Jobs in Niagara Falls - Various Employment Opportunities in This Popular Tourist Destination
Finding a job just about anywhere these days can be a challenging task for even the most qualified person. Just because it is challenging though doesn't make it impossible, and when you narrow down your focus and determine where you would best be suited, finding employment in the Niagara Falls area may be a good bet.
Niagara Falls is a popular tourism hot spot. There are several reasons people travel here including the natural beauty of the area, the casinos, the wineries and of course the Falls themselves.
To find a job you must determine what area you are most interested in or qualified for. I have compiled a list of the largest or most popular areas of employment in Niagara Falls to help you in your search for the perfect job.
Types of Employment
Hydro Generation: The City of Niagara Falls original boom came because of the fact that it is where Hydro-electricity started in North America. The very first generating station was built here and the city still provides much of power hungry North America with its electricity. With a new tunnel, designed to provide more water to the hydro plants under construction, there is a bright future in Niagara for anyone in the industry. This means that everything from guards, maintenance and office staff to engineers, electricians and fully qualified linesmen will still be in demand as the service grows.
Niagara Parks: The Niagara Parks are in charge of looking after all the parkland, the Falls and the Niagara Gorge. They employ many different people from maintenance and grounds keepers and administration staff; as well as running tourism info kiosks they even have their own police force, the Niagara Parks Police. A career with Niagara Parks can be very rewarding and many positions include one on one interaction with the public.
Wine Industry: The entire Niagara Region is known world wide for its wine production, especially for its Icewine. Many of the areas wineries are on the constant lookout for new and experienced employees to help fill the need of a growing industry.
Although many jobs in this field require an educational background in wine there are some such as front end sales and hospitality that can help you get your foot in the door. If you already have an education in the field of wine, Niagara employees people in every wine industry category.
Hotels: The accommodations industry in Niagara Falls is very large. There is a hotel here representing just about every popular chain hotel in North America. The Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls in fact, is now Canada's largest hotel and is actually taller than the Skylon Tower. Careers in the Hotel industry include everything from valet, bell hop and cleaning services to reception desk, room services, kitchen staff and hotel management. Hotels are like small cities and require a large staff to run efficiently. Entry level positions are usually available in the Spring as tourism and room bookings begin to pick up.
Casinos: The City of Niagara Falls has two Casinos, Casino Niagara and the Fallsview Casino Resort. Both are very popular and have many job positions within them. The most common employment positions in either one would include security guards, Table attendants, slot attendants, maintenance, cleaning, Restaurant and Bar staff and management staff.
Restaurants & Bars: Known as the hospitality industry, restaurants, bars, clubs and reception halls are in every city in the world. Unlike most cities however, Niagara Falls caters to customers from all around the world. It is for this reason that these places are always on the lookout for talent coming in from all over the globe. The restaurant industry in Niagara Falls is much like it's hotel industry. They hire most of their employees during the Spring to Fall months to help handle the larger tour crowds. This type of employment is great for students that can work part time or during the summer.
Tourism: This is what the Falls is famous for. People from all around the world travel here to get a glimpse of the Natural Wonder and to see all the beauty that surrounds this place. The tourism industry in Niagara Falls covers a very large description of positions and is where a large portion of jobs come from during the busy season. This industry includes jobs from sightseeing tour operators, bed and breakfast employees, venders, attraction operators and store and gift shop clerks to name just a few.
The descriptions above were meant as very broad strokes, examples of the various types of employment that can be found in Niagara Falls. Like any other city, especially one that has been built around tourism, there are literally thousands of possible job opportunities here and each one of them have their own unique qualities that would suit the right person.
About the Author
As a life long resident of the Niagara Region, Tim Nagy uses his extensive knowledge of the area when writing on related topics such as Niagara tourism, sight seeing, accommodations, attractions and anything else to do with this popular travel destination.
Tim is a writer and partner contributor to Everything Niagara Falls http://www.everything-niagara-falls.com/, a site dedicated to providing free information on all there is to do and see in Niagara Falls.
Free Niagara Falls Attractions
Niagara Falls waterfalls as one of the seven world's natural wonders and its numerous attractions has stunned numerous visitors. Many of the tours are paid, but there are also things to do which are for free. Several of these popular sites and activities are in or close to the Niagara Falls city and they are among the best tourist attractions in Canada also.
Niagara impresses with extraordinary natural beauty, warm hospitality, variety of cultural offerings, natural, historic and man-made attractions and amazing modern and historic architecture.
The most popular Niagara attractions on Canadian side are Maid of the Mist, Journey behind the Falls, Spanish Aero Car, Skylon Tower, Marineland and Niagara Jet boat.
On the American side, popular things to do are Cave of the Winds tour, Niagara Aquarium and Maid of the Mist boat tour.
There is a charge for all these attractions, and it can be expensive. For family of four admission is too pricey.
If you are on a budget, you can still find several excellent, free Niagara Falls attractions and places worth visiting:
1. Viewing Horseshoe Falls from Canadian side is a must. Canadian side gives you a perfect view of the cascading Niagara Falls during the day, the rainbow above and illuminated falls during the night. This side is also ideal for you to make some amazing pictures.
American Falls with Bridal Veil Falls are on the other side of the border.
2. During the summer, Fireworks in the night is breathtaking. It can be seen during the summer, on Friday, Sunday and on holiday evenings at 10pm.
3. Visiting Niagara botanical garden, with 99 acres of the beautiful gardens and over 2400 roses, trees and shrubs, is free of charge, all year round.
4. Hiking and biking around Niagara region and its trails, parks and other areas. There is a nice walking waiting for you, starting with a conservation zone Ball's Falls, Niagara Glen Nature Reserve, Bruce trails and more.
5. Tasting wine in Niagara wineries. Niagara has over 15000 acres under vine and with more than 60 Niagara wineries. Keep in mind that there is a charge for premium wines.
6. Visiting Welland Canal and watching ships, where around 3000 ocean and lake vessels go through the total of 8 locks per year. Lock 3 and lock 7 are giving you the best view. The canal is 43km in length, and elevation between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie is 99.5 m. It takes an average 11 hours for ships to go through the canal.
