Beautiful, Historic Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on- the-Lake is a beautiful and historic town, located on Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River. In 1996, it won the title of the prettiest town in Canada. In 2016 it was the winner of the Canada-wide “Communities in Bloom” competition, and in 2017 it won the International Challenge in the "Communities in Bloom" competition.
Settlement of the town started in 1778 when it was known as “Newark”, and it gained prominence as the first capital of Upper Canada in 1792. The town played a significant role in the underground railroad and the War of 1812.
Today it is the best preserved 19th century town in Canada, retaining its historical charm and hospitality that welcomes hundreds of thousands of North American and international tourists each year. The picturesque Georgian and Neoclassical architecture (1815-59) of the Heritage District is displayed in the private homes, hotels, boutique shops and a wide variety of casual and fine restaurants.
Niagara-on- the-Lake also offers world-class theater -- the Shaw Festival -- as well as many music and arts festivals, bike and walking trails, and Niagara River outings. There are five golf courses within easy driving distance, including the lakefront NOTL golf club in town - established in 1875, it is the oldest continuously operating golf course in North America.
The rural area of Niagara-on- the-Lake is famous for its tender fruit agriculture, with orchards of cherry, peach, apricot, pear and other fruits. Ontario’s first modern wineries were established here in the 1970s, and today there are 37 award-winning wineries offering wine tasting, and many with casual or fine dining as well. Internationally renowned ice wines are produced here and exported all over the world. In recent years, several micro-breweries and two breweries have been established in the Old Town and Virgil, operating restaurants to complement their tasting bars.
From Niagara-on- the-Lake, it is only a short drive to Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, three U.S. border crossings and Buffalo, NY.
For further information, refer to the following websites about all that Niagara-on-the-Lake has to offer.
To watch a 5 minute YouTube video of Niagara-on-the-Lake titled "My Town". (created by Rene Bertschi), click on the following link. Niagara on the Lake - My Town - YouTube