Tourists in Niagara: A most charming town

About half an hour's drive away from Niagara Falls down the parkway along the Niagara River is the lovely, historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL). It is located on the shores of Lake Ontario, hence its name, which was originally adopted as a postal address to distinguish it from the town beside the waterfalls.




NOTL was first settled in 1781 by families loyal to Britain. The town was destroyed during the War of 1812 but its residents rebuilt. Many of those 19th century homes, and civic, religious and commercial buildings survive to this day. The Prince of Wales Hotel boasts that it was established in 1894.




The town is home to the Shaw Festival which showcases the works of George Bernard Shaw. The playwright lends his name to the flower-draped Shaw Café and Wine Bar.




Another "George" famous in Niagara-on-the-Lake is The Royal George, a theater which is a venue for the Shaw Festival.




According to one of its plaques, the Niagara Courthouse was built in 1847 for the United Counties of Lincoln, Welland and Haldimand. The counties went their separate ways (then merged again, but with different partners) and the old courthouse was renovated to include a theater which is also used during the Shaw Festival.




One of the town's most famous residents is the artist Trisha Romance, whose artwork features heartwarming scenes of families, children and homes. Trisha has since moved to a farm, but her former home still serves as a gallery, both for her work and that of her daughter Tanya, who is also an artist.




On the Niagara Parkway just before Niagara-on-the-Lake, in the middle of the region's wine country, is the tiniest chapel that I have ever seen: The Living Water Wayside Chapel. It only has two pews inside and was meant to be a place to rest for people walking along the parkway, but it is so adorable that it has become popular as a wedding venue.