Niagara-on-the-Lake: There’s Music in the Air

Posted on July 10, 2023

Picnic with two women and bicycle basket of tulips

What does your heart say or want? Pay attention! July is all about taking a restorative break and slipping off the radar for some tender loving self-care and celebration. Surprise your honey with a couple of relaxing days of simple pleasures. Ladies, maybe it’s time to spend a couple of days with your nurturing and supportive sisters, mother or friends. Gentlemen, playing hooky with the guys or Dad might be just the midsummer fix you need. Or perhaps you’ve put off your own needs for far too long, and you just want some time out on your own, taking in the calming beauty of nature, dancing to the beat of your own drum and going where the wind blows, guilt-free.

Whether you enjoy cherished time with family or trusted friends or just relish your sweet, serene solitude, refilling your tanks now will keep you fueled up for months to come. And where better to enjoy the height of summer than in Niagara-on-the-Lake at your favourite STAY Niagara-on-the-Lake getaway spot?

Music to Soothe the Soul
Wherever you find yourself in Niagara-on-the-Lake, chances are you’ll hear the sweet sound of music in the summer air.

Music Niagara has been entertaining audiences since mid-June and the celebration continues through August. With performances ranging from the classical brilliance of the Odin Quartet and the Ensemble Obiora to the golden age of the big bands, the Music Niagara Festival is an important component of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s cultural landscape and something you should not miss.

Jazz-lovers? The TD Niagara 2023 Summer Festival is just your style. Jazz Under the Stars at Jackson-Triggs Winery on July 15, Jazz Picnic at Willowbank in Queenston on July 16, Soul Jazz in the Vineyard at the Hare Wine Company on July 20 and the Late Night Music Jam at The Irish Harp on July 22 are just a sampling of what’s in store for you here in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Speaking of Jackson-Triggs, check out their Summer 2023 Concert Series featuring such performers as the James Barker Band, Chantal Kreviazuk, Randy Bachman, Bahamas and many more.

Not to be outdone, the Shaw Festival presents a musical revue showcasing the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein at its BMO Stage. On stage at the Festival Theatre, Royal George, Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre and the Spiegeltent, there’s something for everyone, including kids!

Local venues love to get in on the action, too. Take in the vibes of Summer Fridays with some tapas and a drink on the patio at Ironwood Cider House. Head over to Spirit in Niagara for Monday Blooz & Jazz or Thursday Night Delight with Ed Pizzo on the Piano. From open mic nights to jazz and blues nights and Wednesday night patio performances, there’s always something going on at The Irish Harp Pub. The Niagara Oast House Brewers invites you to celebrate TGIF with a couple of pints, food and live music from 5 p.m. to midnight. Just up the road at the Barrelhead at Pillitteri Estates Winery, it all comes together from noon to 10 p.m. with delicious wood-oven pizza, salads, wine and local entertainment in their cherry orchard.

As you can see, there’s plenty to keep you entertained during your stay in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Your STAY Niagara-on-the-Lake hosts are always eager to offer recommendations on where to go and what to see.

More to Come
While July is jam-packed with events and things to do, there’s much more fun in the works:
Until August 29: Music Niagara Summer Festival Concert Series
Until September 15: Jackson-Triggs Summer Concert Series
July 10–14: Kids’ Summer Art Camp at RiverBrink Art Museum
July 15-16: Battle of Fort George Re-enactment
July 15–23: TD Niagara 2023 Summer Festival
August 6: Bell Concert at St. Mark’s Anglican Church
August 12: Peach Festival
August 12: Sip, Savour & Stroll
August 13: Shades of Rosé
August 23: Shades of Summer Dinner
August 19-20: Fife & Drum Muster & Soldiers’ Field Day
August 31: Heritage Garden Party at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum
September 3: Bell Concert at St. Mark’s Anglican Church

Niagara-on-the-Lake: Touring Without a Car

Posted on May 25, 2023

Collage of Niagara-on-the-Lake photos - gazebo, cenotaph, couple in vineyard, grapes on the vine

Residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake have long considered our town a special piece of Canadian paradise. After all, it’s been known as “the prettiest town in Canada” for decades. And now, the world knows it, too! Condé Nast Traveler has listed Niagara-on-the-Lake among the 50 most beautiful towns in the world! And your accommodation hosts are ready to welcome you with open arms.

