Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is so incredible that I have visited not once, but twice. I stayed in the town of Niagara during my first overnight visit. Then I returned a second time with family and ended up staying in Niagara-on-the-Lake which I much preferred.

The Main Attraction

Obviously the main reason for visiting this region is to see the falls. The volume of the water flow is just surreal and it is definitely one of those things you have to see in person to understand the power of Niagara Falls. Luckily, we were on the Canadian side of the falls, which has much better panoramic views than the American side. I took the Hornblower Cruise on both occasions and I would highly recommend taking the boat tour if you visit. It brings you up close to each of the three waterfalls and immerses you in the mist of the Horseshoe Falls. They give you ponchos for a reason! We stood at the front of the top deck both times and the feeling of the mist hitting us was kind of exhilarating. We also got to meet Adam Sandler the first time we took the cruise. Life made.

Niagara:

We stayed in a motel in the town of Niagara falls during our first visit. The proximity to the falls is about the only thing going for the town. I found it to be pretty tacky, almost like a mini version of Las Vegas. It's definitely family-friendly with plenty of amusements for kids, but the flashy Clifton Hill was certainly not my cup of tea. However if you are in the area, I would highly recommend a visit to the Niagara Brewing Company. There is a relaxed atmosphere inside and their beer flights are amazing.

Niagara-on-the-Lake:

Having learnt from our mistakes, we decided to stay in Niagara-on-the-Lake the second time around with my parents. We stayed in a B&B in a quiet neighbourhood which was about a twenty minute walk from the town. We rented out a car so it was much easier getting from A to B. The town itself is really quaint and is lined with cute specialty shops and cafes. We ate in the Irish Harp both nights, strereotypical Irish, I know. But after six months of living abroad, I was finally craving some good aul Irish comfort food. It certainly did the job.

Wine Tasting:

The Niagara Peninsula is the main wine-growing region in Canada, so it was a no brainer to sample some vino while we were there. We visited two vineyards: a smaller one that our B&B host recommended to us called Pondview Estates, and a more well-known one just beside it called Caroline Cellars. Niagara wine is really good and we also sampled some famous ice wine, which is a bit too sweet for me but was still great to try. The scenery surrounding the vineyards was incredible, especially with the autumnal colours.

Wine not?

Niagara River Recreational Trail:

We made the most of the weather during our trip and rented out bikes to cycle along the Niagara River. There's a cycle route running all along the river and passes the Niagara Escarpment. We did a three hour cycle passing vineyards and taking in stunning views of the river. 

So if you are planning a day trip see Niagara Falls, it really wouldn't go amiss to make a weekend out of it and visit Niagara-on-the-Lake while you're there. It's a beautiful town with peaceful and scenic surroundings and I would definitely visit again.