7. Visiting a Floral Clock - its 40 feet in diameter area is consisting of more than 24 000 colorful carpet plants. It is one of the largest in the world. Its face is changed twice a year and during the winter, flowers are replaced with multi-colored stones.
8. Gorgeous drive from Niagara Falls Canada to Niagara-on-the-Lake along Niagara Parkway, where you can visit some of the above attraction, enjoy the scenery, like Niagara Whirlpool, Aero Car and Niagara Gorge.
9. Strolling down the streets of the "prettiest Canadian town", Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Niagara Falls doesn't have to be expensive, we have just showed you several free attractions... hotel deals are available, cheap motels also, you just have to search for them.
What is my selection of the best things to do in and around Niagara you can find in the article about Niagara Falls attractions.
Niagara Falls tourist guide is a guide for everybody visiting Canada and mighty Niagara waterfalls. This is a guide that provides ultimate information with a personal touch; about hotels, motels, attractions, events, places around and much more.
The information given here was collected from personal experience, other people experience, and with a help of many travel guides, websites and travel books.
The Niagara Region's Icewineries: Wine Tasting In A New Light
Wine tours have long been popular in the realm of unique vacations; but for anyone who'd like to take the novelty of such a getaway to a whole new level, Canada's Niagara region - and its famous Icewineries - await.
One of the most intriguing aspects of a wine tour is learning the history behind a type of wine, a winery or a region that yields the wine - none of which are an exception when it comes to Icewines. The discovery of Icewine in 1794 was accidental when, out of necessity, winemakers in Germany pressed frozen grapes - the resulting juice of which was found to have an unusually high concentration of sugar. It wasn't until the mid 1800s, however, that the winery intentionally began to produce Icewine for distribution.
The production of Icewine did not extend to Canada until 1973, after which time the venture proved to be a huge success. Today, Canada - and particularly, Ontario's Niagara Peninsula region - is the largest producer of Icewine, a product that's often referred to as "liquid gold". That's because the juice from Icewine grapes composes about one-fifth the amount that would be extracted from unfrozen grapes. For instance, if the grapes of an unfrozen vine produced a bottle of wine, the grapes of a frozen vine would produce just one glass of Icewine.
The Icewine harvest begins in the winter months - typically, in December - once temperatures drop below -10 to -13 degrees Celsius and grapes have frozen on the vines. Natural freezing concentrates the sugars, acids and extracts, thus intensifying the flavors of the juice; then, as the frozen grapes are pressed, the highly concentrated, sweet juice is extracted. The natural water portion, however, remains in the grape skins as ice crystals. The juice is then fermented very slowly over the course of several months to produce Icewine. Typical grapes used for ice wine production include: Riesling Seyval Blanc, Vidal Blanc and the red grape Cabarnet Franc.
The Niagara region hosts an ice wine festival every January to celebrate the fruit of each year's harvest. Locals and tourists alike can indulge in ice bars, frozen art exhibits and tours through Niagara's famous wine routes - alongside, of course, a taste of some of the region's most exquisite Icewines.
If you're considering taking an Icewine tasting tour in the Niagara region this winter, rest assured that there are plenty of fantastic options for accommodation in Niagara Falls. The Doubletree Resort Lodge & Spa Fallsview, Niagara Falls, for example, features an award-winning VQA wine list, including Icewine by the glass or bottle at Buchanans Chophouse. So you can get started on the wine tasting before you even hit the festival or your tour!
By touring Niagara's Ice wineries, you'll learn about the unique processes involved in making Icewines, as well as have the opportunity to try some of the most exceptional wines in the world. So what are you waiting for? Take the novelty of a wine-tasting tour to a whole new level - experience the Niagara region's famous Icewines.
How I Found a Hidden Gem Winery in Niagara Wine Region
Tawse - Luxury behind a mighty fence
Once you're in the Niagara wine region, after driving for a while, a view of never ending vineyards can get boring. Every now and then you see a hut-like winery store and contemplate whether this one will be different from the first few.
Well, this was not the case with Tawse Winery and Vineyards of Niagara Peninsula.
We just passed another hut-like estate when we saw a large fence that marked the entrance to the Tawse Winery. Once we entered the gate, a magnificent vista opened in front of our eyes. A picturesque pond with well manicured grounds, covered by flowers and ornamental grasses, shrubs and other perennials... it was breathtaking. We took our cameras and started clicking along.
After a few minutes of enjoying the grounds, we finally made it to the entrance of the winery, passing all sorts of high end vehicles parked at the front. The building looked modern yet very solid with a classic flare. We entered it, and... to our surprise - the back wall was made of glass - we saw the steel wine aging barrels and other winemaking equipment that covered about three levels.
The tasting room was at the front, on the main level. The cashier on the left and the bar in the middle. Nicely lit, this modern U-shaped bar had several horticulture specialists (or at least very educated servers) ready to serve. Over a handful of wine tasting menus were laminated and spread over the surface of the bar counter for the visitors to study. The pricelists were placed at the front in their sturdy wooden frames. Don't choke when you see the prices... but they wines are well worth it.
We decided that we won't be buying anything there for now (an average bottle was $60), but will try a few varieties. Both Chardonnays that I tried were amazing, and so was the Red Zinfandel Ice Wine. We took a few more pictures inside. I decided to check out the girls room just to see if it's as extravagant as the rest of the estate. And so it was.
After leaving the winery store, we drove to the back of it to take pictures of the magnificent view of endless vineyards, lake Ontario on the horizon, and an occasional farm house roof barely seen from among the lush greenery.
We did not want to leave. Too bad there is no restaurant on the property. It would definitely do well. The place just screams 'luxury'. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone. Let me know how your enjoyed it.
[http://www.winery-explorer.com/] is a resource dedicated to enhance your wine tasting experience by providing extensive wine related travel information. It also allows you to win your trip by sharing your opinions and experiences. Find more articles like this one as well as descriptions of the most popular wine regions.
Top 5 Reasons to Choose Niagara Falls For Your Next Vacation
Are you on the fence about where to go on your next family vacation? Well here are some great reasons why Niagara Falls may be a great place to visit now!
