Visit & Explore

Whether you are road tripping with friends, heading out on a family adventure or escaping for a few days with someone special, fall is a beautiful time to plan a getaway to Niagara Benchlands. This fall, Niagara has a jam-packed calendar of fun festivals and events, colourful autumn hiking options, delicious farm-to-table experiences, winery touring…

Sip Your Way Through Niagara’s Most Spirited Wine Region World-class wines and creative craft brews aren’t the only tasty tipples that call Niagara home. Niagara Benchlands is home to a very spirited cocktail culture thanks to distinguished distilleries, a diverse selection of farm-to-table mix-ins, passionate mixologists, and restaurants with a keen eye for today’s trends.…

A Platinum Tasting Tour Around One Of Canada’s Most Award-Winning Wine Regions Finding a direct route to Canada’s most critically acclaimed vineyards and wineries boils down to two words: Niagara Benchlands. The proud home to the Regional wine-growing appellation known as the Niagara Escarpment, as well as the terroir expressive sub-appellations of the Short Hills…

Niagara’s Newest Crop of Fabulous Summer Stays If a big-name hotel stay feels a little too ho-hum for your next Niagara getaway, may we suggest a delightful downsize? These friendly little inns and one-of-a-kind vacation rentals located in the Niagara Benchlands excel at serving up their signature brand of small charm in some very big…

Niagara’s Best Places for Families To Unplug And Explore Nature While there’s no arguing that kids love the excitement of Niagara Falls’ arcades, attractions and waterparks, a few hours enjoying that scene can leave everyone in the family feeling a little overstimulated. Fortunately, Niagara overflows with an easy-to-find antidote for helping your family quickly unwind…

What’s the best way to shake off one of the dreariest winters on record? Soak up the spring sunshine with a generous serving of delightful things to sip and snack on at one of Niagara’s most beloved outdoor festivals. The big event that has Niagara buzzing this spring is all about brunch! On June 25th,…

A Guide To Niagara’s Best Farm Markets, Roadside Stands and First-of-the-Season Finds There’s nothing like a sunny drive in Niagara! While perfectly pink cherry blossoms and greening grape vines are a delight to the eyes, spring’s fresh farm-to-table flavours deliver plenty of delightful treats for the taste buds as well. Exploring the Niagara Benchlands’ CultivATE…

Off-The-Radar and Ridiculously Good Niagara Restaurants In addition to being home to some of the country’s most buzzed-about wine country and farm-to-table cuisine, Niagara boasts an eclectic collection of off-the-beaten-path restaurants dishing up incredible globally inspired fare. If you find yourself craving flavours from afar on your next Niagara getaway, here are a dozen restaurants…

4 Fun Niagara Itineraries for Holiday Shopping The Day Away Holiday shopping is so much more enjoyable when you can stop and enjoy some local flavours along the way. This season, Niagara’s a perfect destination to give this tactic a try. The following itineraries blend the best brunching, browsing, sipping and shopping spots in St.…

Finding those special gifts for the craft beer fans in your life is much more fun when you can turn your shopping trip into a sipping trip. Round up your shopping buddies, delegate a designated driver and head to Niagara, where the seven Niagara Ale Trail breweries you’ll find in and around the Niagara Benchlands…

4 Niagara Benchlands Stops For Holiday Entertaining That Wows Don’t let the frost-covered fields fool you! The farms and farm markets that call the Niagara Benchlands home go strong all year long when it comes to providing incomparable farm-to-table flavours. This holiday season, stop fighting the crowds at busy grocery stores and take a relaxed…

Want in on a secret? Amazing gifts for Dad don’t require a trip to the mall or online order from afar. This year, give Dad a chance to enjoy the simple pleasures that are made and sold in his own backyard. For The Pit Boss Pops If there’s a guy in your life who is happiest…

Rediscovering Classic Wine Styles in Lincoln Old World wines are made in countries like France, Italy or Germany. They tend to be restrained and lighter-bodied. Winemakers in these countries follow techniques that have been used for centuries. New World wines come from countries like the United States, Canada and Australia. They tend to be fuller…

You know all about Niagara’s award-winning, world-class wineries, but did you know the region also has an emerging cocktail culture? In addition to the classic hotspots where you can enjoy a drink, local wineries, cider houses and distilleries provide the perfect ingredient shopping list to help you craft your own creative, delicious cocktails at home.…

Wondering how to wow the Mom(s) in your life this May? It’s time for a little Mother’s Day math with a simple equation that celebrates Moms and Niagara: Bubbles + Brunch + A Local Gift She’ll Love = One Happy Mom The Bubbles There’s just something about a bottle of sparkling wine that makes every…

Prepare For Some Fun Surprises As You Explore Another Side of Niagara’s Past Any Canadian history textbook can tell you about the events of Niagara’s past, but there’s a much better way to bring those stories to life! Bypass the books and get a true sense of Niagara’s rich past and the colourful cast of…

Funny things happen when you start exploring the rural roads and small towns of West Niagara in the fall. Time feels like it slows down. Strangers suddenly seem friendlier. Food tastes so fresh. The brightly coloured trees lining the Niagara Escarpment and rolling vineyard views make you forget about checking your phone. If that sounds…

With sparkling shorelines, rolling vineyards, welcoming patios and a network of really rideable trails and routes, Niagara is an ideal destination for city cyclers in search of a scenic fall cycle. Here are five favourite rides that set the scene for amazing autumn cycling. Welland Canal Parkways Trail The Welland Canal Parkways Trail offers 45…

Think you’ve been there, done that when it comes to seeing waterfalls in Niagara? If your waterfall bucket list begins and ends with Niagara Falls, there is so much more to see here! This fall, skip the crowds and explore some of the Niagara Escarpment’s other watery wonders. With four beautiful waterfalls just a quick…

The best chefs are uniquely skilled at working with the ingredients at hand to transform them into something tasty. To really see them shine at turning lemons into lemonade, throw a global pandemic in their path! That’s certainly been the case in Niagara, where chefs are embracing the challenge of continuing to wow their guests…

If you’re feeling wine country’s call this fall, but are concerned about the possibility of large crowds, now is the perfect time to discover the quieter side of Niagara wine country. A little advance planning, combined with some insider tips and tricks, is all it takes to create a relaxing rural Niagara wine country escape.…

The kids are back in school. You’ve watched all of Netflix. It’s time to get outside and find some fun things to do while there are still warm, sunny days to enjoy. This fall, why not take a few hours to remind everyone in your family why you love where you live. See how many…

Niagara’s grape growers and winemakers are a resilient bunch. If late spring frosts threaten their vines, they’ll call in the helicopters to keep the cool air from settling. When flocks of birds try to eat their grapes, they break out their brigade of bangers to frighten them away. While there’s no doubt that Grape &…

While Niagara’s wine industry may get most of the attention, some really exciting things have been bubbling up in the region’s beer business over the past few years as well. Like the little brother who surprises everyone when he quietly catches up to his big brother’s size and stature, Niagara’s beer scene has definitely reached…