{"id":128,"date":"2012-07-03T12:04:26","date_gmt":"2012-07-03T12:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/?p=128"},"modified":"2012-07-03T12:04:26","modified_gmt":"2012-07-03T12:04:26","slug":"visiting-niagara-here-are-11-reasons-to-visit-niagara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/?p=128","title":{"rendered":"VISITING NIAGARA? HERE ARE 11 REASONS TO VISIT NIAGARA"},"content":{"rendered":"

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11 reasons to visit Niagara this summer\u00a0<\/em><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n
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ANNA HOBBS, Special to QMI Agency<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"<b>IntoThere\u2019s always lots happening in Niagara,\u00a0and never more than in July and August. Here are 11 great reasons to visit this summer.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

1. Inniskillin\u2019s Canada Day<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s actually a four-day celebration with the Piazza becoming a hub of activity dotted with flags, red umbrella picnic tables and Muskoka chairs. July 1-4. Sip fine VQA wine, enjoy Chef David Penny\u2019s locally inspired cooking, wave the flag and, on Canada Day, watch fireworks over the vineyard. See\u00a0inniskillin.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

2. Bikers\u2019 delight<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some 50,000 motorcycle enthusiasts and 250 industry vendors take over the new Scotiabank Convention Centre July 20-21 for the biggest motorcycle event Niagara Falls has ever for seen. Outfit your bike or yourself, take a demo ride, check out a stunt show and meet industry icons. See\u00a0niagaramotorcycleshow.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

3. Relax to the max<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the uber relaxing couple-escape, the tranquil, subterranean Spa at White Oaks Resort offers Couples Reconnect \u2014 a two-hour indulgence in the luxurious couple\u2019s suite, where you can relax by a romantic fire following side-by-side, Nectar of Niagara massages. One of the largest spa facilities in Ontario you\u2019ll experience a 5-Star, 4-Diamond customer service experience. See\u00a0whiteoaksresort.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. Into the woods<\/strong><\/p>\n

Swap the urban jungle for the pastoral trails of the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve where you\u2019ll marvel at the 37 different types of wild orchids, the diversity of the birds and mammals and the outcroppings of rock streams and mini waterfalls. Up close and personal with nature, it\u2019s a winning place to unwind for the entire family. Including Fido. See\u00a0escarpment.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. Backstage at Shaw<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peek behind the scenes at a world-class theatre. This hour-long tour takes you to the glamorous world of wardrobes and wigs, then gives you a front-row seat at a rehearsal in full swing. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays until Oct. 31. Call ahead to book ( 1-800-511-7429 ) while making reservations for this season\u2019s smash hit, the Tony Award-winning musical Rag Time. See\u00a0shawfest.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

6. Jazzy vineyard<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hillebrand has been bringing top notch Canadian jazz talent to their vineyard for 23 years. On July 14 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., it\u2019s Jazz at the Winery with spectacular music, fine wines and Chef Frank Dodd\u2019s great local cuisine. Seating options are as simple as a picnic on the lawn or as sophisticated as a reserved seat and a gourmet three-course meal at the restaurant patio. Seereservations.andrewpeller.com\/events\/jb-event.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n

7. Celebrating fruit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Discover the gentle charm of Niagara at one of several fruit festivals held throughout the summer. There\u2019s no better way to experience the warm and friendly feeling of being part of a small community that doesn\u2019t even know you. The first \u2014 Cherry Festival, July 7 at St. Marks Church, Niagara-on-the-Lake. See\u00a0stmarks1792.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8. War of 1812<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bicentennial festivities honouring the War of 1812 will be in full swing for the entire summer; however Aug. 11-12 is the time to experience the most extravagant re-enactment of the Siege of Fort Erie ever produced. Step into Old Fort Erie and a world of red coats, black powder and grey fortress walls. See\u00a0discover1812.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

9. Canal days<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tall Ships gather in Port Colborne Aug. 3-6 for the Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival \u2014 four days of activities and attractions that honour the city\u2019s marine heritage and its connection to the St. Lawrence Seaway. There\u2019s fun for the entire family. See\u00a0portcolborne.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n

10. Golf with dinosaurs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fifty astonishingly realistic and life-sized dinosaurs populate two 18-hole golf courses at Niagara Falls newest attraction \u2014 Dinosaur Golf. Amidst the sounds of the jungle, golfers play over decorative ponds with fast-moving rapids and around a 50-foot high \u201cactive\u201d steam-erupting volcano, then directly through an eerie, cavernous volcanic interior. Contact\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0905-358-3676\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0.<\/p>\n

11. Top draw<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s an oldie but goodie. For 166 years, the Maid of the Mist has been bringing visitors to the edge \u2014 the very thrilling edge \u2014 of the Falls. The original Maid was a steam-powered paddle-wheeler ferry; today she is one of four state-of-the-art, diesel-powered boats, each capable of accommodating 600 passengers. There\u2019s no better place to feel the astounding, wind-driven mist. See\u00a0maidofthemist.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For last minute accommodations call 1-866-226-4730.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  11 reasons to visit Niagara this summer\u00a0 ANNA HOBBS, Special to QMI Agency There\u2019s always lots happening in Niagara,\u00a0and never more than in July and August. Here are 11 great reasons to visit this summer.  1. Inniskillin\u2019s Canada Day … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[115,172,173,170,181,177,178,183,169,176,174,175,179,57,64,128,8,171,182,180],"class_list":["post-128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-niagara-falls","tag-115","tag-a-unesco-world-biosphere-reserve","tag-backstage-at-shaw-festival-theatre","tag-bikers-delight","tag-canal-days","tag-chef-frank-dodds","tag-cherry-festival","tag-golf-with-dinosaurs","tag-inniskillins-canada-day","tag-its-jazz-at-the-winery","tag-jazzy-vineyard","tag-july-14-from-4-p-m-to-8-p-m","tag-july-7-at-st-marks-church","tag-maid-of-the-mist","tag-niagara-escarpment","tag-niagara-region","tag-niagara-on-the-lake","tag-scotiabank-convention-centre-july-20-21","tag-tall-ships-gather-in-port-colborne-aug-3-6-for-the-canal-days-marine-heritage-festival","tag-war-of-1812"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=128"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":129,"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/128\/revisions\/129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/niagaracottage.com\/niagaranews\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}