Why Niagara Falls
Although known as the "Honeymoon Capital" Niagara Falls has slowly been shaking that distinction for the last decade now and is growing to become more family oriented as well as being geared toward both the sophisticated and adventure seeking traveler. Don't get me wrong, this city is still a romantic place to visit and is still a very popular Honeymoon destination, it's just that the majority of people choosing Niagara for a vacation are beginning to look at it as a place to take the whole family. Below I have listed my top reasons why I think this city is a Must See for anyone or any family looking for a place to travel.
Top Five Reasons to Visit Niagara Falls
1. The Natural Beauty:
Visitors to the area are treated to almost every kind of landscape they can imagine. From the hilly cliffs of the Escarpment to the grassy flat farmland, to the shores of two Great lakes and to the deep Niagara Gorge cut out by the Falls themselves anyone living here can tell you that you that if you want a change in scenery just go for a walk and you'll get it.
2. Great Attractions:
Along With the unique landscape that makes up the Niagara Falls area, visitors and locals alike are treated to some of the best attractions found anywhere, and some are even one of a kind! In fact there are so many attractions here that even the hardest to please will have a good time. If you want to get a real feel for the Falls themselves, some of the attractions I would suggest you take in would include a ride on the world famous Maid of the Mist to get you right next to the Falls, a flight on Niagara Helicopters to view the area from way up high, a ride on Whirlpool Jet boats will get you nice and soaked in the river and maybe even a Journey Behind The Falls to really get the feeling of how powerful they really are. There are dozens more of fun attractions to experience in the area so trying to narrow them all down here would be impossible so you will just have to come here to see them all.
3. Built for Tourism
Ever since the Falls were first inhabited by the pioneers founding both Canada and the United States people have always known that this place would be a popular destination for traveling to and witnessing the great power of the water going over the crest. It is for that reason that the City of Niagara Falls Canada has always focused a lot of its attention on creating the perfect vacation experience. From keeping the parks well maintained to building new and exciting attractions the city has always kept a focus on making the visitor feel like home.
4. Great for Kids
Although many still have the Honeymoon Capital in mind when they think of Niagara Falls, the City is actually a great place to bring the kids. Children of all ages will be able to bring back fond memories of there trip to the Falls as they can ride on the Maid of the Mist, play in the many video arcades and bowling alleys, try their hand and mini putt golf and even experience one of the 3 water parks within the city's limits. Of course with some of these activities like the water parks and Maid of the Mist, children will have to be accompanied by and adult.
5. Wineries and Casinos
Ok I know, this ones just for the adults in the room, but if you're looking for a place to unwind, Niagara Falls has a lot to offer. Niagara Wine Country is world famous for its Ice Wine and has festivals several times a year. Plan your trip for the right time and you could spend a week experiencing all the various wineries and restaurants included in the events. Two Casinos with 24 hour gaming, lots of shopping, eating and spa service, a person could really enjoy themselves there.
There's More
There's always more to do in the Falls. A great night life, world class restaurants, golfing, antiquing, and so on and so on. You get my point. So if your still looking for that great next trip, think Niagara Falls, you'll love it!
About the Author
As a life long resident of the Niagara Region, Tim Nagy uses his extensive knowledge of the area when writing on related topics such as Niagara tourism, sight seeing, accommodations, attractions and anything else to do with this popular travel destination. Tim is a writer and partner contributor to Everything Niagara Falls http://www.everything-niagara-falls.com, a site dedicated to providing free information on all there is to do and see in Niagara Falls.
Niagara Region, Canada - Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a picturesque destination of Ontario, Canada for travelers, tourists and nature lovers. It is a sprawling 212 sq. km. area with spectacular sports facilities like cycling, biking, 40 top class golf courses, to name a few. With a population base of 80,000 (approx), it is a gorgeous destination for varied attractions. Niagara is an awesome manifestation of Niagara Falls in the city's delights. There is man-carved lure in the Niagara that includes the Maid of the Mist; Reply's believe it or not, Louis Tussads wax museum, Spanish Aero car, Casino Niagara, etc.
The Niagara falls have been existent from over 12,000 years and are the most sought after tourist place of visit. The Niagara falls were formed by the melting of glaciers that resulted in the formation of several unsullied water lakes that moved across a sharp rock face called the Niagara escarpment. The Canadian Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls are the two waterfalls that were formed by the rushing waters and the melting of the ancient glaciers. The rushing water of the Niagara River has a velocity of 35 miles an hour.
Moreover Niagara is a hydropower house that generates electricity to the rest of New York as well as southern Ontario. Niagara has its famous wineries and 70 of them have been listed in the award winning category. Many people come to Niagara to smell the rich aroma from the grape fruits and consume them. Several people come over to Niagara to participate in breathtaking stunts and get their names registered in the books of records. At night the Niagara Falls are illuminated by brilliant lights and the sight makes people gay. Another beautiful picture is of the bridges made of ice that accumulate below the chilling falls. No wonder the spectacular spectacles gifted with lure and bliss makes Ontario's Niagara Falls as the Honeymoon capitals of the world.
Thus Niagara has become the biggest trade centre for its wines and wineries, fruits, tourist haven, military headquarters and hydropower. The Niagara Falls magnetizes writers and poets of the world and brings out the dare devil in everyone.
Business Opportunity
As it is a big business and tourist hub several travel agents and websites look to capitalize on the opportunity. With the number of business houses and travel points in the rise Toronto web services has taken initiatives to catapult the functioning of websites of various travel agents at Niagara and other websites who advertise Niagara. The travel appoints and beer and wine makers can get a chance to get their websites designed, updated and optimized in the search engines. Customers can increase and web marketing strategy can get a boost with the number of people flooding to your website to book their tourist adventures and Honeymoon at Niagara.
Toronto services also specialize in special tourist catering services like hotel and tourist booking and other superior and desired services.
Ted Turner is a frequent traveller to Niagara Falls, has stayed extensively on many of the niagara hotels in the Niagara area.
Design Your Own Niagara Falls Winery Tour
Within the last quarter century, the Niagara Region has created quite the stir in building a notable world class wine experience. Ontario wine producers have built an empire to boast of with over 70 wineries scattered through Niagara and approximately 16,000 acres under vine. As always, if you would like to explore these wineries and indulge in the palette of tastes, delightful restaurants, and of course the wine making experience, then a winery tour will be in order.
