Niagara-on-the-Lake Pleasures: It’s Playtime!

Spring has settled in nicely, and, in gratitude, we exhale a contented sigh. Humans crave pleasure. Especially now! There’s a heightened aesthetic sensibility in the air as we slow down and savour intimate human connections and flirtatious conversations that sparkle and light up our neural pathways. Words that capture the essence of May include luscious, delicious, sensational, voluptuous and deep authenticity. It’s time to get down, get real and make heavenly dreams come true as sunshine and warmer temperatures seemingly turn life into gold.

Springtime beckons us to be childlike again and play our hearts out. And what better place than Niagara-on-the-Lake—the pleasure center for all time—to bring a sense of delicious into your life?

Indulge Your Senses
Perhaps, you have an eye for beautiful things that bring a wide smile to your face. Highlight your signature style with a couple of additions to your wardrobe—or home or office décor—from one of the charming boutiques along Queen Street or from the Outlet Collection at Niagara. Treasures also await at Old Town Antiques on Mary Street, Lakeshore Antiques & Treasures on Lakeshore Road, the Bartlett House of Antiques on Niagara Stone Road, the Vintage Mermaid barn also on Niagara Stone Road, and Antiques on Creek on Four Mile Creek Road.

Pumphouse Art Centre

Galleries and studios in and around town invite you to admire their artistic collections. The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre on Ricardo Street displays monthly exhibitions at the Joyner Gallery where well-known local and Ontario artists’ works of art are featured. While there, check out works by emerging and professional artists in the Walker Room. A short drive up the Niagara River Parkway takes you to the RiverBrink Art Museum where you can view exhibits as well as participate in workshops. Pottery enthusiasts are welcome to browse at Lakeside Pottery on Lakeshore Road, Queenston Pottery on York Road in St. David’s, or Bélisle Pottery on Four Mile Creek Road where you can also attend a class.

Donkeys at Colaneri

Recharge your batteries by sharing new experiences with old friends. Guided, chauffeur-driven wine, brewery and distillery tours and cycling tours are a great way to spend a sunny afternoon with pals. For something truly memorable, book a one-hour stroll with a friendly donkey companion through the vineyards at the Colaneri Estate Winery. Later, clink glasses in a toast to friendships at one of many indoor and outdoor dining venues throughout the area.

Add music to the mix. Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts has concerts planned for May and June. The Hare Winery continues to host international performers for the TD Niagara Jazz Fest: Twilight Jazz & Blues. The ever-popular Jackson-Triggs’ Summer Concert Series runs from June 9 to September 15. In July and August, Music Niagara celebrates its 25th season with a line-up of musicians from around the world. Local pubs, wineries and breweries regularly schedule live performances.

Make Fitness Fun
Tee up! Enjoy scenic views of Lake Ontario and historical forts at the nine-hole Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Course, the oldest surviving golf club in continuous play in North America and ranked ninth best short course in the world outside of the USA. Need some practice first? Limber up at the Niagara Golf & Batting Cages on Eastchester.

Horseback Riding

Take in nature’s sights and sounds on horseback as you marvel at the seasonal richness of the Niagara Escarpment and wooded trails. Beyond simple enjoyment, riding develops balance and co-ordination and offers mental and emotional benefits for all ages.

How about yoga laced with laughter? A special encounter awaits you at Fox Den Goat Yoga where the focus is on fun and personal development. Book a goat yoga session or a Goats & Wine experience, which includes a flight of wine and time to cuddle, play and take photos of these darling dwarf goats.

Goat Yoga

Squeal with delight as you zipline at one of two Niagara locations. In Niagara Falls, WildPlay’s Zipline to the Falls takes you on a breathtaking ride as you glide down 670 metres (2,200 ft), soar past the American Falls and land at the base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. At Thompson Point, the Whirlpool Adventure Course features three self-paced obstacle courses that include climbing, ziplining and jumping circuits.

Plan Your Stay
Why not inject a little romance into your plans? Book your stay at a charming bed and breakfast, villa, cottage or apartment. On your way, pick up a bouquet of fresh flowers at one of the many florists or roadside stands. Drop by the Chocolate Factory in St. David’s for a free tour and some tasty palate-pleasing delights to go with that special bottle of wine from your favourite winery.

