Keep exploring Canada

St. James

Most people have heard of Niagara Falls, but have you heard of nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake? They are a mere 22 kilometres apart, but are uniquely different.

We recently travelled to Ontario for a family event, and started the holiday with a visit to this lush region. Aptly-named the ‘greenbelt,’ there are orchards and vineyards as far as the eye can see. In fact, there are 55 wineries listed in the Travel Guide, each with their own history and flavours.

As a Slurpee connoisseur, I was intrigued by De Simone’s roadside ad for wine slushies. We were treated to the family history of the vineyard and atmosphere of another world. I’ve never enjoyed “notes of peach” in a slushie before. Let’s just say I may now be in a different bevvie bracket.

Further down the highway we entered the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, which also has an ‘old town’ section filled with historical buildings and mercantile of an era gone by. The Prince of Wales Hotel sits prominently in the centre of town. Even if you don’t stay overnight, you can enjoy a cuppa in the lounge and soak up the atmosphere.

If you fancy some theatre, the Shaw Festival is the second largest repertory theatre company in North America and has been performing since 1962. Reserve your tickets early — they sell out fast.

We were impressed with Lake Ontario, which actually has a smaller surface area than Lake Winnipeg but is much deeper. From a lakeside park we viewed both the distant Toronto skyline as well as Fort Niagara, which is actually on U.S. soil just a few hundred metres away. We also noticed a boat and helicopter seemingly defending their border — but maybe that was just our imagination.

Here are my takeaways:

• Absolutely everyone we came into contact with was lovely and happy to have us there.

• The 401 is NOT as scary as I’ve always imagined.

• Audio Google Maps is so much easier than reading a map while driving.

• When you find a location that resonates with you, take your time there.

Our only regret was that we didn’t stay longer. Our next visit will be in the fall, to enjoy the colours my mother used to cherish while growing up in Oakville, and to experience as many of the 15 apple varieties as possible.