Niagara: Hallowe’en and Hiking

Rita and I spent Hallowe’en weekend in the Niagara region. We stayed in Niagara-on-the-Lake, visited the Falls, and packed in some hiking.

Harbour House Hotel All three of the Niagara’s Finest collection of hotels are dog-friendly, with a fee of $25+HST per night. They have an official dog policy, and really go the extra mile for your four-legged friend. At Harbour House, Rita was supplied with her own bed and bowls, along with treats and poo bags. I also noticed a special “puppies in paradise” package with extra perks on an old social media post, but am unsure if this still available. The rooms include a DVD player, with access to a DVD library in the foyer, but they have currently suspended this due to COVID. The Shaw advertises dog companion DVDs for playing if you have to leave your pooch alone, so perhaps they usually have this in all three hotels.

The hotel was in a great location, less than 5 minutes’ drive into the centre of the town, and a few minutes’ walk to the beginning of the Niagara Parkway Recreational Trail. I was also pleased with my “King Superior” room, complete with jet tub, powerful shower and gas fireplace. However it felt like it could have done with some modernisation, and their efforts at enforcing COVID policy could have been a bit more thoughtful. For example, rather than a breakfast buffet, every guest got served a small portion of granola, yoghurt and fruit with a pastry and omelette, with no other options. In addition, I would have expected better toiletries and in-room tea-making facilities (there was only a Nespresso coffee machine) in a 4-star hotel.

Ghost Walk Friday night activities for us comprised of a ghost walk through Niagara-on-the-Lake, run by Ghost Walks. A 90-minute walk, this was completely outdoors and so Rita was allowed to join. Although it was pouring rain, our guide the “Black Widow” (Deborah) kept us captivated and took our minds off how wet we were getting. I recommend visiting the Starbucks next-door to the meeting spot prior to the walk to grab a tea to keep you warm, like I did! We learned many stories of the town, from that of Captain Colin Swayze who got bayoneted in a barrel in the wine cellar of the Olde Angel Inn and continues to smash glasses in the bar, to the Apothecary where the housewives of the town used to conduct seances. We were encouraged to take photos of a Victorian House with a reputation for screwing up photographic devices. This was a fun way to spend an evening in NOTL, especially around Hallowe’en, although these tours run all year!

Niagara Falls The main event of our trip was seeing the famous Niagara Falls!! As I’m sure the reader is familiar with them, I won’t say too much, but we were able to get some great photos! Remember to bring a coat or umbrella; although it wasn’t raining, it felts like it was due to the spray from the Horseshoe Falls. We spent a couple of hours walking around the Clifton Hill area and along the promenade, admiring the views. Then we made our way to Dufferin Islands, a 10 acre nature reserve upstream of the Falls comprised of small islands connected by boardwalks. There were lots of ducks and geese to watch, and the Fall colours were pretty. It felt quite peaceful after the hustle and bustle of the tourists at the Falls and Clifton Hill.

Lunch at Niagara Falls was at the Secret Garden Restaurant. I was attracted to this place due to it being publicised as dog-friendly (on the outdoor patio) with views of the Falls. However, the food was mediocre and over-priced, and the views weren’t exceptional. So I would recommend just asking at any nice-looking restaurant with outdoor seating if your pooch is allowed to join you at a table.

Some other tips for solo travellers: Starbucks on Clifton Hill has glass windows to the floor, so I felt safe tying Rita to one of their outdoor tables whilst I nipped in for a coffee, as I didn’t have to take my eyes off her for any substantial length of time. The toilets in Grand View Marketplace were ideal, as I could tie Rita onto the railings at the entrance, and could see her from the ladies’ (bar being in the cubicle). Maple Leaf Place is a good spot for stopping for souvenirs, as it is away from the busyness of the city with parking right outside and so I felt able to leave her in the car or tied up outside.

Niagara Glen On the road to Niagara from NOTL lies Niagara Glen, so we stopped here for a hike on the way home. This was much more wild and foresty than I expected, so I was pleasantly surprised. It was lovely to get into nature for some peace after the gaudiness of Niagara Falls. To access the trails, you have to go down a long metal staircase (I carried Rita as the gaps in the metal mesh were too wide for her little paws!). There are a few different trails to take, with a rocky terrain. There were even some parts which went through tunnels in the rocks. The trails take you down towards the Niagara River and are well-marked. We pieced together a few, including the Cliffside, Eddy, River and Terrace trails to give a 3km walk which took an hour due to the terrain, and photo stops!

The turquoise water of the river complemented the amber leaves well

Another stopping point on this road is the Floral Clock. This year’s floral arrangement signified aspects of the pandemic.

Niagara-on-the-Lake We spent Sunday morning exploring the quaint Queen St and its many gift shops. Rita was forced to wait outside for me most of the time, but was warmly welcomed in Cool As A Moose. They even had some doggy items for sale! We visited the (reconstructed) gazebo in Queens Royal Park where the Stephen King novel-based film The Dead Zone was made and admired the views across the Lake to Toronto and the USA. Next we went to The Commons off-leash area, where Rita made a friend and played constant fetch. It was a great space to let her have a run before hitting the road!

St Catharines, ON

Grand Bend, ON