Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce, 153 King St. (P.O. Box 1043), Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0 (tel. 905/468-4263; www.niagaraonthelake.com), provides information and can help you find accommodations. It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

For Niagara Falls travel information, contact Niagara Falls Tourism, 5515 Stanley Ave., Niagara Falls (tel. 800/56-FALLS; www.niagarafallstourism.com) or the Niagara Parks Commission, Box 150, 7400 Portage Rd. S., Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6T2 (tel. 905/356-2241; www.niagaraparks.com).

Getting There

Niagara-on-the-Lake is best seen by car. From Toronto, take the Queen Elizabeth Way (signs read QEW) to Niagara via Hamilton and St. Catharine's, and exit at Highway 55. The trip takes about 1 1/2 hours.

Amtrak and VIA (tel. 416/366-8411) operate trains between Toronto and New York, but they stop only in Niagara Falls and St. Catharine's, not in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Call tel. 800/361-1235 in Canada or 800/USA-RAIL in the United States. From either place, you'll need to rent a car. Rental outlets in St. Catharine's include National Tilden, 162 Church St. (tel. 905/682-8611), and Hertz, 404 Ontario St. (tel. 905/682-8695). In Niagara Falls, National Tilden is at 4523 Drummond Rd. (tel. 905/374-6700).

Tip: Biking Through Wine Country

Driving through Niagara-on-the-Lake by car is a delight, but many would argue that the region is best viewed by bicycle. Starting in 2007, Via Rail began offering a Toronto-Niagara Bike Train throughout the summer. It has a bike cargo car, and you can hop aboard -- for C$59 (US$56/£27) per person -- and get to Niagara Falls in less than 2 hours. From there, you can bike to your hotel (if you're a light traveler), or arrange for pick-up for an extra fee. Visit www.biketrain.ca for more details.