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| Sunset
on Lake Ontario 1 |
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St.
Catharines, on the shorelines of Lake
Ontario, is the Niagara
region's largest city and serves as host to businesses and tourists alike. The
region is, of course, home to one of North America's top tourist destinations
— the stunning Niagara
Falls —
but also boasts a legion of other draws. From the award-winning vineyards
of the Niagara wine region to some of the top golf
courses in Canada,
Niagara's historic towns and countryside boast an endless list of things to
do and see.
Having a lower profile than
its neighbouring city, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines offers visitors a genuine
Niagara experience. With two historic districts, Port
Dalhousie on the bay and the downtown heritage district, the city offers
a parade of century-old buildings, which not only house much of the accommodation
on offer, but also countless local businesses
and restaurants.
Trendy boutiques, spas, eclectic shops, cafes and fine-dining establishments
make St. Catharines the premier shopping
destination in Niagara and a great base for those visiting the region.
HELPFUL LINKS
WorldWeb.com
offers three useful links for finding accommodation in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Accommodation
Directory - A complete accommodation directly containing detailed information
about hotels, B&Bs, luxury resorts, hostels, campgrounds and more. With
links to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory is designed
to help visitors find the right place to stay based on personal preferences.
Secure
Room Reservations - A convenient online room search and reservation
page allowing the user to check for room availability and then make a secure
room reservation at appropriate properties.
Interactive
Maps - The St. Catharines maps can assist visitors in choosing
where to stay by not only indicating the locations of accommodations, but also
where they are in relation to attractions, restaurants, shops, tours and transportation.
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Grapes
on the vine in Niagara 2 |
ORIENTATION & TRANSPORTATION
St. Catharines is on the southwestern
shores of Lake
Ontario, only a few miles away from Niagara Falls and the U.S.
border. Forming a triangle with the popular towns of Niagara
Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake,
it lies at the centre of what is known as the Niagara Peninsula. Directly south
of Toronto as the crow flies, the skyline of Ontario's largest city is visible
across the lake from St. Catharines.
Getting There
St. Catharines is easily accessed from either Toronto
or Buffalo, NY
by the Queen
Elizabeth Way (QEW) which runs through the city. Toronto is approximately
110 km (68 mi) from St. Catharines by the QEW and various airport shuttles
or tours to the Niagara region are available. Travelling by rail is
possible with VIA
Rail Canada and Amtrak
or visitors may choose to travel by bus on either Greyhound
Lines or Coach Canada. Similar options are available for those travelling
from Windsor, ON.
Buffalo, NY is 55 km (34
mi) away and visitors coming from the U.S. can choose from three border crossings
on the Niagara Peninsula, the nearest crossing to St. Catharines being Queenston,
ON, 17 km (10.5 mi) away. Like Toronto, several companies offer airport shuttle
buses or taxis to the area while daily bus and rail services are provided by
Greyhound and Amtrak respectively.
Getting Around
If staying in either Port Dalhousie or downtown St. Catharines, many of the
district's sights or shops can be reached by foot or a quick drive. For those
wishing to use public transportation, the city operates a
transit system, which allows visitors to access both St. Catharines
and Thorold.
For further afield, there
is a myriad of companies offering day trips to the region's many sights. Practically
any package of sightseeing or leisure activity is available in Niagara from
spa packages
to wine
tastings to heli
tours. Taxis
or rental cars are also easily available for those wishing to get around St.
Catharines and the surrounding area independently.
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| A
ship negotiating the Welland Canal 3 |
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Districts
Port
Dalhousie is the old harbour area where most of St. Catharines' history
begins. The port, considered 'a village within a city' is a living example of
18th and 19th century architecture and boasts shops, restaurants and lighthouses
along the restored pier. It is also the original site of the first three Welland
canals and is home to the century-old Royal
Canadian Henley Regatta. A 100-year old vintage carousel still stands
on the beach and offers rides to visitors for five cents. Many of St. Catharines'
bed and
breakfast accommodations and eateries are located in Port Dalhousie.
Downtown
is framed by the curving main street, which was originally an Iroquois trading
trail, and St. Paul Street, now considered the backbone of this part of the
city. Home to a Farmers'
Market, which dates back to the early 1800s, and two heritage street
districts, downtown is a historic delight. Add to that dozens of restaurants
and over 100 shops
and boutiques and the city centre comes alive with energy and personality.
Historic
Yates Street runs along the Twelve Mile Creek and is lined with elegant
Victorian homes built as early as 1840. The other significant area, Queen
Street, comprises the heritage-designated Montebello
Park and showcases Georgian, Italian and Gothic-style architecture in
its many grand houses and churches. Self-guided or guided
tours highlight significant buildings and the history of these districts.
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Downtown
architecture in St. Catharines 4 |
The Welland
Canal forms the eastern boundary of St. Catharines and serve as a passageway
for ships sailing between Lake Ontario and Lake
Erie. Reportedly one of the world's great engineering feats, the
canals were built to circumnavigate Niagara Falls and climb the mountain, maneuvering
a system of eight locks starting in St. Catharines and ending in Port
Colbourne. Visitors to the Welland Canal Centre
at Lock Three can watch close-up as massive ships pass through the locks.
