ca
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NIAGARA 365
ongoing events Catch these regularly scheduled events in Niagara.
september
april to october SHAW FESTIVAL
One of Canada’s most brilliant cultural icons and one of the world’s finest theatre companies. The 2012 Season features 11 plays on four stages. For program and tickets visit shawfest.com
may to september Illuminaqua Fire, Music, Water
Free Fireworks over the Falls
May to September Welland illuminaqua.com
Fri., Sun. and holidays at 10 pm May 18 to September 3 Niagara Falls niagaraparks.com
june to september Jay Cochrane Skywalk
RCMP Officer Meet and Greet
Daily at dusk June to September
Fri. to Sun., June to September Niagara Falls niagaraparks.com
(weather permitting)
Niagara Falls
November 3 - January 31 Niagara Falls wfol.com
january to april Pancake Weekends
January 12-April 15 White Meadows Farms Pelham whitemeadowsfarms.com
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
September 1-3 Heritage Village, Wainfleet Niagara Food Festival
September 7-9 Welland niagarafoodfestival.com Doors Open Grimsby
September 22 Grimsby doorsopen-grimsby.com Pioneer Days 2012
September 29-30 Jordan twentyvalley.ca
october 38th Annual Thanksgiving Festival
October 5-8 Ball’s Falls Conservation Area Jordan npca.ca Battle of Queenston Heights 200th Anniversary
november to january 29th Annual CAA Winter Festival of Lights
Marshville Heritage Festival
WATCH FOR WaLLenda THIS SUMMER! Nik Wallenda, a seventhgeneration circus performer, scion of the famed Flying Wallendas, and world record holder, plans to walk across the Falls. Summer is the time for this blockbuster high wire event, with date to be announced. Watch visitniagaracanada.com for details!
October 12-14 Niagara Parkway niagaraparks.com Battle of Queenston Heights
October 13-14 Fort George Niagara-on-the-Lake pc.gc.ca/fortgeorge 11th Annual Canal Bank Shuffle
October 18-20 Downtown Thorold canalbankshuffle.com
NIAGARA 365
Niagara Falls International Marathon
October 21 Niagara Falls niagarafallsmarathon.com
january 2013 Niagara-on-the-Lake Icewine Festival
January 1-31 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com
march Hawkwatch Season
March 1- 15 Beamer Memorial Conservation Area Grimsby npca.ca
november Taste the Season
November 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com
Niagara Icewine Festival
January 11-27 Niagara niagaraicewinefestival.com
april Get Fresh in the Valley 2013
April 27-28 Wineries in Twenty Valley twentyvalley.ca
Wrapped Up in the Valley 2012
November 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 Wineries in Twenty Valley twentyvalley.ca
december Stocking Days of Christmas
December 1-31 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com Niagara Falls New Year’s Eve Concert
December 31 Queen Victoria Park, Niagara Falls niagaraparks.com
Winter WineFest 2013
January 12-13 Main Street, Jordan Village twentyvalley.ca
february Days of Wine & Chocolate
February 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com The Good Earth Food and Wine Co., Beamsville Every effort is made to ensure that event details are correct at the time of publication, however details may change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please confirm details at the websites provided.
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Make it a weekend when you visit Niagara during any of our three fabulous Wine Festivals. Your getaway includes one night’s accommodation and two Discovery Passes. There’s no better time to experience the Niagara Wine Route! Book today!
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It’s always the right season to Take Twenty Pioneer Days
Wrapped Up in the Valley
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September 29 & 30, 2012
November 10 & 11, 17 & 18 and 24 & 25, 2012
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
1-888-558-8820 Located in the heart of wine country, St. Catharines offers beautiful landscapes, unbeatable festivals, international cuisine and more!
Get Fresh April 27 & 28 and May 4 & 5, 2013
Scan this code for special offers & more.
Contact us for a FREE City Guide at tourism@stcatharines.ca, 905-688-5601 ext. 1731 or visit us online at tourismstcatharines.ca
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*Based on double occupancy, plus all applicable taxes and service fees. Subject to availability, at participating hotels. Based on standard room.
marketplace Niagara 1812 Niagara truly is 1812 as it boasts three forts, nine battlefields, Laura Secord’s Homestead, Sir Isaac Brock’s monument and many more historic sites from the War of 1812. Visit Niagara and see history come alive at the hundreds of bicentennial events over the next three years.
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours Experience Niagara’s wildest adventure on 1500 horsepower Jet Boats as you climb the rushing rapids of the mighty Niagara River! This is a must-do for anyone aged 6 and up if you’re visiting Niagara between May and October. Hang on tight for a wet and wild ride! www.whirlpooljet.com
Photo illustration of Ragtime by Emily Cooper.
www.discover1812.com
Shaw Festival
White Oaks Resort & Spa
Great theatre in the heart of Niagara wine country JACKIE MAXWELL, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR April 10 – October 28 Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario 11 plays on four stages including the Tony Award-winning musical RAGTIME, the rapid-fire comedy HIS GIRL FRIDAY and Noël Coward’s hilarious PRESENT LAUGHTER. Overnight packages available.
