Toronto 
When it comes to a winter getaway or day trip in Southern Ontario, you’ll have several great options. This could include the many urban centres, small cities, or the more rural areas.
For many, a trip to southern Ontario may include the iconic location of Niagara Falls. While there is a ton to do and see around the city of Niagara Falls, there are also ways to escape the hustle and bustle. Niagara-on-the-Lake is a short drive north of the Falls with places to stay, eat, tour, and explore. The Niagara region offers unique winter scenery, views, and experiences to fill a day, weekend, or winter week’s itinerary.
Niagara-on-the-Lake for the Holidays
This is a wonderful place to stay or visit for the holidays, with several festive activities to enjoy around Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the greater Niagara region.
- This includes holiday entertainment, great local shopping (including the Just Christmas store) along the festively decorated Queen Street, and hotel deals from Harbour House Hotel, Queen’s Landing, or the Prince of Wales Hotel.
- Find even more deals and holiday specials from local restaurants and eateries like Tiara Restaurant in Queens Landing Hotel, Oban Restaurant, or The Garrison House.
The Best of Winter Dining in Niagara-on-the-Lake
There will be several options on your trip for not only where to eat, but also the type of cuisine you need to warm yourself over the winter. Plus, Niagara’s wine country is busy over the winter with special tasting experiences!
- Welcome to Ontario’s wine country, also known as the Niagara region! And, there are winter tasting opportunities with Peller Estates and their feature ice wine. The tour includes an opportunity to taste the winter treat from inside an authentic igloo. The nearby Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate provides year-round tastings as well, including a variety of different tour types around the Estate.
- Visit MyWineCountry.com to find various fun ways to take a local wine tour including by snowshoe.
- Bundle, huddle, or warm up around Niagara-on-the-Lake’s local cafes or bakeries. Places like Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, Shaw Café & Wine Bar, the Niagara Home Bakery, or the Soko Bakery Cafe, can all provide a way to warm up or fill up over the winter months.
Outdoor Fun & Winter Recreation
The town surrounds the southern shores of Lake Ontario where the lake meets the Niagara River. The river valley and waterfront areas around Niagara-on-the-Lake are the perfect place to start for fresh winter air, snowy fun, exercise, or all of the above.
- There are beautiful riverside and lakeside trails to enjoy for the scenery and fresh air. Enjoy wthe inter scenery from the Queens Royal Park. Some of the town’s best trails are also steeped in history, including those around Fort Mississauga and Mississauga Point Lighthouse National Historic Sites or those outside the Fort George National Historic Site.
- If it is your first time, take a free guided walking tour of the historic town.
- The Pillar & Post, a Niagara-on-the-Lake hotel, offers not only a place to stay for your winter visit but also several other amenities to make your stay more exciting or more relaxing. The hotel is home to a spa, operates an outdoor skating area for public use (not just hotel guests), and a year-round café beside the rink.
- Cross-country skiers can take to the area’s section of the Bruce Trail (near Niagara Falls) for escarpment exploration or the Niagara to Grimsby Waterfront Trail (near Niagara-on-the-Lake) for lakeside views and exploration.
A Visit to Niagara Falls
Beginning with the holiday season, Niagara Falls is just as much a winter vacation destination as it is a summer vacation spot! The city’s Winter Festival of Lights is on display until January 5, 2025, while holiday entertainment can be found in local theatres. And for a general winter visit after the New Year, there remains plenty to see and do across the city. The actual waterfall is not to be missed in the winter, either; the accumulation of snow and ice on the surrounding trees or cliffs, plus the frosty waters, all combine to create incredible and unique scenery.
- There are plenty of tourist attractions you should not miss during a winter visit, including Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Parks Power Station + The Tunnel, Butterfly Conservatory and Floral Showhouse. Plus, plan for a dinner with a view of the falls.
- Lace up for one of Niagara Falls’ seven natural outdoor skating surfaces at the following parks: John N Allan, Maple Street, Mount Carmel, Preakness, Fernwood, Chippawa West, or RF Keighan.
- The city maintains 30+ km of trails within Niagara Falls for winter use. This includes a Riverside Trail that connects Fort Erie and Niagara-on-the-Lake, as well as the Fallsview/Trans Canada Trail (from where to get the best views of Niagara Falls).
- Firemen’s Park is where the family can stay for some time on the hill. It has a great sledding/tobogganing area and many maintained winter trails.
Niagara Ice Wine Festival
What better excuse to plan a winter weekend away than wine? In late January, Niagara-on-the-Lake plays host to the Niagara Ice Wine Festival, complete with an Ice Wine Village set up in town.
The weekend (January 17-18 and 24-25) event features tastings, culinary experiences, and outdoor entertainment. Get your tickets as soon as possible!
