This lakeside Ontario spot is one of the prettiest towns in the province

One of my favourite places to take a weekend getaway in Ontario is Niagara-on-the-Lake. While initially attracted to all the wonderful wineries (can you blame me?) this charming town also has a gorgeous downtown strip with local shops, delicious restaurants and a slew of historic buildings and spots to discover.

In fact, it’s often described as the prettiest town in the province! Just an hour and a half from Toronto, this is a place you can visit any time of year, including the winter.

Pack a bag, and here’s what to do while you’re there.

Getting to Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is nestled along the shores of Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River, about 25 minutes north of Niagara Falls.

If you’re driving from Toronto or the GTA, expect the ride to take around one and a half hours.

Exploring Niagara-on-the-Lake

One of the first things you need to do when visiting is head over to the Heritage District for some shopping.

Some of the standout spots to grab a little something for yourself (or someone else) include FatFace, Cool As A Moose, One Earth Boutique, Serendipity, Budapest Bakeshop, and Wine Country Vintners.

Next up, a glass of wine and the only thing you need to worry about is narrowing down your options.

There are 35+ wineries in the area serving up some of the best glasses of vino in the province. Here are a few I’ve checked out in the past:

• The Hare Wine Co. 
• Château des Charmes
• Trius Wines
• Big Head Wines
• Between The Lines Winery
• De Simone Vineyards

And while you’re treating yourself on this little getaway, make sure to schedule some time at the spa. Pillar and Post’s 100 Fountain Spa spans a whopping 13,000 sq ft and there are day passes available starting at $50.

There are hot springs to relax in and a long list of treatments such as facials, body wraps and scrubs, massage therapy, and manicures and pedicures.

Sounds like a fab weekend or day awaits in Niagara-on-the-Lake!

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