Bottom Line:
Niagara-on-the-Lake is the lesser known cousin of Niagara Falls. It is located about 20-25 minutes north from the Falls on the Niagara Parkway/River Road, which twists and turns along the edge of the Niagara River gorge. Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to boutiques, European bistros, art galleries, bed & breakfasts, wineries and a couple of unique attractions that take advantage of the town's location on Lake Ontario.
Currency:
Unfortunately, the equalizing of currency between Canada and United States has cut down on tourism. This would be less of a problem if more of the restaurants and attractions in the area adjusted their prices to reflect the change. Of course, many of the hotels, bed & breakfasts and restaurants in the area cater to clientele that many not sweat the price tag.
Restaurants:
Many of the restaurants offer fine dining; but there are also more casual options. Like a bargain-hunter in a discount store, it may take a little snooping to find a restaurant that doesn’t soak up your souvenir money. There is a definite European bistro atmosphere to most of the restaurants along Queen Street, but a few of them are less expensive while offering good food.
Bed & Breakfasts:
Home of the Bed & Breakfast, Niagara-on-the-Lake has literally 100s of accommodation options. Anything within walking distance to town fills up fast and is on the expensive side. If you’re willing to stay beyond walking distance to the downtown area, there are some good values at outlying Bed & Breakfasts and Inns.
Attractions:
- Wine Tasting
- Shaw Festival
- Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours
- Fort George
- Golf
Parking:
Niagara-on-the-Lake doesn’t use meters. Instead, it uses parking boxes from which a ticket can be purchased. It accepts credit cards.
