For tourists whose favourite way to get a feel for the place they’re visiting involves riding in a vehicle or on a motorcycle, Niagara serves up scenic drive options in spades! Here are five route ideas guaranteed to get your motor running!
Niagara Parkway
In 1943, Sir Winston Churchill described his ride along the Niagara Parkway as “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world”, so it’s only fitting to start the list with this stretch of spectacular scenery. Running alongside the Niagara River from Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Fort George in the North to Fort Erie in the South, this drive will make you want to slow down and soak in the views. When it’s time to stretch your legs, this 55-kilometre route is lined with some of Niagara’s most noteworthy attractions, including Brock’s Monument at Queenston Heights, the Niagara Floral Clock, Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory, and the Whitewater Walk. This renowned route will also take you right past the Horseshoe Falls, a sight every visitor to Niagara must see!
Niagara Benchlands to St. Catharines
Following King Street, or Niagara Regional Road 81, from Grimsby to St. Catharines is a lovely way to experience the beauty of the Niagara Benchlands, a stretch of land tucked along the Niagara Escarpment. While there are plenty of wineries and interesting stops to see right along the highway, veering off onto roads like Victoria Avenue and Jordan Avenue will reveal additional farm-to-table rewards! The Niagara Benchlands CultivATE Trail maps out many of the area’s best farms, markets, garden centres, and u-pick farms. Stretch your legs in Jordan Village, where the collection of must-visit residents includes unique boutiques, Cave Spring Vineyard’s Tasting Room, RPM Bakehouse, Inn On The Twenty and Jordan House Tavern. As you make your way toward St. Catharines, King Street becomes St. Paul Street West, and will take you right into downtown St. Catharines, where you’ll find even more tasty dining options.
Niagara Stone Road
Plugging Niagara Stone Road, also known as Highway 55, into your GPS is a great way to discover the vineyards, wineries, and farmstands of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Easily accessible from Outlet Collection At Niagara, Niagara Stone Road is home to a long list of wineries that includes Southbrook Vineyards, The Hare Wine Co., Lakeview Wine Co., Wayne Gretzky Estates, Trius Winery and Restaurant, Stratus Vineyards, Stone Eagle Winery, and Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate, as well as farms and markets like neob Lavender Farm and The Grove Farm Shop. Following Niagara Stone Road will take you right into Niagara-on-the-Lake, where the road turns into Mississauga Street. When Mississauga Street ends, turn left onto Queen Street for a cruise through the historic Old Town.
Port Colborne to Fort Erie
Highway 3 connects the lakeside city of Port Colborne to historic Fort Erie, offering a scenic country drive through Niagara’s South Coast. Start your journey in Port Colborne, where you’ll find plenty of fun things to see, including historic architecture, a vibrant retail district, and the Welland Canal. The drive to Fort Erie won’t take long. Once you’ve arrived, spend some time exploring Fort Erie, and follow the Niagara Parkway back to Niagara Falls or Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Port Dalhousie To Niagara-On-The-Lake
Hop on Regional Road 87, also known as Lakeshore Road, for a 22-kilometre, curve-filled cruise between Port Dalhousie and Niagara-on-the-Lake. In addition to gorgeous views of Lake Ontario, this route offers fun at both ends. Port Dalhousie has a pretty pier, a sandy beach at Lakeside Park to stroll, great little coffee shops and restaurants, and the historic Lakeside Park Carousel, which still costs just five cents a ride! En route to Niagara-on-the-Lake, you’ll cross over the Welland Canal and pass by Shiny Apple Cider, Palatine Hills Estate Winery, Konzelmann Estate Winery, and Ironwood Cider House, before the highway turns into Mary Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake. From Mary Street, turn toward Lake Ontario and follow Mississauga Street to the historic Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club for a snack on one of Niagara’s most scenic patios.