In order to extract as much as possible from your wine tour it is important to be prepared. Due to the fact that the wineries are spread out over a rather large areas, the wine counsel of Ontario has divided the wine region into seven districts; Winona, Grimsby, Beamsville, Vineland, Jordan, St. Catharines, and Niagara on the Lake. The best destination well suited to tourism is Niagara on the Lake which is also conveniently the closest to Niagara Falls. Here you will find a variety of ways to tour the wineries including self guided tours with your own vehicle, organized bus tours, and bicycle tours.
I'd start off with a guided tour of one of the larger wineries. This will give you grounding on how wine is made, and offer you a chance to take part in tutored tasting. Some larger wineries like Hillebrand offer several educational seminars daily, approximately an hour in length teaching courses such as "The Art of Wine Making". Learning the grape to bottle process before tasting will prepare your taste buds, and give you some insight to what your tasting. Definitely a unique experience to learn about wine growing, fermentation, and barrel aging.
Bicycle tours with guides are available to tour the wine country. Expect a slower pace and to see approximately 3 to 4 wineries for the day. If you are planning to purchase wine it's no problem at all as most tour companies will pick up your orders by end of tour for you. Although the bicycles themselves usually have large baskets to carry what you need.
A bus tour is probably the most convenient as they may even pick you up from your hotel or accommodations. There are perks to being with a designated group, like being able to taste the difference of bottled wine to the equivalent wine from the barrel. Guided tours will give plenty of history, and grape growing insight that you may not get outside of the tour company. Also, lunch's and/or snacks are sometimes included in the price which allow you to sit back and enjoy the good life.
Now, if you are planning on creating your wine experience from scratch, here are some pointers that will help you through the process:
1. Take your time - Plan to visit 3 to 6 wineries in the day. Get to know not only the wine, but the wineries themselves and the people who run them.
2. Target some Smaller Wineries in Niagara on the Lake - Smaller wineries offer tours for guests and are usually guided by the owners themselves. Unlike the larger wineries that feel more scripted. Also, expect more as some smaller wineries vintage is equal to if not surpass some larger wineries.
3. At least one Meal - As most wineries have scrumptious restaurants, sit down and relax in a vineyard styled atmosphere for a meal. Trust me, you won't be disappointed.
4. Mix it up; Big and Small - Some larger wineries offer variety and courses that smaller wineries don't so mix it up with the styles and types of wineries you are going for.
5. Sip like the Pros - Learn to sip and discard the rest. Your judgment may be impaired so be sure to have a designated driver, or sip responsibly!
Brad Hoffman is the owner of the Niagara Falls Source, and thrives on teaching others how to experience the high life of Niagara Falls without breaking the bank! For more information on designing your own Niagara Falls tour visit our site which contains valuable information on how find the hot spots and hidden gems most tourists wouldn't even know exist!
For a FREE 15 part mini-course on "The Insiders Niagara Falls Secrets" go to => http://www.niagarafallssource.com
Planning Your Niagara on the Lake Trip
If you are trying to plan your trip to Niagara on the Lake, this article will cover all of the basics to help make it a little bit easier for you.
Transportation: Niagara on the Lake is located 90 minutes from the Toronto airport, and 45 minutes form the Buffalo airport. From the highway it will take you about 20 minutes to drive into the heart of little town From either airport as you get closer you will be passing by multiple wineries if you want to make an early stop. It is best to factor in traffic when coming from Toronto and border delays when coming from Buffalo of 15-30 minutes on top of travel time to ensure you arrive when expected.
Accommodation: Niagara on the Lake offers a large variety of options that will suit all of your needs. They have bed and breakfasts, motels, lodges, and even 4 diamond properties to suit your tastes. It will come down to what is most important to you, location, price, amenities etc. During the summer months finding a room can be challenging. If you travel in the late spring or summer make sure to book your accommodations a head of time.
Activities: Here are just a few of the favorite activities to do in Niagara on the Lake: Shaw festival, golf, walk the main street, whirlpool jet boats, winery tour, cycle the Niagara parkway, relax in a spa, bicycle tour, or even a horse and carriage ride. The town is filled with fun activities for the young and old alike. Depending on the season you are traveling in, you will be presented with a unique seasonal list of a activity opportunities.
Restaurants: Dining in Niagara is as diverse as the activities. It is most notable for its abundance of fine dining restaurants. You can choose, from local wineries, main street facilities, or try and find a hidden gem off the beaten path. When taking a walk around town, stop by one that catches your interest and make a reservation. There are many to choose from.
As you can see, there is lots to see and do in Niagara on the Lake No matter if you are planning a weekend getaway or a month long stay, you will have a lasting and memorable stay.
Niagara Wine Festivals - The Sweetest You Can Get!
Ice wine is the sweetest dessert wine made by frozen grapes in the vineyard. As the climate conditions in Canada is the best for this it has become the largest exporter of these sweet ice wines. Visiting the Niagara apart from the Falls would be for the Niagara Wine Festival. For ten days Niagara becomes a wonderland of wines with more than 30 wineries participating and attraction tourist to taste their wine. The Niagara Ice wine Festival constitute of romantic evenings, chestnut roasting, ice bars, frozen art exhibits and exotic winter tours along the Niagara's famed vineyards.
Apart from the wine tourist can also be a witness to more than 100 events featuring winery tours and tastings, Niagara cuisine, concerts, artisan shows, family entertainment wine seminars, and the most famous of all Canada's largest street parades.
Being here on one such event is a moment to remember. Niagara ensures that you do not leave it disappointed, as the experiences you have will not match any other luxuries in the world.
Thousands of people come here every year and participate in this festival to enjoy and experience the magnificence of this beauty. The Niagara is also famous for other festivals like the festival of lights which is the illumination of the Falls on a route over 5 km, with fireworks and other stunning shows.
Since this festival happen almost during the winters, you can find discounted rates on hotels and other discounted amenities. Niagara is one such place, were something is happening every time of the year, and one does not have to wait and time his visit.