When you do decide to visit us, chances you will drive yourself here. However, once you’re here, you might prefer to park your vehicle and forget about it. Other visitors may depend on public or private transportation companies to get here, and then what? Either way, how do you appease your curiosity and take in all the sights in the Niagara area without a car?

Getting Here
If you don’t have a car and don’t wish to rent one, a number of options are available, depending on your circumstances and budget:

Niagara Air Bus offers convenient, door-to-door shuttle service by coach or private car from Toronto International Airport, Buffalo International Airport, Hamilton International Airport, Toronto Island (City) Airport, and Downtown Toronto Hotels to your accommodation property in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Book at least 84 hours in advance to qualify for a 5% early-bird discount on their airport shuttle service.

Map from Toronto to Niagara-on-the-Lake

VIA Rail provides regular daily service between Toronto Union Station and Niagara Falls. While taxi or Uber service from Niagara Falls are options to reach Niagara-on-the-Lake, you can also use the combined WEGO/Shuttle bus service, which operates from April to October between Niagara Falls and Fort George in Niagara-on-the-Lake. (More on the shuttle service later.) American visitors can book travel on Amtrak to the U.S. Niagara Falls station, just across the river from the VIA Rail station on the Canadian side.
Megabus Canada has numerous departures daily from Toronto Union Station to Niagara Falls or St. Catharines, both of which are a 25-minute taxi or Uber trip away.
GO Transit features a combination of rail and bus service between Toronto Union Station (rail) and the Burlington GO Station, where you transfer onto a bus destined for St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.

Touring Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL)
Once you’re here, local shops, restaurants and wineries are easily accessible, without a car. While here, you may want to visit the four communities that make up NOTL: Old Town, Virgil, St. David’s, Queenston and Glendale (for the Outlet Collection at Niagara and Niagara College Campus where you can sample wine, beer and spirits created by students at the Education Centre).

Walking is always an option if you’re staying in Old Town, which covers an area of about 2.5 square kilometres where you’ll find the highest concentration of restaurants, shops and historical sites as well as a few wineries. Get to know our historical town on a humorous guided walking tour with Ross Robinson. Tours leave from the Courthouse steps at 26 Queen Street every day at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., rain or shine.

Horse and carriage on Queen Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Take it slow and easy on a horse and carriage tour of Old Town. You’ll find your driver waiting for you in front of the Prince of Wales Hotel across from the cenotaph (town clock) or book online.
NOTL is a popular cycling destination. A number of companies, like Ebike Rental Niagara and ZOOM Leisure Bike Rentals, rent bikes and e-bikes. The terrain is flat for the most part and safe off-road cycling trails and quiet back-country roads are ideal for cyclists. An online digital map helps you navigate Old Town and the surrounding area on your own with ease. If you prefer, most of the rental companies also offer guided cycling tours of the area and wineries.

ebike rentals

Let someone else do the driving. Chauffered winery tours are a great way to tour the countryside and sample local wines, craft brews, ciders and spirits. Again, numerous companies, such as Brewery & Distillery Tours Niagara, offer daily tours and happily pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation property.
An on-demand transit service operates between Old Town, Virgil and the Glendale hub. Pickups are arranged as needed using the NRT OnDemand app, which can be downloaded. The NOTL service runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Saturday. The service promises pickup within an hour, with an average wait time of 20 minutes. Pricing is broken down by fare category and type.

A Day Trip at the Falls
The best route to Niagara Falls is along the beautiful Niagara River Parkway, dubbed “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world” by Winston Churchill in 1943.

