Toronto Magazine - Premier 2008 - 117

Neighbourhoods advenTures beyond downTown thE NiagaRa REgiON www.tourismniagara.com DETAILS For those who wish to expand their explorations beyond Ontario’s urban centres, the Niagara Region has plenty to offer. Niagara Falls is celebrated for its performing-arts productions, colonial architecture and vineyards. The waterfall itself is spectacular enough to warrant a road trip — this set of massive waterfalls is situated on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between Ontario and New York. While not exceptionally high, Niagara Falls is very wide, with more than four million cubic feet of water falling over the crest line every minute. It is composed of two major sections — the main Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side and, separated from the main falls by Luna Island, the smaller Bridal Veil Falls on the U.S. side. Niagara Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America and a spectacular natural wonder of the modern world. And the Niagara Region as a whole further defines itself with award-winning wines and innovative indigenous cuisine as Niagara Falls well as the warmth of the locals and the captivating sunsets. The Niagara Peninsula is the most renowned and developed wine region in Canada. Its wineries are nestled in the rolling countryside between Grimsby and Niagara-on-theLake and protected by the ridges on the Niagara Escarpment — a natural feature allowing for a microclimate that nurtures the production of world-class Vinifera grapes. This region is home to more than 50 wineries, and its vintners make every effort to tell of the traditions that bring international acclaim to their outstanding wines, offering an authentically Niagara experience beyond taste. The Wine Route is well marked with distinctive white and blue signs. Each winery has its own route marker, creating an elaborate network that guides visitors to established names, such as Inniskillin, Château des Charmes, Reif Estate and Hillebrand, as well as to the newer ones — Fielding, Stratus and Tawse. Among the region’s major highlights are the Twenty Valley Region, picturesque Vineland Niagara Wine Region Estates Winery, the magnificent view at Flat Rock Cellars and the tutored tastings at Cave Spring Cellars. Whether it’s pairing with artisanal cheeses at Henry of Pelham or the upscale cuisine at Peninsula Ridge, all itineraries in the Niagara Region start and end with the grape. Follow Lake Ontario east to scenic Niagaraon-the-Lake, where the growing traditions of well-regarded wineries — including JacksonTriggs, Pelle, Marynissen Estates, Lailey Vineyard and Strewn Winery — have created a compelling history of the area. Complement your winery itinerary with a visit to the Shaw Festival or perhaps a round of golf at North America’s oldest golf course or one of several others lining the highway to the Falls from Toronto. LOCATE Take the Gardiner Expressway then follow the QEW to Niagara. toronto | 2008 117

Toronto Magazine - Premier 2008

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