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Niagara Wine Tours Offer Family Friendly Fun
The Niagara region is a popular tourist destination for many reasons. The first and most obvious attraction is Niagara Falls, with its breathtaking views and picturesque beauty. The stunning nature of this attraction often inspires tourists to explore the region further.
Just a short distance away from Niagara Falls, tourists can find a veritable treasure trove of wineries complete with wine tours, winery events for the entire family, and of course, wine tastings. The Niagara region produces many great wines but is most famous for their amazing ice wines. Because of the area's cool climate, the grapes grown here have very concentrated flavours and balanced acidity levels.
Wine tours are an important addition to any itinerary because of the value a tour guide can bring. A winery tour guide can offer insight on wines that the tourist may want to taste and they can also help make sure the kids are entertained. When visiting a winery, tourists will want check the schedule ahead of time so they can arrive in time for wine tastings and any other winery events they would like to attend with the family.
Creekside Estate is just one well-known winery that the Niagara region has to offer. It is located just beside the stunning 16-Mile Creek so it is a perfect spot for a relaxed wine tasting after a full morning of white water rafting. Those on the wine tour may also view Creekside Estate's underground barrel cellars that are among the largest of their type in all of Canada.
While in Niagara, tourists may want to visit the vineyard that helped guide the region down its wine making path. Lailey Vineyard started producing wine in the 1950's by planting some of Niagara's first French hybrid varieties. While taking the winery tour, tourists will be in awe of how the owners transformed a 20 acre farm to the flourishing vineyard that Lailey is today.
Most people are surprised at how family friendly Niagara wine tours can be. Wineries often hold events that are fun for adults and kids alike. For example, it is not uncommon for a winery to host a concert or some other live show. The Niagara area wineries are also known for their food and for creating an outdoor grilling experience that is fun for all! Another way the winery events may include the kids would be in the wine tastings. Of course the kids would not be sipping wine, but red and white grape juice would certainly be appropriate.
It is definitely a good idea to research and book any wine tours in the area with an online source that offers all of the region's winery information and event schedules in one place. GuidedGrape.ca is one example of a website that does a great job at making the trip planning process easier. GuidedGrape.ca provides important information and events from all of the major Ontario wineries. It truly is the best way to book Niagara wine tours!
Niagara-On-The-Lake is the Prettiest Town in North America
Niagara-on-the-Lake has that quaint small town feeling. It is all at once relaxing, rejuvenating and safe from the everyday cares of life.
Historic Queen Street is the main attraction of town with its beautiful gardens lining the front of the many shops and restaurants. The majestic clock tower/cenotaph is a town trademark and is located in the middle of the street at the center of town.
Niagara-on-the-Lake has been noted for stewardship of a historic destination. National Geographic Traveler has evaluated the qualities that make a destination unique, measuring the "integrity of place". Historic destinations around the world were ranked by assessing their authenticity and stewardship, with Niagara-on-the-Lake placing #52 of 109 worlds best destinations.
A great number of homes date back to the early 1800s. Many have been preserved and faithfully restored. Grand estate properties flank the golf course overlooking the water as evidence of a time when the great local industrialists vacationed here at their summer residences with their huge lots and awesome landscaping.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a vibrant place and is the center for, unique shops, superb restaurants, antiquing, horse & buggy rides, sailing, jet boat rides, the Music Festival, the Peach, Cherry, Strawberry, and Ice Wine Festivals. And of course that popular annual event the "Candle Light Stroll". In the first weekend of December they block off Queen Street for the heart warming Christmas evening which typically has participation of around 5,000 people. All hold candles and strolling around the heritage district to view wonderfully decorated homes and listen to the carolers, bell ringers and the fife & drum band.
Old Fort George. The restored fort circa 1812 is available to tour and interpreters give you some insight into living there in the 18th century.
See world Class theater at the Festival, Royal George and the Courthouse Theaters. It draws over 300,000 people every year to see plays between the beginning of April and the end of October.
Dine in luxury in one of the many fabulous restaurants in town. Many are walking distance from your B&B or hotel. Award winning chefs serve up fresh local fruit and produce with the finest meats, fish and poultry available.
Only 20 Minutes from the Niagara Falls by car along the Niagara Parkway a trip once described by Sir Winston Churchill as "the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world".
There are miles of paved walking and cycling trails all along the picturesque Niagara River. Stop and picnic in the beautiful parkland along the way.
Niagara is wine country. There are large estates, medium operations, and boutique wineries. Something for all tastes and styles. Friendly staff, relaxed tasting rooms and a wide range of samples, some of which are only available at the wineries. Tour behind the scenes to get a real sense of the wine making business. It is a great mix of respect for the old methods and integration of new technology. The wines are world class and comparable to those from France, Italy, Australia and South Africa. Our climate offers perfect conditions to produce ice wine. Just one taste you'll see why our wineries bring gold ribbons from all corners of the world.
Golf anyone? There are 25 courses within a 30 minute drive. Including the oldest golf course in North America the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club which is still open to the public.
Local accommodations are top class. Over 200 top rated bed and breakfasts serve over half of the tourist trade. The town is well known for its high quality B&Bs. Many of these are historic homes located downtown within walking distance to shops, restaurants and theater. Fabulous boutique hotels and Country Inns, all conveniently located, make staying in this town a wonderful experience.
With all its beauty, charm and activities it is no wonder that it is listed as #8 on the list of New York Times Best Vacation Destinations.
Distances to major markets:
Toronto 80 miles
Buffalo 35 miles
New York 425
Rochester 100 miles
Cleveland 230
Pittsburgh 255
The population of Old Town is approximately 8,000
David Wardle and his wife Gail have a historic bed and breakfast in downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake. Visit http://www.appletreebb.ca
Niagara on the Lake Wineries - Home of the Finest Canadian Wineries
With over 60 amazing Niagara wineries and scenic countryside, Niagara on the Lake wineries, 21 of them and 15 000 acres of land they cover, are probably the finest and most visited ones. And they were the first one to open their door for tourist visits and wine tours.
NOTL as the "prettiest town in Ontario" is a home to numerous Inns, popular bed and breakfasts, historic sites and attractions, world known Shaw Festival and many wineries in its neighborhood.
Top wineries that are presented here are famous for the quality of their wines and premium grapes they produce. They earned countless prestige awards on various world exhibitions.