Niagara Falls and Hornblower

You can leisurely cycle or e-bike to the Falls from NOTL along the 25-km Niagara River Recreation Trail, an off-road bike and walking path that runs parallel to the Niagara Parkway and flanks the mighty Niagara River. Except for one short incline up the Niagara Escarpment at Queenston, the terrain to the Falls is relatively flat. Along the way, you’ll pass numerous wineries, historical sights, attractions and photo ops.
A scheduled daily Niagara-on-the-Lake Shuttle service connects to the Niagara Falls WEGO bus service at the Green Line’s Floral Clock stop (from June 30 to September 4, 2023) or at the Butterfly Conservatory stop (from April 30 to June 29 and September 5 to October 9). One-way and return tickets can be purchased at Fort George in NOTL. All-day access to the WEGO service is included if you purchase the Niagara Falls Adventure Pass Plus.
The NRT On-Demand Transit Service (mentioned earlier) provides service to the Niagara College Campus in Glendale, where you can connect to Bus #12 to Niagara Falls.

Summer 2023 Events in Niagara-on-the-Lake
It’s turning out to be an eventful 2023 in NOTL, where, aside from all the beautiful architecture, sites and gardens, there’s always something happening.

White Effect Dinner

June 3: Murder With a Side of Merlot at Lakeview Wine Co.
June 9: White Effect Dinner at Peller Estates Winery (be sure to pre-order your wine, beer and cider)
June 9–September 15: Jackson-Triggs Summer Concert Series
June 17: Strawberry Festival
June 18–August 29: Music Niagara Summer Festival Concert Series
June 22: NOTL Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament
June 24: Shaw Guild Garden Tour
June 24–25: Fort George in the Great War
July 1: Canada Day at Fort George
July 1–3: Canada Day Fireworks;
July 8: St. Mark’s 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 Activities: 20 Ideas for a Rainy Day

Posted on April 25, 2023

NOTL in May

Rain, rain, go away… Remember this children’s rhyme? On the brighter side, April showers do bring May flowers.

We plan for sunny-day activities, and then Mother Nature rains on our agenda, reminding us just who’s in charge here. Hakuna Matata! We’ve got you covered. From museums and retail therapy to live stage performances, there’s something for every taste, interest and budget. You won’t even notice it’s raining! And remember…

“If plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters
– 204 if you’re in Japan.”
― Claire Cook, writer and motivational speaker

1

Take in a 2 p.m. or an 8 p.m. performance at one of the Shaw Festival theatres in town. (Mondays are dark.)

2

Book a one-hour backstage tour at the Festival Theatre to discover the secrets that bring each production to the stage. Cost: $10, $5 with ticket to a performance.

Outlet Collection at Niagara Stores

3

Shop til you drop at the Outlet Collection at Niagara where you’ll find more than 100 trendy boutiques. But first, head over to the Guest Services building to pick up your VIP Visitor Card, available to all out-of-town visitors, to access exclusive discounts and offers from on-site retailers. (You’ll need ID or a passport to prove you are from out of town.)

4

Hunt for treasures at some of the many antique shops in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake.

5

Visit the Butterfly Conservatory located next to the Botanical Gardens on the Niagara Parkway.

Orange butterfly

6

Check out local artists. Browse through 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 take a class.

7

Tour the historical Laura Secord Homestead in Queenston.

8

Check out the Riverbrink Art Museum in Queenston.

9

Visit the Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum in Queenston.

10

Step into an educational experience at the Niagara Parks Power Station to discover the incredible history and heritage of this 115-year-old engineering marvel.

11

Work out in the fully-equipped gym at our Community Center located on Anderson’s Lane. A day pass costs $5.50.

12

Stones Massage

Book a spa treatment or massage at one of many venues in and around Niagara-on-the-Lake.

13

Purchase a day pass at the Pillar and Post for $75 per person. Your day pass includes access to their indoor pool, indoor sauna, a locker in the upstairs change room with robe, as well as the Hot Spring if space is available upon arrival.

14

Spend time at the charming Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum on Castlereagh in Old Town.

15

Book a chauffeur-driven winery tour with one of many wine tour companies in the area that include Grape Escape, Crush Wine Tours, Niagara Grape & Wine Tours, Niagara Wine Tours International, Niagara Getaways Wine Tours and more.

Two Women on Wine Tour

16

Learn all about wine production at one or more of the informative seminars and tours offered by some of the wineries in the Niagara-on-the-Lake area.

17

Watch ships “climb the mountain” at the Welland Canal Center Lock 3 Museum.

