Side Trippin': Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada

Niagara-on-the-Lake is an adorable little Canadian town located in Southern Ontario where Lake Ontario meets the Niagara River.  We went there back in 2010 and I've been getting the itch to go back ever since.  When I saw we'd be passing right by there on our way back from Toronto, you can bet I put it on the itinerary!

In the center of town is this statue of playwright George Bernard Shaw.

ShawFest runs every April through October showing plays, talks from guest speakers, ghost tours and a host of other activities.  I'm not sure what the connection is with this town but they seem to immerse themselves in all things Shaw over the sunnier months and if it gives you an excuse to visit, go for it!

The town is quaint with all kinds of specialty stores, restaurants and B&B's if you'd like an extended stay.

As you can see it had rained when we went there but thankfully stopped when we got there so the streets weren't crowded at all and it was a Saturday.

If you have some showers, consider yourself lucky since it seems to keep the people at bay.  Just grab an umbrella...you may be sweet but you ain't made of sugah, you won't melt!  ;-)

Some of the stores are a little funky but memorable.

It's a town to get your fill of their amazing wines and pay the premium for the Icewine or at least do a tasting while you're there!  We both loathe wine but love Icewine.  SO good but it's also when my inner cheapskate tends to win out.

They also do a great job hitting the sweet tooth.  We parked in front of Maple Leaf Fudge and when I saw they had Penuche (brown sugar) Fudge, we HAD to get a slice.

Oh my Lord.  We were trying to justify a way to get the buy three get one free deal in our heads but given we already had the sugar sweats after a 1/4 of a slice, we thought better of it.  SOOO good!  (I just wish they kept it wrapped though because the outside at any fudge place like this is always harder and makes you feel a little gypped.)

Down the street was a retro candy store called Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe.  They had new candy of course but also some great favorites from childhood and Jelly Belly even manufactures Icewine jelly beans for the area!

I seriously regret not getting some of those to try but probably better I didn't because if they were really good, I would've walked out with 1/2 lb and would've been 20 minutes away from turning into the Great Cornholio on a sugar rant.

We went across the street to The Scottish Loft which has food imports from England, Wales and of course Scotland.  In case you're a Curly Wurly (aka Marathon Bar) fan from back in the day like the Mr, they had the best price on them.  Also, because I'm a petulant 7 year old boy at heart...

I was so happy to see my favorite store was still there, Cecile's Home & Gifts.

It's a cute shop but I think the first time I saw it, the big French provincial decorating craze was just about to hit.  Now that it's been a little overdone, I was only slightly less impressed this time.  They do have a ton of soaps and skin care products and after a sales pitch on several different kinds of soap, the Mr purchased some teak wood soap for his shaving ritual and it smells so good I want to attack him.  (In a good way, of course.)

We had fun poking around Victoria Teas and Coffee.

Lots of tea testers to sniff and the prices seemed to be pretty decent for the bags.  They had some cute accessories to make the coffee or tea lover in your life over the moon.

Should you find yourself needing a grocery store to pick up a few necessities like better prices on more common candy to the region, there's a Valu-Mart.

There is a pretty nice 9 hole golf course there but since it was cold and we're not golfer so we drove by it.  There are places to sit and watch the water or even driving the neighborhood to ogle the gorgeous homes is a fun activity.

Whether you're picking up a bite to eat or touring a winery, Niagara on the Lake is a cute little side trip if you find yourself in the Niagara Falls or Toronto area.

[A side note: parking is limited and they make their money on parking tickets.  We should know, we got one in 2010.  They have one of those central parking permit kiosks you have to buy through and not meters.  Here's a map of the streets and parking times so you don't have to learn the hard way.]

Have you ever been to Niagara on the Lake? 

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