Things To Do
Explore Niagara-On-The-Lake’s Heritage District
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a well-preserved 19th-century village in the middle of Ontario Wine Country. The Heritage District includes 25 arbor-framed streets graced with historic homes and buildings. It's surrounded by beautiful parks and lush gardens and bordered on both sides by waterfront. The heart of the village is its main thoroughfare, Queen Street. Queen is best navigated on foot, with its abundance of shops, boutiques and galleries. If you're a foodie, you have your pick of eateries from small cafes and bistros to British-style pubs, to farm-to-table restaurants and ethnic dining, wine bars, breweries and everything else in between. Getting to the Heritage District is easy – it’s a 15-minute walk from Pillar and Post, or a two-minute Uber ride. Of course, you can always drive, but finding a parking spot in peak season can be difficult. Most parking is metered with time limits, and parking rules are strictly enforced.
Tour a Winery (or Five)
Beyond its quaint downtown, perhaps NOTL's biggest claim to fame is home to Ontario Wine Country. This is a community of close to 40 wineries, each with personalities as distinctive as the wines they create. They range from small family-run operations to sprawling luxury estates. Each winery offers friendly staff, relaxed tasting rooms and a wide range of wines to sample including rare vintages, special reserves and the area’s world-famous Niagara Icewines. Most wineries accommodate walk-ins for tastings. Select a few and take a drive; there’s plenty of free parking. For a fun group experience, a guided winery tour can be arranged by Pillar and Post; Cellar Door Wine Experience; or Grape Escape; all offering comfortable transport with stops at a handful of different wineries. Quick heads up: most wineries are open seven days a week, and with a few exceptions, they close daily around 5
Take In a Show at the Shaw Festival
Along with its wineries, Niagara-on-the-Lake is famous for its world-class theatre. During the season, 10 or more productions—from comedies to musicals and more—are performed at three different theatres. The Shaw Festival is a three minute car/Uber ride, or a 20 min walk from Pillar and Post. Parking is limited (and expensive at $25 ca). Tickets can be purchased through the Box Office at 1-800-511- SHAW (7429) or online at shawfest.com.
Discover Fort George
Fort George played a key role in the defense of Upper Canada during the War of 1812. Today, it features a collection of reconstructed buildings designed to showcase what life was like here in the 1800s. It’s similar to a museum but more interactive. As you walk around the grounds, you can chat with costumed staff, ask questions, and watch live musket demonstrations. Fort George is a 5 minute car/Uber ride or a 25 minute walk from Pillar and Post.
Visit Queen’s Royal Park
After all the walking and exploring, you might want to take a break—and Queen’s Royal Park is the best place to do that. It's about a 20 minute walk or 5 minute car/Uber ride from Pillar and Post. It’s a lovely spot situated at the point where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. From this vantage point, you’ll have a clear view of Lake Ontario and Fort Niagara across the river in New York. Queen’s Royal Park has a gazebo, benches and a few picnic tables if you feel like sitting by the water for a while. It’s also the perfect spot for a picnic. Fyi, Cheese Secrets in NOTL (https://www.cheesesecrets.com) sells delicious To-Go charcuterie boxes.