Wineries in Niagara on the Lake town are only 30 min drive from mighty Falls, and many can be seen when driving along Niagara parkway. Thousands of acres under vine and orchards can be seen during the ride, and scores of lovely spots and remarkable mansions.
Top Niagara on the Lake wineries are visited by thousands of visitors annually, attracted by their beauty, picturesque countryside, old and antique wine cellars, state-of-the-art facilities, wine festivals, events and numerous available wine tours and seminars.
Niagara on the Lake Wineries are bordered by Welland Canal, Escarpment, Niagara River and Lake Ontario and grouped within two areas: one below the the Escarpment and the other group surrounds NOTL town.
NOTL wineries with its available tours like Trolley Wine tours, World Wine Tours, Crush on Niagara; is a great alternative to overcrowded city of Falls.
These wineries are easily accessible by car or by bicycle and they are relatively close to each other. Every single winery with its unique personality offers extraordinary experience and many memorable moments.
Top ten Niagara on the Lake wineries are:
Frogpond Farm - producer of certified organic wine.
Hillebrand Estates Winery is one of the larger and top wineries in NOTL and Ontario.
Inniskillin Winery offers a free self-guided tour with a several stations and marked tour path.
Jackson-Triggs Winery is modern in design with a state-of-the-art technology.
Peller Estate is one of the newest Niagara on the Lake wineries, within walking distance form NOTL.
Pillitery Estate Winery is the world's largest estate producer of Ice wine.
Reif Estate Winery - 25 years in wine making business and producer of world class wine.
Joseph's Estate, they are producing specialty and fruit wines.
Chateau des Charmes a winery that offers a taste of France.
Stratus winery is a leader in sustainable production.
Many of these wineries are producing an award winning wine, a Jewel and dessert wine called "Icewine". Icewine is among the top North American wines made from naturally frozen grapes, handpicked and immediately pressed.
The best time to enjoy the Ice wine is during the winter time and when the people from this area are celebrating winter frozen grape harvest and Ice wine festival. Detail information about Niagara on the Lake, wineries and attractions can be found in this all-inclusive tourist guide
Zeljko Mitrovic is the owner of a website called niagara-falls-tourist-guide.com. He passionately writes about his favorite destinations; Niagara Falls, Niagara on the Lake and Toronto.
He recommends the finest attractions, tours, hidden places, wineries, where to find the best eateries, cheapest motels, luxury Fallsview hotels and much more.
Niagara Falls comprehensive guide with the personal touch can be found here
Hello from Toronto (3) - Exploring Niagara Wine Country
Two days ago I took our European visitors on a little driving tour of the Niagara Peninsula, specifically to explore some of the 50 something wineries. My brother is a chef and very interested in exploring the authentic tastes and flavours of Canada. So far my visitors have been very impressed with the quality of the Canadian vegetables, meats, spices, and even the various types of beers that they have tried from different microbreweries.
We got going around 9:30 am to avoid the brunt of rush hour traffic and made our way west on the QEW highway on another day of perfect weather. We drove through the industrial outskirts of Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton, where they were particularly fascinated by the huge industrial complexes of Ontario's steel industry. Just about 20 minutes south of Hamilton we turned off the highway onto local Highway Number 8, Ontario's wine route, which follows the outline of the NIagara Escarpment.
Our first stop on our wine tour was Peninsula Ridge Estates, a very impressive winery built around a Victorian farmhouse with several modern buildings that have been added to faciliate a wine tasting facility and gift shop. The wine testing area is housed in a beautiful barn-like structure with lots of wood and high ceilings, and all the wines and gifts are presented in a very attractive way. My European wine conoisseurs tasted 4 varieties of white wine and admitted that they were duly impressed. They commented that some of the wines had a more distinct flavour than what they are used to back home and indicated their surprise at the quality of wines from Ontario. Of course my brother also examined the menu of the dining room and confirmed that the establishment was indeed an upscale gourmet restaurant, featuring finely crafted cuisine.
We had a beautiful day with absolutely no humidity, so we had a clear view of downtown Toronto's skyscrapers from the Peninsula Estates winery. After a little photo tour of the premises we made our way to the next stop: Eastdell Estates, winery located high on top of the escarpment with a perfect lookout point. The restaurant, called the "Bench Bistro" offers simple, yet innovative dishes that pay homage to the area's bountiful harvests and local producers. Reasonably priced, two can dine, with a bottle of wine, for about $80 (CDN).
Our next stop was a relatively new winery called Angel's Gate Estates, with a beautiful main building that included a wine boutique as well as an indoor and outdoor dining area overlooking Lake Ontario. We did not taste any wines here, but definitely enjoyed the view. Again, the facilities and surroundings hosting the wine tasting were impressive.
Then we headed further south to Vineland Estates Winery situated on the slopes of the Niagara Escarpment with Lake Ontario in the distance. This winery has sometimes been referred to as "Ontario's Most Picturesque Winery" and we certainly enjoyed the location. It is another winery that features a restaurant as well as a wine boutique, located in an 1877 historic barn. The boutique features wines, fine glassware and local preserves, and my European travellers embarked on their second tasting of the day, this time enjoying both red and white varieties. The winery offered various types of crackers and cheese, combined with grape jellies, providing a little snack to a group of hungry pilgrims on Ontario's wine trail. We also noted that the staff in the various wineries was extremely welcoming and friendly, an impression that got reinforced throughout the day.
Our lunch stop was at Rockway Glen Golf Course and Estate Winery, a rather unusual combination offering delights for golfing and wine enthusiasts. We had a reasonably priced lunch of gourmet sandwiches on the patio, and appropriately strenghtened continued on our way along the wine route towards our next destination: Niagara Falls.
After arriving in one of the most popular destinations in Ontario, not to be missed for any traveller to Toronto, we parked our car on the main parking lot, at $18.00 a little overpriced, although it offered unlimited parking until midnight. As we approached the falls from the south, my guests were astounded at the width of the river and the quantities of water that were about to drop down the steep precipice. We stopped for a while at a spot right where the water starts to hurl down the rocks. The amount and force of the water is awe-inspiring, and the thundering sound of the falling water provides an appropriate backdrop to this natural wonder.
