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Visitors to Niagara-on-the-Lake who only have a few hours to explore are often unsure about how to make the best use of that precious time. Fortunately, our Niagara-on-the-Lake Ambassadors are seasoned pros when it comes to fitting in an authentic Niagara-on-the-Lake experience even when you’re tight on time. Here are some of their most frequently offered activity suggestions that they give to visitors who are looking to make the most of two hours in our town:

Relax in the Monet-inspired garden at Pillar and Post while enjoying a tasty sandwich and a glass of Niagara wine.

When it’s not in use for a wedding, the six-acre green space at Pillar and Post, inspired by Claude Monet’s gardens in France, offers guests a picture-perfect place to relax and enjoy the gorgeous foliage, meandering pathways, a lily pond, and a replica of Monet’s infamous Japanese bridge. During the winter months, the space transforms into an outdoor skating area, complete with cozy firepits. Grab something tasty from The Outpost, an all-season café, and take it all in!

Walk the Shoreline Trail to watch the golfers at one of North America’s oldest courses and see Fort Niagara.

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Shoreline Trail, part of the larger Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, offers a beautiful walking and cycling route for locals and visitors alike. The trail passes by two historic military forts, the Shaw Festival, and dozens of shops, wineries and restaurants. To see more of the lake and Niagara-on-the-Lake’s lovely neighbourhoods, start at Nelson Park and follow residential streets, including Ricardo and Queen Streets and Niagara Boulevard.

Visit St. Vincent and St. Mark’s Churches and make a stop by the Polish Cemetery to read the historic grave stones.

For a fascinating glimpse into Niagara-on-the-Lake’s religious history, pay a visit to the Parish of St. Vincent de Paul. The building itself, which is distinguished as the oldest Catholic Church in continuous use for regular worship in Ontario, is a true reflection of early Canadian church architecture. The Polish Soldier’s Burial Plot enclosure here contains the graves of Polish men who died in Niagara-on-the-Lake at a military training camp called Niagara Camp that is believed to be the site of Canada’s first Spanish Flu outbreak. St. Mark’s Anglican Church, a gathering place for parishioners since 1792, is another interesting stop.

Check out the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, then take a stroll to the Voices of Freedom Park to learn about Niagara-on-the-Lake’s fascinating Black history.

The permanent Our Story exhibit at Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum explores 9,000 years of local history and is an excellent place to get a real sense of how the town’s story has evolved during that time. The museum also offers guided town tours, neighbourhood walks, and bike tours during the summer and early fall. A self-guided Voices of Freedom Black History Mobile Walking Tour and St. David’s Walking Tour are also available for visitors to download to their mobile devices.

Check out the art galleries along Queen Street.

Art lovers will absolutely want to take some time to explore the eclectic mix of art shops and galleries on Queen Street, like Pandaya Gallery, The Butterfly Gallery, Edward Spera Gallery, ARTSPACE 106,  and Upper Canada Native Art.

Take a backstage tour at The Shaw Festival Theatre.

Even if you don’t have time to catch a show, it’s still possible to feed your passion for live theatre by participating in one of The Shaw Festival’s Backstage Tour experiences. The hour-long guided tour reveals fascinating secrets about how the talented team here brings The Shaw’s work to the stage.

Visit our Niagara-on-the-Lake Facebook and Instagram pages for even more interesting ways to make the most out of a quick trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake.