On the drive from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake, make sure to make a stop at the Mackenzie Heritage Printing Museum. This restored home was the home of rebel newspaper publisher William Lyon Mackenzie.
The museum is very hands on, with one of the world's only remaining wooden printing presses on display, a working linotype machine, and a working press that visitors are encouraged to use to help make a poster.
While making the poster, visitors are also taught how to line type and learn the origin of why we call it "upper case" and "lower case."
Our tour guide also gave us some Canadian history and while we were touring the printing museum, other presses were being used to make posters and flyers.
This small museum is very interesting and intriguing; make sure this is one of your stops while you're visiting Niagara Falls. Teaching children, and yourself, about the history of Canada, Canada's newspaper history, and the history of printing, is made fun!
Showing posts with label Niagara-On-The-Lake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Niagara-On-The-Lake. Show all posts
Friday, June 24, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Fort George
Right outside the main street of the quaint town of Niagara-On-The-Lake lies Fort George, which served as the headquarters for the British army during the War of 1812. The fort played an important part in the development of Canada during the 19th century and has a rich amount of history that can be learned through various books and websites.
When visiting a place such as this, you expect to feel like you can really experience what the fort was like during the days of its importance. However, beyond just having some small buildings on the premises, there really isn't much to experience. The area is not very well maintained, especially compared to Old Fort Niagara across the river in New York. All the buildings seem to be infested with bees and they don't have anything to warrant walking in them and looking at any way. There are some musket demonstrations throughout the day, but nothing else is really too enticing to tourists. When visiting Niagara-On-The-Lake, you're much better off spending your money elsewhere such as the various wineries or on Queen Street.
When visiting a place such as this, you expect to feel like you can really experience what the fort was like during the days of its importance. However, beyond just having some small buildings on the premises, there really isn't much to experience. The area is not very well maintained, especially compared to Old Fort Niagara across the river in New York. All the buildings seem to be infested with bees and they don't have anything to warrant walking in them and looking at any way. There are some musket demonstrations throughout the day, but nothing else is really too enticing to tourists. When visiting Niagara-On-The-Lake, you're much better off spending your money elsewhere such as the various wineries or on Queen Street.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Exploring Niagara-On-The-Lake
If you're visiting Niagara Falls, take at least a day trip out to Niagara-on-the-Lake, about a 30 minute, beautiful drive from Niagara Falls.
Follow the wine route for the most beautiful views along the drive, not to mention may, many wineries along the route. Many wineries offer tasting rooms or tours. This list from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce helps you navigate the wineries that offer tours, where they are and more.
You can also purchase a Wine Country Touring Pass, where visitors can "spend a full day touring and tasting through Wine Country at four of the region's most unique wine destinations: Peller Estates, Hillebrand Winery, Thirty Bench Wine Makers and Wine Country Vintners."
On your drive to the wineries, make a stop at Walker's Country Market, a family owned farmer's market and bakery. They offer delicious baked goods (which make great in between winery snacks), sandwiches, as well as fresh fruit. They also carry jams, jellies and preserves, as well as snacks.
Make sure to take a stop along Queen Street, the main street in Niagara-on-the-Lake, filled with boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, shops and more. If you decided to not have lunch or dinner at one of Niagara-on-the-Lake's many wineries, Queen Street is filled with great restaurants that also offer local wines, regional fare and local flavors.
For a snack or sweet treat, Cows on Queen Street is fun and tasty! Or, try Victoria's Teas and Coffee. Their coffees are delicious and they also have a special Niagara icewine coffee blend that you can also take home with you or as a gift.
As you leave the Queen Street shopping area, turn left down King Street and head towards Lake Ontario and Queen's Royal Park. There's a great pavilion for photos, not to mention a beautiful view of Old Fort Niagara in New York. There's a small sandy area and a walking path along the shore, plus picnic tables.
Parking in Niagara-on-the-Lake is metered, however, we found that you don't pay for a specific parking spot. If you still have time left on your meter from shopping on Queen Street, drive down to Queen's Royal Park along Lake Ontario and use the same meter receipt (don't re-feed the meter).
Follow the wine route for the most beautiful views along the drive, not to mention may, many wineries along the route. Many wineries offer tasting rooms or tours. This list from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce helps you navigate the wineries that offer tours, where they are and more.
You can also purchase a Wine Country Touring Pass, where visitors can "spend a full day touring and tasting through Wine Country at four of the region's most unique wine destinations: Peller Estates, Hillebrand Winery, Thirty Bench Wine Makers and Wine Country Vintners."
On your drive to the wineries, make a stop at Walker's Country Market, a family owned farmer's market and bakery. They offer delicious baked goods (which make great in between winery snacks), sandwiches, as well as fresh fruit. They also carry jams, jellies and preserves, as well as snacks.
Make sure to take a stop along Queen Street, the main street in Niagara-on-the-Lake, filled with boutiques, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, shops and more. If you decided to not have lunch or dinner at one of Niagara-on-the-Lake's many wineries, Queen Street is filled with great restaurants that also offer local wines, regional fare and local flavors.
For a snack or sweet treat, Cows on Queen Street is fun and tasty! Or, try Victoria's Teas and Coffee. Their coffees are delicious and they also have a special Niagara icewine coffee blend that you can also take home with you or as a gift.
As you leave the Queen Street shopping area, turn left down King Street and head towards Lake Ontario and Queen's Royal Park. There's a great pavilion for photos, not to mention a beautiful view of Old Fort Niagara in New York. There's a small sandy area and a walking path along the shore, plus picnic tables.
Parking in Niagara-on-the-Lake is metered, however, we found that you don't pay for a specific parking spot. If you still have time left on your meter from shopping on Queen Street, drive down to Queen's Royal Park along Lake Ontario and use the same meter receipt (don't re-feed the meter).
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Terroir La Cachette at Stewn Winery
Strewn Winery is towards the beginning of the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine route. On nice days, La Cachette opens their patio to guests.
La Cachette offers wines from Strewn Winery, as well as local wines from wineries along the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine route.
After enjoying lunch or dinner at La Cachette, stop in at the wine store and pick up a bottle of wine. Strewn Winery also has a tasting room as well as a tasting bar.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Touring Hillebrand Winery
One of the biggest and one of the most popular wineries along the Niagara-on-the-Lake wine route. The winery began more than 30 years ago and today makes not only white and red wines, but also sparkling wines in the champagne style and the area's famed icewine.
For visitors, a Trius winery tour is offered every hour on the hour, which takes you behind the wine. Visitors get to see the vineyard, the wine cellars for both white and red wines, and, the best part, get to taste Hillebrand's top wines, including their Trius white, Trius red and their icewine.
You can even use your tour receipt for a $5 discount on any bottle of wine in their store.
This is a very unique winery tour, in that you get to see the vineyards and the wine cellars, as well as get to drink some wine! (Woo!)
Afterwards, you're taken to the winery store and shown where the wines you tasted are. You can also go to the tasting bar to try a wine you're thinking about purchasing or try a wine flight. Yum!
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