The waterfall produced the most amazing complete rainbow inside the gorge that I have ever seen, offering many scenic vistas of the Niagara River set against the appropriately named Rainbow Bridge which connects Ontario with New York State.Several Maid of the Mist sightseeing boats holding curious visitors dressed in blue plastic capes were floating dangerously close to the bottom of the waterfall, providing a great photo opportunity.
Naturally, after taking in all these sights we had to take in a refreshment and we rested a bit on a restaurant patio overlooking the falls. After our brief respite we drove along the scenic Niagara Parkway towards Niagara-on-the-Lake, stopping several times at various lookout points, such as the Aero Car tram crossing the gorge, and the immense power plants located on both sides of the river, generating clean hydro-electric energy.
The bucolic countryside along the Niagara River features a large number of wineries and orchards and the road is lined with fruit stands, featuring fresh Ontario produce. Finally, we parked our car next to a beautiful park, right where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario. By this time, the Niagara River has turned from an angry and wild river with churning waters and rapids into a mild-mannered waterway, ready to merge with on the Great Lakes.
We had a little stroll around this charming Victorian village, admiring the beautifully kept houses and gardens, and since it was getting late we headed back into the car to continue our drive back to Toronto. The last leg of our trip was a drive through St. Catharines' beautiful little lakeside village, Port Dalhousie, which on this day featured a younger crowd than Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Filled with a multitude of impressions of this gorgeous day, we arrived back in Toronto, sharing our various impressions. My European visitors, who had never been to North America, were truly impressed with the Niagara Region and I was glad I was able to give them a little taste of Ontario's wine country.
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions(http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. You will also find stories about life and the transitions that we face as we go through our own personal life-long journeys.
Submit your own travel stories in our first travel story contest(http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm) and have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the Amazon River.
"Life is a Journey ? Explore New Horizons".
The interview with photos is published at Travel and Transitions - Interviews
Top 5 Tourist Activities in Niagara on the Lake
You have finally arrived in beautiful and historic Niagara on the lake, but are left wondering what to do. Here are five different tourist activities to do if you come to Niagara on the Lake.
Whirlpool Jet Boats: The whirlpool jet boats are a one of a kind adventure ride that are definitely not for the faint of heart. The ride takes you up the Niagara River in a high speed, specially designed, power boat. The boat will go all the way up the river into the scenic Niagara gorge and to the whirlpool. You will get very wet, so make sure to bring a change of clothes and plan your adventure for a warm day. The entire trip will only take about an hour so it leaves plenty of time left in your day for our other four Niagara activities.
Shaw Festival: The theater company is the second largest in North American and calls Niagara on the Lake home. If you are looking for a rainy day activity sitting down to see a theatre production will make for an exciting afternoon or evening.
Horse and Carriage Ride: If you are looking for a unique experience and want to see the town, you should take a horse and carriage ride. The rides can last from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours in length. It can make for a romantic evening trip or an exciting afternoon expedition with your children.
Wine Tour: A trip to Niagara on the lake would not be complete without a visit to one of the 25+ wineries in the immediate area. A wine tour is a great way to see multiple wineries, take tours at each, and enjoy wine tasting afterwards. Many of the wineries will also offer individual tours if you are looking for something more personal.
Bicycle Tour: A bicycle tour will allow you to set your own path and see what you want to see. Niagara has 10's of kilometers of paved bicycle paths that allow you to tour the area. You can ride all the way up the Niagara River stopping off at the wineries as you go, for an enjoyable relaxing afternoon.
If you are looking for more Niagara on the Lake leisure activities, make sure to pick up a town map and talk with a local, who can give you a better idea of the Niagara offerings. With this much to do, you may wish to find Niagara on the Lake accommodation for the night to enjoy one more day of fun. The town offers a variety of accommodation options, with one that will surely suit your tastes.
Top 10 Osoyoos Wineries
10. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
After heavy renovation in 2003, the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery received new wine making facilities as well as a new wine shop and tasting bar. This makes for a more efficient wine-making process and a more enjoyable experience for guests.
The owners also took advantage of the Burrowing Owl's dramatic landscape by constructing a brand new restaurant, called the Sonora Room. This restaurant features a fireplace, large outdoor patio area, and serves the winery's own wine.
The Burrowing Owl Estate Winery's wine shop is open April to November daily, from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
9. Tinhorn Creek Vineyards
Sitting unrivalled atop the "Golden Mile," a former gold mining creek, Tinhorn Creek Vineyards uses sustainable practices when farming their vineyards. Guests here can take in views of the 150 acre vineyard as they sample the different wines.
Tinhorn Creek Vineyards is open during all months of the year from 10:00am to 5:00pm.
8. Twisted Tree Vineyards & Winery
Hand crafted and family owned are the two phrases that best describe Twisted Tree Vineyards and Winery. Producing only a small amount of wine every year, the winery will only sell the best wine it is capable of creating. These hands on wine-makers consider their product to be an expression of their regional terroir and passion for winemaking.
Like most wineries in this reigon, Twisted Tree Vineyards & Winery offers breathtaking panoramic views of Osoyoos and the lake. The tasting room is open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm between May to October.
7. Inniskillin Winery
Located just north of Osoyoos in the nearby town of Oliver, the Inniskillin Winery offers table and icewine for sale. Inniskillin may be more a more recognized name for Canadians as they also have a winery in Niagara Falls which shares the same commitment to excellence.
Inniskillin has three large vineyards in the Okanagan providing enough room for discovery harvests where the winery tests new technologies and harvesting methods. Due to the harvesting of icewine, the winery is open all year round from 10:00am to 5:00pm during the summertime, and 10:00am to 4:00pm during the wintertime.
6. Hester Creek Estate Winery
Also located along the Golden Mile, Hester Creek Estate is one of British Columbia's most awarded wineries. Guests can relax, shielded from sunlight, on the vine-covered patio with views, snacks, and refreshments to enjoy. The Hester Creek Estate Winery is open from May 1st through Canadian Thanksgiving weekend from 10:00am to 5:30pm. From then on, the winery is still open up until April 30th, however they close earlier at 4:00pm.
