Blossoming flowers colour the neat and orderly downtown. Beautiful stone heritage buildings have been restored to their original splendor. Old-fashioned street lights illuminate the horse-drawn carriages that parade up and down Queen Street.

Though its famous name has left it linked with one of the Seven Natural Wonders of North America, the mood and pace of the charming town has little in common with the city of Niagara Falls.

And Niagara-on-the-Lake’s beauty is more substance than superficiality. The Niagara Peninsula is recognized internationally as an outstanding wine-producing locale, with a unique mesoclimate similar to that of the great wine producing regions of the world. This rich agricultural area is more southerly than Bordeaux, and the two Great Lakes, Ontario and Erie, moderate temperatures, ensuring the cool springs and long autumns that are ideal for growing grapes.

Just over an hour’s drive from Toronto and a half-hour from Buffalo, N.Y., the peninsula is home to more than 40 wineries. No longer are they simply purveyors of excellent wines, the wineries have done an outstanding job of tapping into tourism, offering visitors the complete wine country experience. Open year-round, they welcome guests with tours, tastings, special events and the opportunity to experience regional cuisine in their on-site restaurants.

The picturesque paved Wine Trail meanders along the bank of the Niagara River, past beautiful stone homes, historic inns, orchards, vineyards and wineries. The trek follows the Niagara Parkway, which Winston Churchill, during a 1943 visit, called “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world.”

The many historic plaques and markers remind us of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s special place in Canada’s history, as capital of Upper Canada in 1792, site of the first provincial parliament and of Upper Canada’s first newspaper.

Travel down to the waterfront to watch jet boats departing for a quick trip upriver to the famous falls, and then why not visit historic Fort George, where staff in period costume and uniform re-enact daily life in the garrison circa 1812, when the fort’s cannons faced Fort Niagara on the American side of the river.

The annual Shaw Festival, which opens in April and runs to November, features the works of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries.

There are three theatres, each with its own personality. The Royal George Theatre on Queen Street features Edwardian gilt mouldings, richly coloured red walls and golden lions. It was built as a vaudeville house to entertain troops during the First World War. The second-largest repertory theatre in North America, the Shaw stages 11 productions each season, to an international audience of some 350,000 people.

Poet William Kirby, who wrote back in 1896 that “Niagara is as near heaven as any town whatever.” If you spend even a day there, you’ll soon see things haven’t changed very much!

Niagara On The Lake, as i’ve mentioned is very close to Niagara Falls..
If you want to have a look at hotels in Niagara – there are two we would reccomend:

The Hilton in Niagara Falls

The Sheraton Fallsview Hotel and Conference Centre

Or you can Search for Hotels in Niagara at:

For more information on the chamber of commerce accommodation booking service, e-mail accomm@niagaraonthelake.com. General tourist information is available at www.niagaraonthelake.com, while details on the Shaw Festival Theatre can be found at www.shawfest.com.

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In the Soil: Niagara’s Homegrown Arts Festival:
70 events – 11 venues – 10 days!
Thursday April 15 – Saturday April 24 2010

In The Soil, the Niagara Region’s first multidisciplinary arts festival, is back for its second year to celebrate the original homegrown talent of Niagara. This year 70 acts featuring over 200 artists were chosen by a jury of local veteran and professional artists, proving once again that Niagara’s creative soil is fertile.

Musicians, video, media, theatre, dance and performance artists will be showcased from April 15 to April 24 in a variety of venues throughout the downtown core of St. Catharines. Plus Niagara’s own Juno nominated Great Lakes Swimmers will headline a stellar showcase at Centre for the Arts, Brock University on April 23rd.

New for 2010, the festival will include a three-day theatre showcase from April 16-18 featuring three local, full-length productions by Mainstream, Present Company Inc(luded) and Stray Theatre. In the Soil will also feature a Variety Night on Thursday April 15 of burlesque, music, spoken word, comedy, performance art and sound making at the Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre.
Media artists Marinko Jareb, Ryan Rivando, Donna Szöke and David Vivian will be featured in street-level installations in downtown St. Catharines.

This year’s In the Soil venues: L3, The Merchant Ale House, The Mansion House, Mikado, Niagara Artists Centre, Stella’s, The Office Tap & Grill, Strega Café, Sullivan Mahoney Courthouse Theatre, St. Catharines Public Library (54 Church St) & Centre for the Arts, Brock University.

In the Soil – proving Niagara grows a bountiful crop of creativity!
April 15 – 24 2010.
Tickets $5 at the door / $10 for theatre showcase / $20 for Brock Showcase

For full schedule and more information on the festival, visit www.inthesoil.on.ca/schedule-2010.html

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(The Morningstar Mill and Attached Water Wheel, Photo© 2009)

The morning star mill is a free admission historic location connected to the Bruce Trail. At this remote location you’ll find friendly staff that will always welcome you in. The mill runs from 9am – 5pm same with the local museum just up the path. Walking around you will find almost everything there is original to it’s founding date except the inside of the mill it’s self, which in 1892 burned down, except the stone walls.

(Morning Star House/Museum, Photo© 2009)

The house seen in the photo housed the family that once lived there to run the mill, which is currently set up as a museum of what life was like back then, once again admission is free. Just after this house is the bruce trail, that leads from this location up to as far as Orillia, a 5 hour drive away. For a location that is a past power generating station and current operating mill, the most noise is the two waterfalls that power this location. The mill is surrounded by enless ammounts of forests grown around the water way from the falls that is filled with animal life.

(The Samller man made waterfall that powers the water wheel and turbine when it’s run off valve is opened, Photo© 2009)

This off the path location in the Niagara Region is an amazing place to come and relax while experiencing a true part of Canada’s history and wildlife.

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The Floral Clock, Niagara Parks

You can find the clock at the following location on the Niagara Parkway:



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This location is a brilliant place to visit if you’re doing a drive round the Niagara Parks in general – you can tag a nice photo opportunity here onto a visit to Fort George and Queenston Heights – both places we will be adding to our site in the next few months!

While you’re admiring the clock, dont forget to look around – at the Hydro plant, as well as the small park area behind you – if you look for long enough – you may be lucky enough like we were to meet one of its residents!

A raccoon at the floral clock

If you are thinking about staying in Niagara Falls or the Niagara Parks region on a holiday soon, click the following link for information about prices and hotel locations: