3 Days in Niagara-on-the-Lake
It’s hard to get away sans-children these days (our current rhythm is once every 2 years). But coming up to our 5th wedding anniversary, B and I knew we wanted to do something special. So we coordinated with my mom and planned ahead for her to hold down the fort at home (including caring for our dog and international students) so that we could get away and focus on relaxed time together.
It was so worth it! We had a fabulous time and feel so rested and restored on every level. We chose to spend time in beautiful Niagara-on-the-lake in October because:
Stunning fall colours
Local wineries, farms, and produce
Historic charm
Great shopping (Niagara outlet mall was a hit with B)
Tourism options but also “off season” so it’s not so busy
Small towns and countryside
Far enough away from home to relax, but not too far in case of an emergency
We spent a ton of time at our Airbnb relaxing and soaking in peace and quiet. When we did venture out we were thrilled with amazing food, stunning views, and fun things to explore. Here’s a breakdown of our trip and where we stayed, what we ate, and where we went in three days.
WHERE WE STAYED:
Inn the Orchard
Airbnb link | www.inntheorchard.com | @inntheorchard
4299 Fairlane Road, Lincoln, Ontario
When I found this place on Airbnb what initially drew me was the modern design (knowing it would be a hit with my husband). NOTL offers a lot of historic-style inns, hotels etc but that’s not B’s style (think Prince of Wales Hotel). I didn’t realize it was actually IN an orchard. A gorgeous setting on a 17 acre property full of fruit trees and grapevines (they offer pick-your-own fruit in the summer months!).
The hosts Fabiola and Jan live on property close by which felt like we were being “hosted” instead of being in a random condo with distant owners in another city. Along with the owner’s dog (Feebee), they had chickens and offered guests fresh eggs every morning. We loved walking the property and seeing the other buildings and places guests can stay. They have multiple container homes, a small cottage, and a barn/cottage with a loft. They also had a barn on property to host small local events like bookclubs, yoga retreats etc. One night we were there they hosted an event to celebrate a friend but it didn’t disrupt our stay at all. Despite being relatively close, our place was still quiet and peaceful.
Inn the Orchard is a working fruit tree farm, and along with managing the farm the owners also own another cut flower business Prins Grow Inc. which is located on the property next door.
What we loved about our container home:
cedar hot tub
fire pit (B is obsessed with making fires)
cozy living room with valley and river views
king size bed overlooking the firepit
modern bathroom and quaint kitchen
complementary Netflix
We had zero intention of watching Netflix or any shows (because we don’t often watch any at home), but it actually was a blessing and we got really into the Korean cook-off show Culinary Class Wars.
The location of Inn the Orchard worked great for us: close to the QEW (and yet couldn’t hear any traffic) so we could drive to different places as it was centrally located in the NOTL region.
The property also offers a sauna and cold plunge experience with stunning views of the river.
The property is on a river which feeds into Lake Ontario. The views of the water, orchards, local wildlife and birds, and walking trails were beautiful and relaxing.
WHAT WE ATE:
Pharmacii
Korean & Cocktails | Walk-in only | @pharmacii_restaurant_bar
22 King St, St. Catharines, Ontario
I didn’t expect Inn the Orchard to be so close to St. Catherines but it actually was a blessing. Our hosts offered some great suggestions of places to eat in the NOTL area and Pharmacii was one of their top places. Oh my goodness the food was incredible. I also loved their menu which offered a racial history of Asian food in North America.
blossom bakery
Vegan & Gluten free options | Farmstand | www.blossombakery.ca | @blossom_bakery
2323 Honsberger Ave. Jordan, Ontario
Down the road from Inn the Orchard, we were able to walk to Blossom Bakery along the rows of orchard trees and enjoy the fall colours. I love local bakeries, as well as a good DF/vegan option. It was smaller than I expected but quaint and on a working farm.
