Niagara-on-the-Lake
The historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake sits on the south shore of Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River. It is only a 15-minute drive from both St. Catharine’s to the west and Niagara Falls to the south.
From Niagara-on-the-Lake looking across the Niagara River, is New York state, accessible by the Queenston-Lewiston bridge only 10 minutes up the Niagara Parkway.
The town is known worldwide for its theatre festival, The Shaw Festival. Each year the Shaw Festival presents a series of plays throughout the town in their three theatres from April to December. In addition to this festival there are many associated outdoor events and concerts. With 28 wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake itself, and a couple craft breweries to top it off, the area is hard to beat for wine lovers and foodies. During the summer, food truck events, outdoor movie screenings and musical performances are held at various venues and wineries almost weekly.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club is a public course uniquely located off Queen Street, the main street downtown. The course sits on a historic site of the war of 1812, as much of the town does, with such a long, eventful history. The golf course is the oldest surviving golf course in North America and was established nearly 150 years ago. Praised as an unsurpassed course with ease of access by rail or steamer in 1878, the course maintains its quality in nine holes today. Queenston Golf Club down the road, and St David's Golf Course are beautiful local alternatives for a full 18-hole round.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake sailing club operates from their marina on the Niagara River and sails into Lake Ontario.
Down the road from Niagara-on-the-Lake along the Niagara Parkway is the village of Queenston, home of the Laura Secord Homestead, where the Canadian heroine of the war of 1812 lived. A short walk around the corner the is the Mackenzie Printery and Newspaper Museum, Canada's largest printing museum. It contains Canada's oldest press, which was constructed circa 1770.
It is a local tale that upon visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake and traveling along the Niagara Parkway on one of his visits, Sir Winston Churchill called the drive the “prettiest Sunday drive in the world”. With the Niagara River on one side and the lovely rolling vineyards on the other, a quick trip down this road will certainly have you agreeing with Sir Winston.
Among the historical towns and monuments to the past, are a mix of century’s old homes and newer home developments that combine the beauty of the picturesque town with the convenience and comfort of modern finishes.
Choosing Niagara-on-the-Lake as a home will have you feeling like you are on a lovely weekend getaway every time you step out your front door.