Niagara Region
Niagara on the Lake Our first stop in the region was NOTL. We last visited here in November, and things looked a little different and more bustling in the sunshine. The tulips were out and the skies were blue. We spent a few hours visiting the shops, our favourites being Cool as a Moose and Just Christmas. We also received a thorough education on the products available in Beauty Blossom and discovered a tiny dog boutique, Puppy and Dog Fashion. The patio at Bistro Six-One is dog-friendly, so we stopped here for lunch and a bowl of water for Rita. We rounded off our visit with a trip to The Dead Zone gazebo and a paddle at the mouth of the Niagara River, looking across to the USA, followed by some off-leash time at The Commons.
Carriage House I felt lucky to have come across this converted carriage house and former blacksmith shop via Vrbo. The host Darren met us upon arrival and ensured we could use the code-pad and pointed out where everything was and how the air-con worked etc. He was also keen to recommend spots for sightseeing and dinner. It was nice to receive a personal touch in this era of self-check-ins! The place had several nods to its doggy guests, like towels for “dirty paws” and a jar of treats! This interior was much more spacious than expected, and the fixtures and fittings were of high quality. It included everything you could need, even for a longer stay than our two nights. There were spaces to sit outside on sunny days, and board games or books for staying indoors. It was also super convenient to The Falls, yet distanced from the crowds of tourists. A gem of a find!
A few minutes’ drive away from the carriage house is Niagara Falls Bark Park at Firemen’s Park. This is a fenced-in park with separate areas for large and small dogs (we went to the large, >10kg side). It is nice because it has a winding path for owners to walk along while their dogs run about and play. There were also some trees providing shade for Rita to cool off, and a doggie water fountain!
For dinner, Zappi’s Pizza and Pasta restaurant with dog-friendly patio is a 10 minute drive down the road. This was nice spot, although it is within the “tourist trap” area, it had great ambience and tasty grub!
Stevensville Conservation Area We wanted to fit in a hike while in the area, so we visited Stevensville Conservation Area. It was nothing to write home about (although I am!) but it felt refreshing to get out of town and meander through the forest. There was a pond, which was a bit brown-looking, and a creek in which Rita had a paddle. We did the Pond Trail (twice) and the Outer Loop of the Creek Trail, which took about an hour. It’s worth a visit if you are staying nearby and looking for somewhere quiet to stretch your legs.
Featherstone Winery It is a sin to visit the Niagara Region without including a winery. We went to dog-friendly Featherstone Estate Winery. Rita was allowed everywhere, on leash. My parents and I each had a tasting session, which included 3 different wines. I chose Phoenix (white), the Rosé and Gemstone (red), alongside a “Nosh Box”; naan bread with hummus, tomatoes and olives. Our hostess was kindly disposed and told us about the changes they made to the blends this year, and how the taste can differ from one year to the next. She also informed us that the owners used to live in what is now the tasting room and shop, which sells locally made products and woodwork - a side-hustle of the owner - alongside the wines. Our favourite was the Rosé, as it was especially fragrant, with notes of strawberry, and so we bought a bottle to take home.
Near to the winery stands the oldest sugar maple in Canada, named Comfort Maple after its former owner, which is estimated to have been around since 1500 A.D. We stopped by this (tiny) conservation area after our tasting session.
