Guest post by dlehotsky
Map tips: each color represents a different day. Click a marker to learn more about the spot, and click the star in the map header to save the entire map under Your Places in Google Maps.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of those places that just feels like home. It is stunningly beautiful, the people are very friendly and nice, the food is excellent and the wine is incredibly. With over 200 wineries to choose from in the region, you will not go home without buying a bottle (or several) or wine!
Queen Street, which is the main street in town, has everything from shopping, to dining, to beautiful views, to parks, to theaters, to ghost tours. I suggest you find a place to stay where you can easily walk to Queen street.
Day 1
Drove over the Peace Bridge, up into NOTL and checked into our cottage: The Secret Garden Cottage – https://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentalReview-g154999-d3454035-Spacious_home_in_Olde_Towne_with_2_5_bedrooms-Niagara_on_the_Lake_Ontario.html. Highly recommend this place. It’s affordable, spacious, very clean, and in a great location!
Walked to lunch at Fourno’s (Greek). Try the pork Souvlaki with rice or the grape leaves.
Walked down Queen Street, stopping in various stores, especially the candy store!
Met friends for dinner at Bistro Six-One, which was quite tasty. Try the Lamb Shank or pizza!
Walked all around NOTL and back to the cottage.
Day 2
For Breakfast, walked down to the corner bakery, Willow Cakes & Pastries, and got very good coffee, tea, and a whole lot of pastries. I highly recommend this place for breakfast!
Hung around the cottage, then went to lunch at Sandtrap. Try the Baked lemon-pepper haddock!
We then took a wine tour with Niagara Wine Tour Guides – https://www.niagarawinetourguides.com/. I have taken my fair share of wine tours, and I must say that this was the best wine tour I have ever taken! It was very casual, laid back, and fun. There are no more than 10 people on your tour, and they picked us up and dropped us off right at our cottage in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Our driver, Riley, was very knowledgeable, fun, and worked very hard to make sure we had a great time.
We went to 3 of the smaller wineries within NOTL. You didn’t feel like just another person in the crowd. Each winery was very attentive and lovely and the value of the tour was incredible. Not only did we go to 3 wineries, but we also got a cheese & wine pairing, icewine shooters, wine slushies, a winery tour, a junk food pairing with Doritos & Reese’s Cups, and plenty of samples of the different wines at each winery. You will probably end of drinking about a bottle wine each by the time the tour is complete. All of that was included within the price, which makes this tour the most affordable and the best bang for your buck.
Walked through Veteran’s Park, which has lovely trails and historical markers.
Went to dinner at the Olde Angel Inn. Try the Curry!
Day 3
Slept in late then went to 2 different wineries:
- Jackson-Triggs – Did some tastings and walked around their vineyards. If you are looking for a good picture spot, this is the place to be!
- Strewn – Did an olive oil & vinegar tasting, then had lunch at the restaurant inside called Oliv. Their specialty pizza of the day just happened to be alligator pizza which was quite tasty. We then did some wine tastings.
Back to the cottage to meet up with some family who were staying in town.
Walked back down to Queen Street to eat at Bella Vita Ristorante. Try the haddock, duck breast, or pizza!
Niagara-on-the-Lake has so many charming qualities, is easily walkable, and just feels like the perfect location for a much needed rest with good friends.
Traveled in July 2018
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