Planning a Trip

Visitor Information

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce (26 Queen St., Niagara-on-the-Lake; tel. 905/468-1950; www.niagaraonthelake.com) provides information and can help you find accommodations. Open daily from 9am to 7:30pm from April through October, and from 10am to 5pm during the rest of the year.

For Niagara Falls travel information, contact Niagara Falls Tourism (5515 Stanley Ave., Niagara Falls; tel. 800/56-FALLS [800/563-2557] or 519/356-6061; www.niagarafallstourism.com) or the Niagara Parks Commission (tel. 877/NIA-PARK [877/642-7275]; 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 the cities of Hamilton and St. Catharine's, and exit at Hwy. 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 (800/872-7245) in the United States. From either place, you'll need to rent a car. Rental outlets in St. Catharine's include Hertz (350 Ontario St.; tel. 905/682-8695). In Niagara Falls, Avis is at 5734 Valley Way (tel. 905/357-2847).

A Great Green Initiative

Driving through Niagara-on-the-Lake by car is a delight, but many would argue that the region is best viewed by bicycle. VIA Rail offers the Toronto-Niagara Greenbelt Express for cyclists. These passenger trains have a bike cargo car, and you can hop aboard -- for C$62 per person round trip -- 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. Call tel. 888/619-5984 or visit www.biketrain.ca for more details.