18

Visit Bird Kingdom in Niagara Falls, the largest free-flying indoor aviary in the world.

19

Take in a Music Niagara performance at various indoor venues during the months of July and August.

20

Whirlpool Jet Boat

Go ahead! Embrace the weather and head off on a Whirlpool Jet Boat adventure anyway. After all, you’ll be getting wet, rain or shine!

Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospitality: You Can’t Beat It!

Posted on March 9, 2023

The charming lakeside town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is world-renowned for its historical sites and re-enactments, boutiques and art galleries, restaurants, live stage performances, spas, vintage wines, craft beer and spirits, fresh produce, musical venues, green space, cycling trails, antique shops…

The list goes on and on. And if you’re going to enjoy all this over a couple of days or more, you’ll need accommodation.

Signs of Assurance
That’s where the STAY Niagara-on-the-Lake Association comes in. Member properties include inns, self-catering apartments, villas and cottages as well as bed and breakfasts, each offering its own unique blend of services and hospitality.

However, they all have one thing in common. All are licensed. And that means you are assured that all member establishments have been thoroughly inspected for safety and cleanliness and all adhere to the town’s and the association’s strictly enforced high standards.

So, how do you know if a property is licensed or not? Easy!

If a property is listed on our association’s website, you can rest assured it is licensed!
In Niagara-on-the-Lake, all short term rentals must first get a municipal license in order to operate.
The operator’s license number must be posted on the property’s website as well as on third-party Online Travel Agency websites.
The owner must also visibly display their license inside the property.

With Spring sitting on our doorsteps, rooms are booking up quickly. So you might want to plan your spring, summer and fall getaway soon.

And if you’re looking for a reason to visit, we always have a few of those to share as well. Here are a few year-round and annual favourites to think about.

Art Exhibits
The Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre is a little gem you’ll find off-the-beaten track in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Located in a heritage building on the banks of the Niagara River, the Niagara Pumphouse offers visual arts programs, exhibitions and events year-round.

Through March 25, the Pumphouse is presenting the Reflections-Group Exhibit by the NOTL Arts Collective in its Joyner Gallery. This unique, thought-provoking display showcases the diverse styles and perspectives of the participating members of the Collective.

Our association is proud to feature Julia Kane’s artwork on the cover of our 2023 map, the original of which is on display at Château des Charmes. Information on Julia and each member of the collective can be found here.

In the Vineyards
The wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake are organizing a couple of signature events for spring. A particular favourite is the Sip and Sizzle, which happens over four weekends in May, with passports going on sale in April 2023.

Here’s your chance to sip and savour gourmet food and wine tastings at 16 wineries in the immediate area. Guests may choose from an individual Tasting Pass ($75 plus tax and service fee) or a Couple’s Pass ($75 plus tax and service fee).

On Stage
Every year, the Shaw Festival, Canada’s second-largest theatre company, stages more than 400 outstanding performances, which draw almost 50,000 attendees annually. In addition, over 2,000 education and outreach activities are offered to more than 50,000 participants.

The 2023 line-up of musicals, dramas, comedies and outdoor events promises to be a crowd-pleaser. Tim Carroll, the Artistic Director, and his team are always coming up with new events, new performance spaces and new ways of engaging with their audiences. “This year,” Tim says, “we have some really special treats up our sleeve. So, no matter which of our world-class shows you are coming to see, be sure to give yourself plenty of time before and after; you’ll be glad you did.”

Are you a die-hard Elvis fan? Then, you don’t want to miss the Niagara Falls Elvis Festival, just 20 minutes down the road at the Greg Frewin Theatre from April 20 to 23.

25 Years of Music
This year marks the 25^th season for the annual Music Niagara Festival, which happens in July. Every year, this festival welcomes gifted international musicians to different venues throughout Niagara. From Pop, Swing and Jazz to Classical ensembles and Chamber choirs, there is something to suit everyone’s musical taste.

Fund-raising events are an important part of making the Music Niagara Festival a yearly reality. One is the Artistic Director’s fundraising challenge with a goal of raising $25,000 by July 1. If you enjoy music, please show them some love.

As you can see, we’re in for some good times in 2023. We’d love to have you join the fun.