5. Le Vieux Pin Winery
Named after a historic pine tree on the northwest corner of the vineyard, Le Vieux Pin is a fairly new winery first opening its doors in 2006. This winery has taken many design inspirations from the property where an old French barn and railway station are situated. Wines here are made in the French tradition while still taking advantage of modern day farming technologies.
Le Vieux Pin Winery is located just north of Osoyoos in the town of Oliver.
4. Blasted Church Winery
Blasted Church Winery gets its' name from a church which was re-located from a deserted mining camp. In 1929 a small crew set out on a mission to bring the deserted church back to where it belonged, the Okanagan Falls. Before physically moving the church, the crew used sticks of dynamite to "loosen the nails," which eventually led the church to its current location high along a cascading hillside peering over Skaha Lake.
Blasted Church Winery is open 7 days per week from 10:00am to 5:00pm between May 1 and October 31.
3. Nk'Mip Cellars
Nk'Mip Cellars is accredited as North America's first aboriginal owned and operated winery. Since 2007, Nk'Mip Cellars has garnered over 40 prestigious awards for its wines. This winery also has a small restaurant for guests to enjoy after a tasting session. The winery and restaurant is open from May 1 to October 31 between 9:00am to 5:00pm, however their gift shop is open all year round.
2. LaStella Winery
LaStella Winery is a newer winery to the Okanagan Valley first opening its doors in May of 2007. LaStella Winery has a gorgeous view of the lake which actually provides functionality by helping cool the air at night. This makes for less harsh conditions and allows the grapes to grow to their fullest potential. This winery also has a very distinct soil composition which gives its grapes a unique taste. LaStella's wine shop is open 7 days per week from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
1. Jackson-Triggs Vintners
Situated across a 410 acre site on the Osoyoos Lake Bench, Jackson-Triggs Vintners features stunning views of the Okanagan lake and exemplifies the beauty of the Okanagan Valley. Starting wine production in the Niagara Falls area, it wasn't until 1998 that Jackson-Triggs Vintners decided to start production in the Okanagan. Currently, the Okanagan winery takes advantage of advanced wine-making technology and produces a multitude of different wines. The wine gallery is open from 10:00am to 6:00pm during the summer, and 10:00am to 4:00pm in the winter.
Devon O'Malley is a staff writer for alluraDirect, a vacation rentals website featuring an advanced property search tool, credit card payment option, and instantly confirmed reservations. Book Osoyoos Lodging directly with the property owner and save!
Niagara Escarpment Wineries
Niagara on the Lake is a great tourist destination especially for the wine lovers. Every year thousands of tourists travel to this heavenly place from all parts of the world to taste the best ice wine and visit some of the most renowned Niagara Escarpment Wineries. The tourists who visit Niagara on the Lake not only get to taste the award winning ice wine but also get to see some picturesque scenery that will leave them spellbound.
Niagara on the Lake is often referred to as the "Land of wineries" and if you had been lucky enough to visit the land, you won't ask why? The minute one sets foot in Niagara, the mesmerizing smell of the liquid gold of Niagara Escarpment Wineries and delicacies of Niagara on the Lake Restaurants begins to fire their imagination. The pristine ambiance, friendly people, calm atmosphere, serene life style, and sumptuous Niagara on the Lake Wineries provide an impetus to the dormant desire of booking for a Niagara Falls Ontario Wine Tours.
Niagara on the Lake is truly a tourist's haven and offers a paradisaical environment to pamper one's senses. The awesome Niagara Falls Ontario Restaurants are really a visual and appetite treat for the beholder. The place is an amalgamation of Niagara Restaurants, beautiful Niagara Falls Wineries, marvelous natural sights, delectable treats, and what not's. The climatic conditions offered by the Niagara on the Lake are an asset to the tourism and Niagara Escarpment Wineries. If you have already basked in the majestic glory of the place, then you would know the splendor of Niagara on the Lake.
The whole magic of Niagara Falls Ontario Wineries Tours can turn sour if you don't visit a Niagara on the Lake Winery. You will find umpteen Niagara Escarpment Wineries offering the best ice wine in the world. You will never get to know what you have been missing on until and unless you don't set your foot in a Niagara Falls Winery. You will have your plate full with fun and merriments while your stay in Niagara on the Lake. The festive mood in the place during the ice-wine festival will drown you in the pool of seamless joy and fun.
Book a Niagara Falls Ontario Wine Tour to drench yourself in some exotic fun. With a marvelous climate and landscapes the Niagara winery tours offers you the memories that you will cherish for a lifetime.
One of the leading wineries of the region is Peller; it brings in for you the largest variety of pure ice-wine from the vineyards of Niagara.
Peller Estates Winery Restaurant is enriched with wine clubs, wine tastings, wine tours, Ontario wineries, Niagara Winery, Niagara falls Ontario wine tours, Canadian ice wine, Niagara on the lake Wineries, Niagara restaurants, Niagara wine tours. For more details visit http://www.peller.com/
Niagara on the Lake - Strawberry Festival
The Niagara on the Lake strawberry festival is a yearly June event that brings together local farmers and their finest strawberries into delicious concoctions.
Niagara on the Lake is a small town in Southern Ontario. It is a top tourist destination year round, but begins to buzz with activity in the late spring and early summer. This is preciously the time when the strawberry festival rolls into town.
Strawberries are not the only selling feature in the town either. It is surrounded by wine country which can make for a relaxing afternoon on a wine tour or even a scenic bicycle tour. With over twenty local wineries to choose from, you are sure to find one that will match your tastes. If you are looking for golf, the town is also home to the oldest golf course in North America. The course is located directly on the Niagara River and offers some of the most scenic views in the town. Wineries, golf courses, scenic walking paths, luxury accommodations, and fine dining make up just a few of the reasons Niagara on the Lake has become a favorite travel destination.
The strawberry festival is just the cherry (or strawberry) on top of everything else the town offers. If there was ever an excuse to travel to Niagara on the Lake, this festival would be one. Strawberry pies, jams, tarts, milkshakes, and pancakes are the tip of the iceberg for this weekend festival.
The weekend is very popular so booking your Niagara on the Lake accommodation early is important to ensure you can enjoy Niagara's finest fresh fruit on this historic weekend.
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