Spring Starts NOW: Fun New Ways To Find Niagara’s Sunny Side
While spring may not officially arrive until March 20th, Niagara’s unique microclimate invites visitors to shed winter’s chill much earlier. Whether you’re on the hunt for fresh, family-friendly March Break adventures, an afternoon or evening out with your best mates, or a romantic escape for two, a wander in Niagara at this time of year is always a breath of fresh air.
FAMILY FROLICS
Follow The Fish
Families will love exploring Sho’aríshon Park, a freshly reimagined public space that honours and reflects the history, culture, and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples in Niagara. Follow the salmon-shaped trail markers created by Alderville First Nation artist Ryan Woodruff, which mark a scenic hiking route to both the Lincoln Museum and Cultural Centre and Ball’s Falls Conservation Area.
Set Out On A Sugar Bush Trek
After a wagon ride through meadows and farmland, guests on White Meadows Farms’ Sugar Bush Trek step into a maple forest for a fascinating guided tour that includes a maple taffy on snow snack, a visit to the sugar shack to watch sugar-makers boil sap into maple syrup, and interactive forest experiences.
FUN WITH FRIENDS
Kickstart Summer Patio Planning
While it may be a little too chilly to dine al fresco just yet, many Niagara wineries and restaurants invite guests to enjoy a meal with a view year-round. Megalomaniac has a glass-enclosed dining area offering stunning vineyard vistas from high atop the Niagara Escarpment. Lake House Restaurant and The Shore are two other excellent Niagara Benchlands options perched right on the edge of Lake Ontario.
Add Some Music & Laughter
With its red-hot dining scene and a jam-packed tenth-anniversary season at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines is an ideal destination for an impromptu night out on the town. This spring, catch Canada’s favourite cover band, Dwayne Gretzky, the hilarious Girls Night Out Comedy Troupe, Bedouin Sound Clash, Tenille Towns, and more.
WONDERFUL WANDERS FOR TWO
Inject A Little Extra Sparkle
Spend an afternoon getting a taste for Niagara’s absolutely effervescent sparkling wine scene. Thanks to Lake Ontario’s moderating effects on temperatures and limestone-rich soils in the area, Niagara offers ideal conditions for growing sparkling wine grapes. Taste the difference for yourself at wineries known for their sparkling wine selections, like Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery, 13th Street Winery, Hidden Bench Estate Winery, and Kew Vineyards Estate Winery.
Enjoy European Flavours Minus The Flight
Indulging in your favourite overseas dishes and drinks doesn’t have to require a plane ticket! A day or two exploring Niagara’s restaurants and wineries can fill any cultural culinary cravings! Reserve a table at Les Incompetents, a fun new addition to downtown St. Catharines inspired by the bar scene in France, and feast on an impressive array of fresh seafood, small plates, and delightful cocktails. Port Dalhousie’s KaiserHaus serves authentic Austrian fare in a beautifully decorated dining room. Lokanta Café Boutique, also in Port Dalhousie, is a small, friendly space that showcases big Mediterranean and Turkish flavours in its delicious dishes.
Beamsville’s Domaine Le Clos Jordanne takes great pride in pouring an authentic expression of Burgundian style into its Niagara wines. Book the Terroir To Table Experience to enjoy five Le Clos wines paired with Burgundian-inspired bites. Villa Romana, also on the Beamsville Bench, is a small winery with a deep connection to the family’s winery and vineyards in Lanuvio, Italy. Newark Brewing specializes in traditional European-style beers with a Canadian flair, and the kitchen’s Schnitzel, sausages, and 100-day sauerkraut will make you feel as if you’ve escaped to Munich!
Find Your Sunny Side In Niagara This Spring. Ready to start planning a spring getaway to Niagara? Visit wanderniagara.com to create your ideal itinerary.
