One of my favourite places in the province is beloved by many for good reason. It’s historic, beautiful, lined with wineries, and has some of the cutest hotels, making it the ultimate weekend destination. If you haven’t guessed it yet, it’s Niagara-on-the-Lake, and I’m going to break down the best parts of this adorable town.

Let’s start with Niagara-on-the-Lake’s history.

The town was established as a settlement for United Empire Loyalists in 1781. It was then incorporated and became the first capital of Upper Canada in 1792 before being rebuilt after the War of 1812. Niagara-on-the-Lake was designated a national historic district in 2004 due to its “preserved architecture dating from the 1815 to ’59 period, all standing in the grid-pattern street plan.”

The Heritage District is my favourite spot in town. The area is lined with boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, and photo opportunities. Some popular must-visit places include Cows (best ice cream ever), Just Christmas (Canada’s oldest year-round holiday emporium), The Irish Harp (a traditional Irish pub with live music and the coziest vibes), and the Old Niagara Bookstore.

Staying in town could be where your trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake ends, but you would be missing out on one of the best parts: the wineries.

Some of Canada’s best wineries are in this area, and while it’s challenging to narrow them down, here are some of the ones I know and love:

  • Trius Winery
  • Jackson Triggs Winery
  • Château des Charmes
  • Inniskillin
  • Lailey Winery
  • Bella Terra Vineyards
  • Stratus Vineyards
  • The Lakeview Wine Co.

If you need somewhere to eat after a few glasses of wine, there are plenty of restaurant options, such as 11th Post on Queen, Corks, and Aura on the Lake.

Finally, settle in at one of the historic hotels here. Prince of Wales Hotel, Queen’s Landing, and Pillar and Post are all full of history, and in the heart of all the action. You can’t go wrong with any of them.

Have a fabulous time in this amazing town!

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Taylor Lucas

Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.

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