11th post on queen
Casual & Elegant Dining | Downtown Niagara on the Lake | 11thpostonqueen.ca | @11thpostonqueen
135 Queen St, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
After exploring downtown Niagara-on-the-lake all afternoon we struggled with figuring out where to grab dinner. Many of the food options fall into the categories of fine dining, British pubs, or snacks. Pubs aren’t my favourite (though there seem to be some excellent ones in NOTL if you enjoy them), and we didn’t want to spend $200+ on dinner (though that would have been delicious). Somehow we landed on a happy medium with 11th Post which offered casual and elegant food. It was comfortable, cosy, but not an over-the-top fine dining experience. It also just happened to be the evening whereby they offered a “date night” selection for two (shared appetizer, 2 mains, and shared desert) for a set price. Absolutely brilliant and delicious.
pho dau bo
Vietnamese Pho | Local Family Business | www.phodaubo-niagara.com
83 Geneva St, St. Catharines, Ontario
As per usual my Hong Konger husband craves hot noodles (particularly pho so we had to make a pit stop for this on our last day). We don’t often eat out at home so while we were away B wanted to take advantage. I opted for a snack of the fresh spring rolls (pork and shrimp) with peanut sauce, because I’m always dying for a good peanut sauce. I think amongst Asian cuisines Vietnamese food ranks near the top of my favourite.
RPM Bakehouse
Bakery & Cafe | Walk-in only | Excellent wine selection | rpmbakehouse.com | @rpm_bakehouse
3839 Main Street, Jordan Station, Ontario
Oh my goodness Jordan Station was the cutest small town I’ve been in. This cafe was so peaceful and offerred delicious baked treats, homemade bread, and sandwiches (my favourite lunchtime fare). This ended up being a detour after arriving at Revalee (brunch with vegan options) after the kitchen was closed. However, I was so happy to have ended up discovering RPM Bakehouse and would 100% go back.
WHERE WE WENT:
fort george
Parks Canada National Historic Site | Can/USA War of 1812 | Website
51 Queen's Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Fort George was a fun place to explore. Growing up in Hong Kong, B doesn’t know much about Canadian History and I haven’t spent much time dwelling on the War of 1812 since primary school. Yet I remember it fondly (Laura Secord, Captain James Brock, and the ingenious role of Indigenous peoples). Fort George was mostly a place to walk around although their staff (in full costume) did offer a talk on the history of the Fort and the war, along with a musket demonstration. Learning about the Fort and the roll it played in 1812 (along with the original town of Niagara-on-the-lake called Newark) helped give so much more context to exploring the region and understanding the significance of the area, leading to what it has now become today.
downtown niagara-on-the-lake
Queen Street Shopping | Lake Ontario | Historic homes
I think downtown NOTL has some of the most beautiful historic homes I’ve ever seen. If I ever come across several million dollars and can retire in a peaceful and beautiful small town, you’ll know where to find me. Walking on Queen St. with B was fun as we explored delicious snacks (Gyros, Cows Ice Cream, Budapest Bakeshop, and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory) along with really unique stores like Bea Chapeau Hat Shop. Okay a store with hundreds of hats in every style was a fun place. There was also a Christmas store selling what must have been thousands of ornaments. It was huge and a bit freaky.
The parking on Queen St. is pricy at $5/hour. But just one block away they offer free 3hr parking. The whole downtown area is very walkable, we walked to the waterfront and explored Fort Mississauga and enjoyed Lake Ontario views before dinner as the sun was setting.
dillon’s small batch distillers
Small Business | Spirits, Whiskey, Cocktails | dillons.ca | @dillonsdistills
4833 Tufford Rd, Beamsville, Ontario
This was the last place we stopped before driving home. B loves an occasional whiskey with a friend after dinner, and wanted to check out the local NOTL offerings. Visiting Dillon’s was charming and welcoming. They offered B the chance to taste their two whiskeys without having to pay for a full flight tasting. Learning more about the small business and how they locally source their fruits, grapes, grains, and botanicals—many grown in their own distillery garden was inspiring. They seem to have a real emphasis on local community, even hosting a local Christmas Market later this fall.