There’s always something happening in Niagara-on-the-Lake:
June 9: White Effect Dinner
June 17: Strawberry Festival
June 24: Shaw Guild Garden Tour
June 24–25: Fort George in the Great War
July 1–3: Canada Day Fireworks; Artistry by the Lake
July 8: Cherry Festival
July 15-16: Battle of Fort George Re-enactment
August 12: Peach Festival
August 12: Sip, Savour & Stroll
August 23: Shades of Summer Dinner
August 19-20: Fife & Drum Muster & Soldiers’ Field Day

Niagara-on-the-Lake: Activate Your Passion

March 20 heralded in the Spring Equinox and the Aries Season while a New Moon on March 21 added a punch to underscore the importance of this annual celestial event. Think of this lunar lift as a ribbon-cutting ceremony for your freshest, most out-of-the-box ideas. This cosmic invitation is summoning your inner warrior to recommit to living life by your own design!

As it turns out, passion is an essential element to living a fulfilled life. So, you might say, this celestial combo is asking you to tune in to your passion meter for excitement and let the hot blood pump through your veins as you spring into action.

Some of our best insights and ideas come to us when we’re active and enjoying something we love — cycling, hiking, golfing, birdwatching, dining, spa treatments, live stage performances, music, museums and historical re-enactments, gardens… Our minds are relaxed and our intuition — our personal GPS — works best when the mind is engrossed in the present moment. Like they say, time flies when you’re having a good time.

And what better place to enjoy good times and indulge your passion(s) than in Niagara-on-the-Lake?

Spring Into Action
Vineyards, fruits orchards and fields of vegetation surround Niagara-on-the-Lake, making it a culinary haven for chefs, foodies and wine-lovers alike. Dining venues throughout the area range from affordable pub fare to five-star gourmet experiences. Why not make a day of it with friends? Chauffeured guided tour companies offer an excellent way to experience three or more wineries, and some tour options even include lunch or supper at a local dining establishment.

Partying with friends

Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake is a safe, very walkable community, perfect for daytime and evening strolls along residential streets and nature trails that meander through provincial parks and along the Niagara River where there is year-round birdwatching at its best. Most bed and breakfasts and short-term rental properties are within easy walking distance of restaurants, theatres, shops and wine- or beer-tasting venues. So, why not park the car and forget about it?

Flat terrain and quiet country roads in the area are ideal for cycling and e-bikes — a great way to combine fresh-air exercise with touring some of our award-winning wineries on your own. Be sure to check out the 2020 Chardonnay at Two Sisters Vineyards, winner of a Gold Medal at the 2023 Chardonnay-du-Monde competition held in Burgundy, France. Bring your own bike or rent one at one of the local businesses, such as Zoom Leisure, Grape Escape, Vino Velo and eBike Rental Niagara, to name just a few. Many also offer guided cycling wine tours.

Take in a round of golf and some of the area’s most scenic views at the oldest surviving golf course in North America. Its lakefront restaurant patio and indoor lounge are popular watering holes for a light post-game bite, a brew and some friendly banter.

Perhaps self-care is one of your passions. Niagara-on-the-Lake features a selection of world-renowned spas, each of which offers a menu of treatments that are sure to leave your body singing with relief and gratitude.

Passionate about live theatre and musical performances? Niagara-on-the-Lake also hosts world-class performances at the ever-popular Shaw Festival, which, in 2023, is presenting 14 plays, and several concerts and events at the Festival Royal George and Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatres as well as the new Spiegeltent outdoor venue.

Choose Your Private Retreat
After a full day of activities and sightseeing, a well-deserved night’s rest is in order. STAY Niagara-on-the Lake offers a long list of accommodation options where you can relax and reminisce over that fine bottle of Niagara wine you picked up earlier.

For couples, a bed and breakfast is the perfect choice. Today, most B&Bs feature secluded guest quarters with private ensuite washrooms for complete privacy, as well as indoor and outdoor nooks where you can mingle with your hosts or other guests — or not. Nightly rates include breakfast, on-site parking and internet access. For parties of three or more, self-catering apartments, villas or cottages may be a more reasonable alternative.

Go ahead and check us out. Make a few calls and ask questions. We want you to make the choice that’s best for you and your needs.

Plan Ahead
Here is a taste of things to come this spring and summer to rev up those passion meters and get your creative juices flowing:

April 1 – Fort George opens Saturdays and Sundays, and daily May 20
April 29 – Queens of the Vineyard at Caroline Cellars
May Weekends – Sip & Sizzle at various Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries
May 6 – TD Niagara Jazz Festival Spring 2023 Fundraising Event at The Hare Wine Co.
June 9 – White Effect Dinner at Peller Estates Winery
June 24 – Shaw Guild Garden Tour
July 1-3 – Artistry by the Lake
July 8 – Cherry Festival
August 12 – Peach Festival
August 12 – Sip, Savour & Stroll
August 13 – Shades of Summer Dinner