BF is taking me on a "surprise" weekend trip to Niagara before we start bar review and move away from here. I think we're just staying one night, and his tentative plan (because I peeked) is to do the canadian wineries, like Inniskillin, the first day, and then have dinner or at least drinks/appetiers probably at the hotel (our room includes a gift card to one of the 2 restaurants apparently, a steakhouse and then TGI Fridays), and maybe go to the casino, and then to tour the caves the next day since the maid of the mist is closed. Does anyone have any recs for any cute stores in the town, or nice restaurants/places to get snacks? Is there anything else to do there? Is there any fun shopping nearby on the canadian side? Thanks!
Travel Has anyone been to Niagara falls or the Niagara on the Lake wineries?
- Thread starter floridagal23
- Start date
Hi Floridagal. You should have a great time in Niagara On The Lake;it is a charming city.
I have only stayed at The Prince Of Wales, Queen's Landing and Pillar & Post hotels. I prefer Queen's Landing and I love the dining room there. The food is very good, and I prefer the menu over the other hotels.
I had one of the best lunches at The Gate House Hotel. I don't remember the name of the restaurant,but it is Italian.
Out of all of the Niagara wines I have tried while there; Marynissen has some wonderful wines.
As far as shopping goes; there are many shops on the main street in Niagara On The Lake. You will have plenty to look at,although I don't think you will want to buy much? It is not designer or trendy boutiques; but there are some beautiful shops.
Niagara Falls is touristy and tacky;but the Canadian Falls are an unforgettable sight. Far more beautiful than the American Falls.
It is not worth shopping there,unless you want a gigantic Hershey bar!
It is really worth going to "Niagara On The Lake" for the day.
Don't spend all of your time in "Niagara Falls".
It is really like comparing apples and oranges.
I hope that you both enjoy your trip to Canada.
I have only stayed at The Prince Of Wales, Queen's Landing and Pillar & Post hotels. I prefer Queen's Landing and I love the dining room there. The food is very good, and I prefer the menu over the other hotels.
I had one of the best lunches at The Gate House Hotel. I don't remember the name of the restaurant,but it is Italian.
Out of all of the Niagara wines I have tried while there; Marynissen has some wonderful wines.
As far as shopping goes; there are many shops on the main street in Niagara On The Lake. You will have plenty to look at,although I don't think you will want to buy much? It is not designer or trendy boutiques; but there are some beautiful shops.
Niagara Falls is touristy and tacky;but the Canadian Falls are an unforgettable sight. Far more beautiful than the American Falls.
It is not worth shopping there,unless you want a gigantic Hershey bar!
It is really worth going to "Niagara On The Lake" for the day.
Don't spend all of your time in "Niagara Falls".
It is really like comparing apples and oranges.
I hope that you both enjoy your trip to Canada.
I've been to niagra countless times. When i live in Toronto en route to Quebec and/or NYC. Such a cute little city. Such interesting culture and mix of old and new.
Thank you so much, everyone. We are driving up probably on Friday AM, and BF got a beautiful suite at a hotel there. Our tentative plan is to visit some wineries, see the caves, and visit Niagara on the Lake. I am off to go some research about that italian restaurant! It will be a good quick one night getaway for us. Thanks again 
Agree with the others - Niagara on the lake is lovely (though can get a bit busy). I bought a really lovely painting from an artist there called Edward Spera who paints wildlife and he even signed the back (as it was our wedding anniversary that day). It's of a bear and is so realistic.
The falls themselves are spectacular and the Maid of the Mist fantastic - though you WILL get soaked!! Try and stand on the right side of the boat as that's the side that goes closest to the falls.
Niagara itself is a bit tacky - loads of cheap tat about...never stayed there so can't comment on evening activities (shows etc) but from what I remember reading, there is a light show over the falls (with coloured lights etc).
Inniskillen is worth a stop purely to sample the ice wine!! It's REALLY, REALLY sweet (my DH couldn't drink it as he said his teeth were melting - it was THAT sweet!!
). Me, I loved the stuff and quite happily drank his one (well, it would have been a shame to let it go to waste!!). I think it's a couple of bucks for the samples but well worth trying - they have "regular" wine as well if it's too sweet for you.
Hope you have a fabulous trip - I loved it there (was staying in Toronto) and will definately go back some day and do a bit more touring of the area.
The falls themselves are spectacular and the Maid of the Mist fantastic - though you WILL get soaked!! Try and stand on the right side of the boat as that's the side that goes closest to the falls.
Niagara itself is a bit tacky - loads of cheap tat about...never stayed there so can't comment on evening activities (shows etc) but from what I remember reading, there is a light show over the falls (with coloured lights etc).
Inniskillen is worth a stop purely to sample the ice wine!! It's REALLY, REALLY sweet (my DH couldn't drink it as he said his teeth were melting - it was THAT sweet!!
). Me, I loved the stuff and quite happily drank his one (well, it would have been a shame to let it go to waste!!). I think it's a couple of bucks for the samples but well worth trying - they have "regular" wine as well if it's too sweet for you.Hope you have a fabulous trip - I loved it there (was staying in Toronto) and will definately go back some day and do a bit more touring of the area.
I've done dinner and tours at Hillebrand Estates a bunch of times and it's always been an enjoyable time. Their restaurant is really nice with the windows overlooking the vinyard. They have different types of ice wines so it's nice to see the variety. If ice wine is too sweet for you, but you'd still like to try a dessert/sweeter wine - I'd definitely try their Late Harvest Vidal!
Well, we went. It is definitely tacky, but we had great weather and the hotel was gorgeous with a great suite and great views from the 36th floor. I won 50 dollars in a slot machine (woo hoo) and we went to Inniskillin, Reif and Pellar wineries. Took a lovely walk/lunch/ice cream in Niagara on the Lake and it was a quick and easy drive for us. We also did the "Journey behind the falls" tour as the Maid of the Mist is closed due to ice in the water. It was definitely a nice overnight getaway before finals and bar prep begin. I only wish we knew it would be such a lovely day - we would have rented bikes for the winery area. Thanks for all the recs!