White Oaks Resort & Spa is a completely unique property in Niagara featuring 220 fabulously appointed guestrooms in one of the most chic settings in this part of the province. Rated a Four Diamond, Five Star resort White Oaks has achieved a reputation for outstanding comfort and service. www.whiteoaksresort.com
www.shawfest.com
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Margaritaville Café – Niagara Falls
DoubleTree Fallsview by Hilton
* Home of the World Famous “Cheeseburger in Paradise”
Located just two short blocks from the brink of the Falls, 400 yards to Fallsview Casino. Timeless grand lodge architecture. 224 guestrooms/suites – most offering panoramic views. Regional cuisine, AVEDA day spa, indoor pools, Precor fitness & more. Four star resort. Call today for 1 & 2 night packages 1-800-730-8609.
* Overlooking the Falls * Next to Fallsview Casino * Featuring Four Patios, Surf Shop & Tropical Theme * Kids Entertainment Daily * Bands Every Weekend * 6300 Fallsview Blvd., Niagara Falls, ON (905) 354-1245
www.niagarafallsdoubletree.com
www.margaritaville.ca
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NOTABLE NIAGARA
Wonderstruck Top 3 Niagara wonders chosen by you. We wanted to know about your favourite Niagara wonders…big and small. Over 2,000 people took part in the visitniagaracanada.com “Wonderful Getaways Contest,” ranking their “must sees” and “must dos” and sharing their thoughts about what makes a visit to Niagara... wonderful.
1
the falls
big
“Generations of family memories spent vacationing in the Falls.”
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
1
niagara-on -the-lake
“Biking along the waterfront from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Falls.”
mall
g
3
butterfly conservatory “No matter where you go, you find beauty.”
2
wineries
“Wonderful, world famous Icewine.”
3 niagara helicopters
“The Falls which I first saw when I arrived in Canada in 1976 and which still takes my breath away each time I see it.”
2 maid of the mist
“Seeing people from all over the world visiting my Ontario.”
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LAKE ONTARIO
NIAGARA-ONTHE-LAKE
grimsby LewIStonQueenston Bridge
LINCOLN
St. CATHARINES NEW YORK STATE
RAINBOW Bridge
WEST LINCOLN PELHAM THOROLD
WELLAND
WAINFLEET Montreal
PORT COLBORNE
Kingston Toronto
Niagara Detroit Chicago Toledo Cincinnati
Boston Buffalo
Cleveland Pittsburgh
Albany
LAKE ERIE
New York Philadelphia
Circle shows a radius around Niagara, Ontario of 650 km or 400 miles.
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niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
NIAGARA FALLS
FORT ERIE PEACE Bridge
niagara places
Discover Niagara’s 12 unique communities, each with distinctive sights, events and personalities. Contact our local tourism organizations for more information when planning your next Niagara getaway:
Fort Erie
www.forteriecanada.com
Grimsby
www.town.grimsby.on.ca
Lincoln/Twenty Valley
Port Colborne
www.portcolborne.ca www.experienceportcolborne.com
St. Catharines
www.tourismstcatharines.ca
www.lincoln.ca www.twentyvalley.ca
Thorold
Niagara Falls
Wainfleet
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Welland
Pelham
West Lincoln
www.niagarafallstourism.com www.niagaraonthelake.com www.mypelham.com
www.thoroldtourism.ca www.wainfleet.ca www.welland.ca www.westlincolnchamber.com
Photos clockwise, top left: Twenty Valley, Port Dalhousie, Pelham, Niagara Falls, Welland, West Lincoln (photo credit Mike Porter) and Port Colborne.
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NIAGARA FALLS
FALLSVIEW niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.
Connect with us and let us be your guide. Sign up at our site to receive the latest news and advance notice of special offers delivered to your inbox. Stay up to date with the latest events and offers on Facebook (facebook.com/visitniagara) or join the conversation on Twitter (@Visit_Niagara). visitniagaracanada.com is loaded with resources that will help you plan your visit and discover all of the wonders of the Niagara region.
a place of wonders... big and small
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THE ULTIMATE FALLS EXPERIENCE only at Niagara Parks
Journey Behind the Falls
Maid of the Mist
Niagara’s Fury
White Water Walk
SAVE 30% ON 4 TOP ATTRACTIONS Pass includes 4 top attractions plus 2 consecutive days bus transportation and $30 in Bonus Discount Coupons for Butterfly Conservatory, Whirlpool Aero Car and much more!
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Purchase at Niagara Parks Welcome Centres or Attractions, Participating Hotels or online at www.niagaraparks.com niagara. a place of wonders...big and small.