As I write this and look through photos from our short, but sweet, little getaway I am already thinking of when we can book our next trip back.
I think we all have places that we love, that remind us of moments in our lives and bring us a feeling of nostalgia, for us this place is Niagara-on-the-Lake. I grew-up with parents that loved to visit this spot and when we started taking mini-vacations my husband and I fell in love with it as well.
Niagara-on-the-Lake has been the one place that my husband and I have consistently visited both with the kids and on our own over the years. It is close enough to home that we are comfortable leaving the kids overnight, but also has the feel of a vacation spot, so you truly get the best of both worlds.
Where We Stayed
One of our favourite places to stay when we visit Niagara-on-the-Lake is The Pillar and Post Inn and Spa.
What we love about Pillar and Post is that it has a resort feel; with an on-site spa, indoor and outdoor pools, on site restaurant and bar so we can explore the town or just relax at the Inn. We often book massages and visit the
Where We Ate
After trying a few spots on the main strip over the years, we started to take little walks into the neighbourhood and to the water which lead us to The Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club. While we are not golfers, we do love the location of this restaurant as it has breathtaking views of the Niagara River from the patio and the restaurant. The food is also delicious and friendly staff have always made us feel welcome especially when we brought our kids there this past summer.
What We Did
We were only in town for 24 hours so we didn’t do a whole lot, but we did manage to squeeze in a morning at The Fountain Spa at the Pillar and Post as well as a Ghost Walk through the what has been called “Canada’s Most Haunted Town.” I do love a good story, especially one that is rich with Canadian History, but I have to say that I was a little bit scared. Yup, these stories were intense ( there was a war on this soil so the history is pretty intense) and I am kind of a baby when it comes to this stuff lol. So, if you love history, are not too scared of ghosts and you’re not planning on staying at any of the hotels on the tour, I’d say go for it! It does make for kind of a romantic walk around the town, but make sure to shake it off before heading to bed lol.
Where We Shopped
While we don’t live in Niagara-on-the-Lake, we visit often enough that I have a coffee stamp card at one of our favourite shops, Victoria Teas and Coffee, and this past weekend I received my first free bag of coffee beans after collecting stamps from our mini-getaways. And yes, if you’re wondering, I was so excited!
When we go on vacation, whether it’s a short trip to Niagara or a big trip over-seas, we don’t really shop a lot, but what we do like to buy is local coffee, wine and other food items to bring home with us.
These are just a few of the shops we almost always visit when we are in Niagara-on-the-Lake:
We love their coffee so much and always stop in for a bag or two of beans. If you’re planning on visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake I highly recommend popping into this charming little shop and if you are just a coffee lover that won’t be able to make the trip, you can order beans from them online too!
I grew up loving these jams, my mother loves them too and we almost always bring a few jars home as gifts for our family or to stock our pantry.
I honestly can’t visit Niagara-on-the-Lake without wanted to go into this adorable shop, guys I am a sucker for a good Christmas shop any time of year! I love the nostalgia that comes from visiting a Christmas store and it’s always nice to bring home a yearly ornament that has meaning or is connected to a place we love.
We both agreed that one night is never enough when we are planning a mini-getaway, especially sans babies, but I do have to say that even if you are only able to get away for one night, this is the perfect spot for it. There’s lots to do within walking distance, great food and it’s just a warm and welcoming environment steeped in a rich history.
josephineacreativelife.com 