New York City Tourism in a Blink

By: Gen Wright
Located 91 miles west of Rochester, New York and 31 miles north of Buffalo, NY, Niagara on the Lake is on the south shore of Lake Ontario, where the Niagara River spills into Lake Ontario. It can be found just 15-20 minutes downstream (north) from Niagara Falls on the Canadian side of the Niagara River. This tiny village is a popular tourist destination for people who travel into the region every year.

Niagara on the Lake is in a part of southern Ontario famous for its 17 wineries within a 20-minute drive, antiques, art galleries, and the popular Shaw Festival, which is a theatrical festival celebrating the works of playwrights Eugene O'Neill, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. The Shaw Festival produces several plays each calendar year. You can see their full schedule here.

Rich in history, Niagara on the Lake dates back to 1778. It was founded shortly after the American Revolution and served as a wayside in a vital Military Road connecting Fort George at the mouth of the Niagara River to the military base in Hamilton, NY (Fort Hamilton), which is located 38 miles southwest of Syracuse, NY. The two forts were separated by 213 miles of northern New York territory.

Many of the homes and buildings in this area date back to before the War of 1812 - America's forgotten war.

The Niagara on the Lake Golf Club, which opened in 1875, is the oldest existing golf course in North America

Niagara on the Lake offers a multitude of Bed And Breakfast establishments and other accommodations from which to choose:



The John's Gate B&B is centrally located, just a seven minute stroll from the downtown Queen Street shopping district. Some people suggest that I am not qualified to remark on a Bed and Breakfast I have not visited myself, but one of the awesome aspects of the Internet is that I can tell you about a Bed and Breakfast and point you to the reviews already submitted by people who HAVE visited the B&B themselves. As of today, 186 people have written real reviews of the John's Gate Bed and Breakfast in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario. Google also makes available a number of photos from this beautiful home near the Niagara River. Many of the photos featured by Google are those featured by the proprietors of this fine establishment, but the proprietors offer a few more pictures on their own website. John's Gate provides four bedrooms, which can be rented: two with Queen sized beds, one King size, and one room with Twin beds.

The DownHome B and B is centrally located in a quiet area of the Olde Towne area, just four blocks from the downtown shopping district. DownHome has merged the beauty of a new home with the atmosphere of Olde Towne and the growing Wine Industry. DownHome has three bedrooms, featuring dark woods, soft colors and distinct period ambiances. The home also features Sandy and James Down's personal collection of family antiques.

The Historic Davy House Circa 1842 has five bedrooms - three of which that offer King size beds, one with a Queen size bed, and the fifth with Twin beds. The Davy House was previously known as the Balkie House and was built by Peter Balkie in 1842, after Balkie purchased the land from the Honorable James Crooks. Shortly after purchasing the land, Balkie built this two-story home with its ample and elaborate verandas. Balkie stayed with the house until the shipping trade moved away from the Niagara River in 1850, then he moved on. This home is located within walking distance of both the Shaw Theatre and the Queen Street shops.

Via Veneto is located in Old Town Niagara-on-the-Lake, and is situated within a short walk of Queen Street, the Shaw Theatres, Art Galleries, Antique shops, Shopping, Dining, Golf Courses and Lake Ontario. Via Veneto offers three rooms, each of them offering a Queen size bed for guests. The Florence Room, the Verona Room and the Venice Room each bring a touch of Italian elegance to their design and style.



Although we would prefer to give an overview of all the B&B's located in Niagara on the Lake, that is simply impractical at this time. There are 153 Bed and Breakfasts located in this tiny village, 29 Niagara on the Lake cottages for rent, as well as several hotels to choose from.

Author's Notes: This post originally appeared on his blog, where it contains links to the resources and attractions mentioned in this article.

If you are the proprietor of a Bed And Breakfast, located somewhere in North America, please visit our website to learn how to have your establishment featured on our website.