Niagara-On-The-Lake

OK wine connoisseurs, if you haven't been to Niagara-On-The-Lake for some wine tasting then it's time to go up there!  While Napa Valley is the number one producer of wine in the U.S., the Finger Lakes area (right near Rochester NY) is the second largest, and there are many wineries north of us on Lake Ontario and near Niagara Falls as well.  This past weekend we went up to NOTL for a day trip to walk around the cute town, get some wine, and some delicious lunch.

Our first stop was lunch because I was starving!  We went to The Epicurean which has gourmet sandwiches and salads to choose from.  After standing in line (it's self serve) we decided to get a panini and some gourmet salads to share.  Unfortunately, they were out of panini's, so we made some impromptu choices.  The gourmet salads weren't very gourmet, just potato salad, marinated mushroom salad, and taboule.  We decided to get two sandwiches since they weren't very large, and settled on the ham and brie and california chicken club sandwich.  We also got some potato salad and marinated mushroom salad on the side.  The sandwiches were both very good, nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about either.  Same with the salads.  The best part of this cafe/restaurant was the outdoor garden for eating.  It was such a beautiful day out and the setting really made it enjoyable.  The prices are ridiculous, it cost us $40 for lunch, but this was expected.  We've eaten in NOTL before and it was very very very expensive (more on that later).

We then walked around town and took in the sights and quaint shops.  It's really a beautiful town and if you're ever up in this area it's a must see.

When we went to NOTL last year it was more of a weekend trip, and we got much more sight-seeing in.  The wineries are absolutely gorgeous, and the wine is delicious of course.  We also had dinner one night at Hillebrand Winery and it was in the top 5 meals I have ever eaten, with a price tag to go along with it of course!  They also had outdoor seating overlooking their vineyards; let's just say I felt like I was in Napa Valley!  It was fabulous.

Overall, Niagara On The Lake is a great place to visit, but it is pricey.  And it's technically in Canada, so make sure you bring your passports!