Things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake that don’t involve wine

The postcard-perfect village of Niagara-on-the-Lake is in the heart of Ontario’s wine country. But are there things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake if you’re not interested in wine? Definitely! You can easily plan a romantic getaway, a fun girls’ weekend, or even a family outing in Niagara-on-the-Lake with zero wine involved.

Here are some of the best things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake if you’re not really into wine (or if you just want to take some breaks in between sips).

Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of our favourite destinations in Ontario. We’ve visited dozens of times across decades with each trip planned entirely on our own. Have questions about planning your visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake? Join our Facebook community!

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Splurge on Niagara’s best hotels, restaurants, and spas

Niagara-on-the-Lake is home to world-class destination accommodations. Options range from intimate bed and breakfasts to five-star hotels, many of which feature upscale fine dining and even beautiful top-tier spas.

The most iconic stay in downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake is at the iconic and historic Prince of Wales Hotel. While you’re there, you can dine at the in-house Noble Restaurant and luxuriate at the Secret Garden Spa for a true pampering.

We’ve also had wonderful experiences in 124 on Queen‘s fully equipped suites, which provide easy access to the tranquil on-site Nordic-style Spa at Q and Treadwell, a restaurant with farm-to-table fine dining.

If you’re seeking simpler accommodations and meals, check out the historic Olde Angel Inn. People come from far and wide for their classic shepherd’s pie, and rumour has it you may see a ghost during your stay!

Shopping on Queen Street is among the top things to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake is an iconic shopping destination. Queen Street is lined on both sides with unique and interesting shops that will keep you browsing for hours!

Grab some hilarious cow-themed shirts and legen-dairy ice cream — see what we did there? — at the Niagara outpost of Prince Edward Island’s COWS Creamery. Stock up on your favourite items from the United Kingdom at the Scottish Loft. Pick up some essential oils and toiletries at neōb Lavender. Surround yourself with the delights of the holiday season all year round at Just Christmas. Stop in at Greaves Jams and Marmalades to be amazed at just how many things you can spread on toast. And this is just a start — there’s so much more to explore!

Take in some live theatre at the Shaw Festival

With 10 or more annual productions running nearly year-round, the Shaw Festival is a Niagara-on-the-Lake icon. Established in 1962 as a festival dedicated to the works of Irish playwright Bernard Shaw, today the Shaw Festival’s line-up features a wide variety of contemporary works.

The Shaw Festival’s three permanent theatres — the Festival Theatre, the Royal George Theatre, and the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre — are all located within Niagara-on-the-Lake. A fourth venue, the unique portable nightclub known as the Spiegeltent, hosts variety show style performances during the summer months.

The company is famed for its holiday season productions, including a run of A Christmas Carol that’s become a treasured tradition. It’s especially magical when the village is covered with a dusting of snow and festive holiday lights!

Take a romantic ride in a Hansom cab

You may think you’re hearing the term “handsome cab” if you hear it in conversation. But this special experience in Niagara-on-the-Lake is called a Hansom cab, which is the name for a type of horse-drawn carriage.

There are few things more romantic than snuggling up under a blanket with your special someone while enjoying an open-air horse-drawn carriage tour through Niagara-on-the-Lake. Tours by Sentineal Carriages leave from the Prince of Wales Hotel and can be reserved online when booked for 30 minutes or longer.

Explore war history at Fort George National Historic Site

Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of Canada’s prettiest towns today, but during the War of 1812 it endured fierce battles. There are remnants of this scattered all over the town, the most prominent one being Fort George National Historic Site on the outskirts of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Most of the fort was destroyed when the Americans captured it during the war. The reconstruction on the site today was built in the 1930s based on original plans and shows Fort George as it would have stood in the early 19th century.

Learn about the Niagara River front in the War of 1812 as you tour the barracks, officers’ quarters, kitchen, and the powder magazine, which as the only original building on the site is one of the oldest structures in Ontario. Costumed interpreters bring the fort to life through musket firings and marching band demonstrations. The site is open year-round, but interactive demonstrations peak during the summer months.

Visit other national historic sites in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Fort George is the largest national historic site in Niagara-on-the-Lake, but there are several more interesting locations to explore around the community.

Tucked in behind the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club — which is historic in itself as the oldest public golf course in Canada — you’ll find Fort Mississauga National Historic Site. It has a strategic position where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, but it wasn’t completed until after the War of 1812.

This picturesque lakeside site is free to access. You’ll need to walk through the active golf course using a dedicated pathway that starts close to the river off Simcoe Street. There’s a trail that follows the river around the golf course and meets with Queen Street, where a cairn honours the Battle of Fort George.

After the Americans destroyed Fort George, the British decided to rebuild its military infrastructure further inland. The result is Butler’s Barracks National Historic Site, located on King Street not far from the Prince of Wales Hotel. Four original buildings remain here of the original 20 constructed by the British in the mid-1800s. In 1955, the site also has the distinction of being the first host site outside of Europe for a World Scout Jamboree.

The hiking trails behind Butler’s Barracks connect to other locations around Niagara-on-the-Lake, including Fort George, Paradise Grove, and the Niagara River Recreation Trail.

Continue onto the Niagara River Parkway

As you pass Fort George and leave Niagara-on-the-Lake to the south, you’ll join the Niagara River Parkway. Sir Winston Churchill once called this road tracing the Niagara River the “prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world.” Continue explore the Niagara Peninsula’s War of 1812 era history at the four heritage sites managed by Niagara Parks.

You can follow the Niagara River Parkway all the way to Niagara Falls and beyond! Explore the many things to do outdoors in Niagara Falls, and check out the best restaurants with Niagara Falls views.

Learn more about the Niagara River Parkway >

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