As the season begins to change and summer comes to an end, people generally get back into the regular swing of things; leaving the dog days of summer behind them and readjusting to a regular schedule of sorts. Long gone are the weekend trips to the cottage, nights spent sipping wine on the back patio or lazy days spent by the pool. Instead, school is back in session, the sun begins to set a bit earlier and the small sense of freedom that summer brings — even if it's just a state of mind — slowly starts to disappear.
Once summer vacations are out of the way, many people start to plan their next big trip like a weekend getaway to zap some romance back into a relationship or a week-long vacation to somewhere that's hot in the dead of winter. Sometimes, though, you don't need to go far to capture that feeling you get while on vacation. Niagara-on-the-Lake, the most historic part of Niagara and Canada's “prettiest little town,” is just a short drive away.
While the historic town is mainly known for its large number of wineries, Janice Thomson, executive director of the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce, says it's gone beyond that and is now considered the “Culinary Capital of Canada.” In addition to the wineries, Niagara-on-the-Lake also boasts the largest number of fine dining restaurants and food producers per capita compared to other municipalities in Canada. Signature dining events like the bi-annual Fabulicious campaign which sees several prominent restaurants offer of a prix fixe menu, and the more recent addition of Ontario's inaugural Diner En Blanc food flash mob help to solidify that title, along with the annual peach, strawberry and cherry festivals that celebrate the harvest of each succulent fruit. Come January, it's all about the golden nectar, more commonly known as icewine. For one week each year, a section of Queen Street is transformed into a winter wonderland decorated with everything ice related. From frosty sculptures to bars and tables, it's all ice. And there is, of course, ice wine from Niagara-on-the-Lake's many wineries on hand that can be tasted together with morsels of meals from area restaurants.
The fall, though, provides Niagara residents who avoid the tourist-friendly area during the busy summer months with a chance to experience the best the town has to offer at a more relaxed pace.
“It's definitely a relaxing time to visit,” says Janice. “There are fewer kids on the street, they've all gone back to school, and it's just a more relaxed atmosphere. We're also fortunate to enjoy nice weather through the fall.”
It's easy for couples to spend a romantic evening or day on the town. Whether you're looking to satisfy your culinary palate in one of the high-end restaurants in the area or would rather enjoy a meal al fresco, there are a number of great options in this picturesque town. For a daytime adventure, enjoy a meal on the patio at Cork's Winebar and Eatery (19 Queen St.). A perfect spot for people watching, the patio is situated across from the old courthouse and iconic clocktower. If the weather's nice and a meal in one of Old Town's pretty parks is more your speed, try picking up a fresh sandwich or salad from The Epicurean Fresh Dining (84 Queen St.) or swing by the salad bar at Harvest Barn (1822 Niagara Stone Rd.) on the way into town before heading on to Simcoe Park at the corner of King and Queen streets or Queen Royal Park with its view of the Niagara River to enjoy a picnic. Take a stroll down Queen Street, peeking in the windows and shops along the way that feature a wide array of items from sale. There's Just Christmas, which features — as it name suggests — items pertaining to the Christmas season, or Kurtz Culinary Creations where you can taste jams and spreads. There are clothing stores that appeal to people with all different fashion senses. For something a bit different, step into the Beau Chapeau Hat Shop where there are hats of all shapes, sizes, colours and styles for both men and women.
The Shaw Festival runs through October and tickets for some of the 50th season's more popular shows, like My Fair Lady or Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, may be easier to come by than they would have been during the summer.
Many of the more well-known hotels in the area, like Queens Landing, Oban Inn, Piller and Post and the Prince of Wales all have fine dining restaurants that are equally as celebrated. And don't forget the wine: with more than 26 wineries to choose from it's easy to find something that measures up to even the most discerning palate.
Whether it's day or night, there's a lot of ways to rediscover (or reinvigorate) your love in Niagara-on-the-Lake.