Page 97 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019
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is Namaste Niagara, a yoga series organized bubbly that will blow your socks off and canada.gc.ca/fortgeorge ). The Fort celebrates
by Niagara Parks and held on select Sundays serves fresh and tasty lunches on the the complicated and inspiring history of the
during the summer. There are two options verandah (www.westcottvineyards.com ). area. Take the 2.5 km (1.6 mi.) “Beyond The
to choose from: private access to Journey Gates” stroll through 250 years of rousing
Behind the Falls, a 45-minute yoga work- CANADA’S SPIRIT Canadian history, or relax in one of the Red
shop right at the brink of the Falls and brunch BLOOMS IN NIAGARA Chairs on the grounds or watch historic
at Queenston Heights Restaurant or a History abounds in Niagara, and it is no recreations, musket demonstrations and
guided meditation walk at White Water Walk surprise that the area is busy with special cannon fi rings.
along the Niagara River and breakfast at the events and celebrations to showcase Niagara Parks is building a public art
Whirlpool Restaurant (www.niagaraparks. Canada’s early history. initiative, beginning with an art installation
com/events/event/namaste-niagara). Fort George National Historic Site is an by Gordon Reeve called “Niagara Strait” in
accurately restored fort where costumed the Botanical Gardens.
WANDER THROUGH interpreters re-enact history (www.parks The Butterfl y Conservatory celebrates
WINE COUNTRY
It isn’t surprising that the culinary scene
and the wineries of Niagara now rival the
Falls in popularity. Year-round, visitors can
tour, taste and feast at the many easily
accessed wineries. In winter, visitors can
“chill” at the Icewine Festival. You haven’t
really experienced a “Nuit Blanche” until
you have dined in the icy (but heated!) white
tents set up on the streets of Niagara-on- MEMORIES AWAIT
the-Lake on a chilly winter evening (www.
niagarawinefestival.com). Be one of the fi rst
to try this year’s wines at the Niagara New PLACE AUX SOUVENIRS
Vintage Festival, and indulge your love of
fi ne white wines at the International Cool
Climate Chardonnay Celebration, or i4C,
in July (www.coolchardonnay.org).
Companies like Crush on Niagara Wine
Tours off er visits to the vineyards (www.
crushtours.com ). Zoom Leisure Bikes
organizes cycling tours (www.zoomleisure.
com ). Another attractive option is the
Niagara Helicopters wine tour where you
can fl y over the Falls and then take in the
vineyards by air, landing at a local winery
for a tour and tasting or a gourmet meal
(www.niagarahelicopters.com ).
WINES TO SIP AND SAVOUR
It’s easy to do your own individual tasting
tour as most wineries are well-signed and
an excellent self-touring map allows you
to choose between large establishments
and smaller ones that are aggressively
pushing the boundaries of winemaking
(www.wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com/
cta/greatest-winery-tour).
Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery is a small
boutique operation, with the tasting room
in the family dining room. Owner and 1-888-773-8888
vintner, Sue-Ann is an international parkscanada.gc.ca/fortgeorge facebook.com/FortGeorgeNHS
award-winning vintner who makes parcscanada.gc.ca/fortgeorge facebook.com/LHNFortGeorge
excellent reds and whites under the Fancy
Farm Girl label (www.sue-annstaff .com ).
Westcott Vineyards is another family-run
winery in a relocated 200-year-old
Mennonite barn. The winery makes a

