One of my
It’s not a very large place so 2 days is plenty of time to see what you need to. The spot largely consists of two main things: the main street and lots of wineries. What more could you ask for? A cute little town with wine and gourmet food? Sign us up!
For those of you who haven’t yet had the pleasure of visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake (or NOTL for short), let me tell you a bit about it. The quaint town is located about an hour and a half outside of Toronto and as you guessed it, near Niagara Falls.
Testing out the Ford Edge
We headed out of the city first thing on a Saturday morning. As we were only staying one night (and two full days) we wanted to make sure we were going to make the most of the trip! Hopping in the Ford Edge the first thing that really grabbed my attention was how the seat and steering wheel moved towards you once you turned on the car. I honestly felt like I was in some sci-fi movie.
Similar to the EcoSport (my favourite of the Ford line-up), the car comes with ApplePlay so you can hook your phone right up to the console. This makes it super easy for getting directions for your trip and
listening to the music you want to. Not to mention the 12 speaker sound system by Bang & Olufsen. It was good enough to drown out my terrible singing (thankfully for Ben).
A couple of years ago I got in my only car accident on our way back from Niagara. There’s a really large bridge right outside of the area that doesn’t have much to protect you from the elements as you cross over bits of Lake Ontario. That one particular day it was super snowy and cars spun out of control. Ever since I’ve been a bit nervous on the road especially in the winter. Driving the Ford Edge actually helped me to feel safer. Not only is it a large car (that weirdly drives like a small one) but it comes with a number of driver-assist features. Things like emergency breaking, a lane keeping system, pre-collision assistance and cross-traffic alert are all there to make your drive safer and more enjoyable.
While I may be biased because I’m a huge fan of Ford vehicles, I loved driving the Ford Edge. The ride was smooth and really enjoyable. Ben and I both said returning home on the Sunday that the drive felt super short from NOTL.
Where to stay
This is the
The Harbour House
I had wanted to stay in this boutique hotel for quite a while so I was grateful to have been given the chance recently. It met all expectations! The hotel is located by the water front, which I can imagine would be exceptionally lovely in the summer months.
There is a free happy hour in the hotel and free breakfast as well with your stay. Everything about the hotel is so cozy and screams Christmas-ready. The decorations were up, it was toasty inside and we even had our own fireplace in the room! That’s always an added bonus. The hotel is also walking distance to almost everywhere you want to be on the main street.
| Click here to book the Harbour House |
The Oban Inn
One of our other
The Oban Inn is also located within walking distance from the main street. The design of the hotel is cozier than the Harbour House but the rooms are much smaller. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a stay.
What to do
Okay I know what you’re thinking, how much could there actually be to do in a small town like Niagara-on-the-Lake? I mean you’re right, it doesn’t have the same sightseeing appeal like Toronto or even Niagara Falls but that’s the best part. Most of what you’ll want to do is relax.
With so many spas, amazing restaurants and vineyards nearby you definitely won’t be bored.
Walk the main strip
It won’t take you too long but there are some really cute shops along the main street in Niagara-on-the-Lake. One of my personal favourites is the store that houses Christmas ornaments all year long. Obviously around Christmas time you’ll have even more reason to buy something from the little shop!
Dine at Treadwell
While there are a ton of delicious restaurants that you can get at on your getaway to Niagara-on-the-Lake, one of my
Admire the old homes
Surrounding the main street of NOTL, there are tons of beautiful homes for you to admire. Many of the best ones are along the waterfront but you should definitely take a walk around. You’ll feel almost as if you’re walking through old time America with the way the houses are designed. Ben and I do it every time we’re there!
Sample some wine
You didn’t think we would talk about a getaway to Niagara-on-the-Lake without mentioning the vineyards did you? As a lover of all types of wines I absolutely adore discovering new product. Now I’m not really an expert but I know a delicious wine when I taste it.
There are a few wineries we love to visit every time we’re back but we also try and discover new ones as well. The Trius winery is great for standard
The Gretzky Estates winery is also another we love to go back to. This might sound funny that one of hockey’s greatest players also makes great wine but it’s true! We love getting the charcuterie board while we test out the wines. The grounds are also really nice for walking around. Gretzky also just opened up a whisky distillery next door so you’ve got to check that out as well.
Ravine winery is the newest one on our list. It’s the wine we tried at Treadwell and just had to visit the next day. We weren’t disappointed. While they were under construction during our getaway to Niagara-on-the-Lake I could just imagine what it looks like without the fencing up. The wines are also fantastic. A little on the expensive side but if you’re looking for a great gift or a nicer bottle for a special occasion than this is it.
So there you have it, our perfect getaway to Niagara-on-the-Lake!
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