Niagra on the Lake: Spas, Shops, Fine Wines

The Town’s Militant Past Comes Alive at Fort George National Historic Site

This peaceful village has a turbulent past. It was settled near the end of the American Revolution by refugees leaving the newly forming U.S. Republic . It later played a great role in the War of 1812, when the U.S. tried to annex Ontario. Niagara- on- the Lake was a hot battleground, occupied for seven months by U.S. soldiers. A tour through the Fort George National Historic Site brings this history alive. The fort is where British soldiers and Canadian militiamen fought off the enemy. A tour includes the soldier’s barracks and the officer’s quarters, as well as the sturdy stone powder magazine. During the summer, visitors can see staff dressed as 1812 soldiers and their spouses, who give tours and answer questions. In July and August there are demonstrations of musket firings and close order drills. At the very end of the U.S. occupation, the town was deliberately burned by the U.S. Army as it retreated.

Victorian Buildings Charm Visitors

The town was rebuilt after the 1812 War and many of the beautiful Victorian homes and inns that remain were constructed in this period. The town became a shipping and transportation center, a place form which to ship the many fruits and vegetables grown here to other provinces. The Kerr-Wooll House was built by Dr. Kerr in 1815, and the Masonic Hall, an old stone building, was built about 1816. The Visitor’s Guide available at stores offers a self-guided walking tour of the grand old structures in town. Many of them now house inns or chic shops showcasing clothes by Canadian designers.

Niagara Wines Include Ice Wines

The Niagara wine region is not an old one, since it got its first estate winery license in 1974, but they made up for lost time, and now one can taste the region’s wines throughout Niagara-On-The-Lake, at tasting rooms, vineyards, and wineries such as Hillebrand, which produces a fine sparkling Riesling and tasty ice wines. The restaurant at Hillebrand Winery should not be missed, with its local organic chicken, local goat cheeses and wild trout dishes, all paired with the right wines. Wine festivals include the Ice Wine Festival in January and the Herb and Wine Tour in May, as well as the Niagara Wine Festival in September. The sweet and succulent ice wines are a favorite of the region.

Niagara-On-The-Lake is Famous for Its Spas That Use Natural Local Products

The Pillar and Post 100 Fountain Spa specializes in vinotherapy treatments, using crushed grape seed for a body scrub and grape skins for the “Purple Feet Pedicure.” Each treatment room has a beautiful mural reflecting a theme from a foreign country, and the outdoor hot pools are set in lush plantings amid rocks and ferns, providing a serene natural experience.

At The Spa at White Oaks Resort, the signature treatment is the Nectar of Niagara Wrap, which includes a grape exfoliation and a heated wine and honey facial mask. Then it’s time for a dip in the hydrotherapy tub. The Mochaccino Scrub and Massage begins with a body exfoliation using a milk-based scrub with coffee and cocoa. It’s rinsed off under a seven-head Vichy rain bar, and followed by a massage. A masseuse at White Oaks commented “Massage is like combing your hair, it works out the tangles and knots in strands of muscle.”

Spa-goers can travel from some Ontario spas to others via the Spa Train, a service by Via Rail and Premier Spas of Ontario. Spa-owners will see that a traveler gets to the train station to continue their spa trip. Spa sampling in Ontario is a great girl friend getaway.