Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada
Fri, Jan 18, 2019
Every autumn my family takes a weekend trip to Canada together. This may seem a bit random to some people but the little town of Niagara-On-The-Lake is only a 4 hour drive from my hometown of Akron, Ohio. And even though I live in New York, Nate and I take the 7 hour drive through upstate New York to meet my family in Canada every October. The middle of October is the perfect time of year to visit NOTL because it’s usually peak autumn. The temperature is in the 60’s during the day and the leaves are vibrantly changing colors, making the town feel like you’re walking through a movie set!
Niagara-On-The-Lake is a beautiful historical town just outside of Niagara Falls. It has a lot of Mississauga, British, and naturally…Canadian history. Although it’s known for it’s over all charm, NOTL also brings in tourists for it’s Theatre, wineries, and stunning location right on Lake Ontario. It’s a perfect weekend getaway! When my family is all there together we stay in a rental house close to Queen St. where all the shops and restaurants are. I recommend doing this if you’re staying with a big group. If you’re going for more of a romantic getaway I would consider staying in one of the bed and breakfasts or cute Inn’s!
Here are my list of things to do and places to eat!
Eats & Treats
Coffee: Balzac’s Coffee Roasters
Breakfast: Cannery Restaurant
Brunch: Noble at Prince Of Wales Hotel
Lunch: Kitchen 76 at Two Sisters Vineyards
Afternoon Tea: Victorian Drawing Room at Prince Of Wales Hotel
Dinner: Backhouse Restaurant
Dessert & Drinks: The Olde Angel Inn
Things To Do
- Spend the afternoon walking around the adorable town. Browse the Old Niagara Bookshop, get a jar of the famous jam at Greaves to take home as a souvenir, check out all the adorable boutiques that line Queen St., and see the Gazebo and view at the Queen’s Royal Park.
- Grab a coffee at Balzac’s and walk around the neighborhood to see all the historical houses adorned for autumn and to admire the brightly colored trees.
- Rent electric scooters or bikes and ride through the wine country and along the lakeside path to admire Lake Ontario. Then grab lunch at the NOTL Golf Course Clubhouse with seats right over the water (and a charging station for your electric bike!).
- See a play at The Shaw Festival Theatre and get drinks and dessert at The Olde Angel Inn afterwards and enjoy the live music and fun vibe.
- Spend the afternoon outside wine tasting at Two Sisters Vineyard or the Riverbend Inn & Vineyard. They are very different from each other and it’s worth it to check out both wineries!
- Watch the sunset in the park overlooking the water near the “Battlefield of Fort Mississauga” (I would go as far west as you can until the parking ends). You could even bring a picnic here, it’s a stunning place to watch the sun go down over the lake.
- If you’re there during the warmer months you can rent kayaks in the lake, the water is incredibly beautiful and crystal clear!
