Niagara on the lake is where the Niagara river empties into Lake the next great lake. The town has been here since the colonial times and it boasts many colonial homes. Laid out in a grid format, each property was given the exact amount of land to build on, much to the horror of modern land owners who want to expand. The town was also the home for the first regional government and proudly boasts this fact.

  The town is also in a very important military location, at the mouth of the Niagara river. If a force controlled both sides of the river, no shipping could go up, thus cutting off supply lines. In fact, during the war of 1812, the Americans (people from the U.S.) were bent on capturing the town and its forts to prevent the English from resupplying their troops. 3 ships and canons from Ft. Niagara across the river leveled a good chunk of the town as well as fort George. The town and the fort were rebuilt.

  The town's importance shrunk when the regional capital was moved to Toronto and it became a small, bedroom community with its fair share of colonial homes. For years, Americans (Both from Canada and the United States) would summer there but abandon the town in the winter. However, tourism has hit. Many local stores have been forced out because of high rent. As you walk down Queen Street you see shops with trendy, tourist items. I fear in a few years it will become a small scale Toledo or Assisi. The owner of the bed and breakfast had the same fear. For now, it is a scenic little town, with beautiful colonial houses, a restored fort and nice lush new-england trees. There is also good wine in the area I have heard. For more information on the area, please see my page on the Niagara region. I hope you enjoy.

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