Peanut butter and jam. Bacon and eggs. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. There’s no doubt that some things are just better when enjoyed together, and it’s a concept that applies to far more than food. Pairing complementary activities is a great way to maximize the fun in Niagara. Here are five creative combinations of activities that will help shake up your routine on a fresh adventure exploring Niagara’s South Coast.

 

Perfect Pairing #1: Beer Tasting and Bike Riding

The promise of a frosty pint to quench your thirst makes any bike ride better. The Fort Erie Friendship Trail extends 16 km across the Town of Fort Erie, running parallel to the north shore of Lake Erie. Since much of the trail is located on an abandoned rail line, you’ll enjoy a relatively smooth and level ride as you cruise past farmland, villages, watersheds, and quiet residential areas. Brimstone Brewing Company in Ridgeway makes a perfect mid-point or final stop. The brewery is housed in a reimagined 20th-century church and is also home to The Sanctuary For The Arts, a multi-use community space that regularly hosts concerts and other special events. The taproom’s food menu, featuring delicious smokehouse favourites like wings, burgers, and pulled pork, will satisfy peckish pedalers!

Pelham’s Villages Cycling Loop is another great option for bikers who are open to a few more hills. The 16-km route, which passes through Fenwick and Ridgeville, offers riders the chance to stop at roadside stands and unique shops. For a shorter ride, map out a route on the Steve Bauer Trails network. Fonthill’s Kame and Kettle Beer Works boasts a constantly rotating tap list of flavours and delicious eats from The Righteous Monger.

Perfect Pairing #2: Farm Strolls and Live Shows

When Niagara’s farms hit their summer stride, the live entertainment scene lights up throughout Niagara’s South Coast as well. Combining a daytime farm experience with an evening show is an excellent way to blend the best of both worlds. Fun farm experiences in the area include:

● Wainfleet’s Pie In The Sky Farm and Bakery, where visitors are encouraged to grab a fresh-from-oven treat from the bakery and wander through the flower fields and apple orchard.

● Feeder Flower Farm in Wainfleet grows gorgeous sustainably farmed flowers. Arrangements can be ordered online for pickup at the farm.

● Pelham’s Bry-Anne Farms offers pick-your-own options so visitors can take home a taste of their thriving strawberry, raspberry, and tomato crops.

● JP Niagara Tulip Experience in Pelham transforms into a bloom-filled wonderland during tulip and sunflower season. With over 3 million vibrant blooms, it’s a sunny day feast for the eyes!

● Sons and Daughters Winery, Pelham’s first winery, invites guests to walk their trails and take in the stunning views. Be sure to enjoy some wood oven pizza while you’re there!

Seasonal entertainment options to enjoy after your rural roam include:

● Port Colborne’s Roselawn Theatre, which serves as one of two venues for the Lighthouse Festival, with a summer calendar featuring a fantastic collection of the finest live theatre.

● The Crystal Beach Waterfront Supper Market, which takes place on Thursday evenings from June through August, serves great live music alongside killer food truck fare.

● Port Colborne’s Canal Days Marine Heritage Festival on the Civic long weekend always offers a great array of live band performances.

● The Port Colborne Community Concert Series at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park bandshell offers a free and fun summer lineup.

● Pelham’s Summer Chill Series offers free live entertainment on Thursday evenings from June into September alongside the weekly Fonthill Supper Market.

Perfect Summer Pairing #3: Arts and Tarts

Blending a summer studio tour with a few stops at some of the area’s most buzzed-about bakeries is a great way to get a taste for both the art and culinary scene in Niagara’s South Coast. South Niagara Artists is a collective of artists with studios along the shores of Lake Erie. While studios are open by appointment year-round, more than 20 artisans open their studios for the organization’s annual August Studio Tour. If your visit doesn’t coincide with the studio tour, stop by Rookleys Canadian Art Gallery in Ridgeway. The gallery takes great pride in its extensive collection that showcases the history of Canadian art, including works by the Group of Seven and their contemporaries.

Can’t-miss bakeshops along the way for tasty tarts and other scratch-baked treats include:

● The Pie Guys Bakery & Café in Port Colborne, where the signature pastry is made from scratch, and all pies are rolled and assembled by hand each day.

● Fonthill’s The Baking Bar, a boutique bakery specializing in sourdough bread, French macarons, and Jewish baked goods such as challah, babka, and rugalach.

● Nature’s Corner Bakery & Café in Ridgeville, where there is ample outdoor patio space to sit in the sun and enjoy a treat.

● Marshville Chocolates, with both a factory location in Wainfleet and a shop location in Port Colborne, makes a delicious collection of chocolatey treats.

Perfect Summer Pairing #4: Big Breakfast and A Beach Day

Niagara’s South Coast beaches are so beautiful that arriving as early as possible is always a good idea. Enjoying a delicious breakfast before hitting the beach will fuel you up for a full day of wave jumping and castle building!

● Tasty breakfast options near Bay Beach and Waverly Beach include The Breakfast Beacon and M&J’s Restaurant.

● Port Colborne’s Market Café and Melina’s Family Restaurant are both great places to start your day when heading to Nickel Beach or Centennial-Cedar Bay Beach.

Perfect Summer Pairing #5: History and Hiking

Niagara’s South Coast has served as the stage to some fascinating Canadian history, and combining a museum stop or two with a scenic hike is a fun way to step into the past for an afternoon. For a truly immersive experience, time your visit to coincide with the Annual Siege of Old Fort Erie Reenactment in August. Daily tours of Old Fort Erie are offered throughout the summer.

Other historic haunts to incorporate into your visit include:

● Point Abino Lighthouse, now designated a National Historic Site, is a rare example of a reinforced concrete lighthouse built in the late Neoclassical style. Guided tours are typically scheduled in June, July, August, and September.

● The Fort Erie Railway Museum pays homage to a time when Fort Erie boasted the country's third-largest rail yard through various fascinating artifacts and exhibits.

● The Fort Erie Historical Museum features both permanent and changing exhibitions, as well as a public archive that offers genealogy and local history information.

Excellent hiking options to round out your day include:

● Niagara Peninsula Conservation Area properties that encourage hiking, including Morgan’s Point Conservation Area, St. Johns Conservation Area, Stevensville Conservation Area, Wainfleet Bog Conservation Area, and Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area.

● Pelham’s Gerry Berkhout Trail, a six-kilometre gravel trail running along a former rail line.

● The Niagara River Recreation Trail, a 53-kilometre paved path that runs along the Canadian side of the Niagara River from Fort Erie all the way to Niagara-on-the-Lake.