WHEN TO GO
While summer is undoubtedly
the busiest season for Niagara, visitors flock to the region year around, enjoying
the autumnal colours of fall, the unique winter perspective of the Falls or
the vibrant green of springtime. High season is generally considered May through
October and tours and sights are usually open during this part of the year.
The Falls are especially busy during the peak summer months when they are illuminated
until midnight and become a popular nighttime attraction. Some accommodations
start to offer discounted prices on the shoulder months of this period (May,
September and October) when there are fewer visitors around. Low season falls
from November to April and while some tour operators and attractions offer limited
opening hours, the Falls become a spectacular display of ice crystals
and frozen waterfalls.
ACCOMMODATION
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| Horseshoe
Falls in Winter 5 |
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Whether visiting the area
for the first time or on a return business trip, St. Catharines has a wide range
of accommodation to satisfy different tastes and budgets. Business travellers,
honeymooners and backpackers alike will find suitable places to rest their heads
as they enjoy all that Niagara has on display.
Hotels / Motels
A cluster of national chain
hotels are located directly off the QEW, among them the Holiday
Inn and the Howard
Johnson Hotel and Conference Centre. Halfway between downtown
and the Port Dalhousie district, these hotels offer sightseers and
business guests the comfort and amenities the chains are known for along with
convenient locations. The Holiday Inn has a restaurant and wine bar located
within the hotel, while the Howard Johnson complex houses a sports bar &
grill as well as a family restaurant. Both hotels provide fitness and
pool facilities, wireless access and business services.
For more economically-priced
rooms, the Knights
Inn, located downtown on St. Paul Street, offers guests pleasant rooms
at budget prices. An on-site restaurant along with refrigerators and microwaves
in every room allow travellers easy access to quick meals or the possibility
of self-catering.
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World Rowing Championships at the Royal Henley Regatta 6 |
B&Bs / Inns
The
Niagara region is full of bed and breakfast-style accommodations for those wishing
to stay somewhere smaller and more personable. Depending on budgets and tastes,
visitors can choose from moderately-priced, simply-furnished rooms to swanky,
designer suites. And whether wishing to stay close to the buzz of activity or
in a quiet setting, there are lodging choices throughout the city and the surrounding
countryside.
Amidst the 19th century
buildings of old Port Dalhousie, there are a bundle of bed and breakfasts, many of them architectural delights
in century-old houses. Overnight guests here will be within walking distance
of the area's many boutiques, eateries and points
of interest and surrounded by Lake Ontario on one side and Martindale
Pond on the other, guests staying in Port Dalhousie will, more often
than not, be rewarded with access to the beach, a sunset view of the lake or
a room overlooking the famed Henley
Rowing Course.
For economically-priced
accommodation close to the restaurants and shops, the Inn
on the Henley in Port Dalhousie is an 1840s farmhouse with country
décor, while Cedar
Suites B&B offers fresh, self-catering rooms in a quaint alpine
house closer to downtown. On the outskirts of the city, Omi's
Haus pairs a century-old house full of original features with modern
amenities like a hot tub and pool.
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| Fairview
at Rockway B&B 7 |
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For those wishing to indulge
themselves or stay in luxury, the Fairview
at Rockway B&B and Country Retreat features elegantly-appointed
suites with air-massage tubs, fireplaces and the comforts of home.
With spa services on site and views of the surrounding woodlands, golf course
and an estate winery, the Fairview at Rockway is the epitome of countryside
tranquility. Likewise, the upscale Ravine
Spa B&B in the port district is an urban deluxe suite with a full-service
spa attached.
Hostels / Campgrounds
Travellers on a budget
can choose one of the area's hostels
or campgrounds,
albeit all are outside of St. Catharines, either in Niagara Falls or the surrounding
area.
The Niagara
Falls Hostelling International provides travellers with a fun, social
base in the region and facilities for self-catering and meeting other visitors.
The hostel offers dorm, family or private rooms and features a host of amenities
and services including free wireless access, laundry facilities, games and common
rooms plus tours of the area or cycles for rent. Hostelling International is
among four backpacker-style accommodations in Niagara Falls, all of which are
centrally located and within walking distance of the Falls themselves and many
of the city's attractions.
There are a handful of campgrounds
near St. Catharines offering hundreds of tent and RV sites, including the Shangri-La
Niagara Family Campground west of the city and the Niagara
Falls KOA in the town of Niagara Falls itself. Most offer bus services
during the high season and varying amenities.
PHOTO COURTESY
1. Tourism Niagara; Sunset on Lake Ontario; St. Catharines, ON, Canada
2. B. Redman c/o Tourism Niagara; Grapes on the vine; St. Catharines, ON, Canada
3. A ship negotiating the Welland Canal; St. Catharines, ON, Canada
4. Wikipedia; Downtown architecture in St. Catharines, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
5. Horeshoe Falls in Winter; Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
6. Wikipedia; World Rowing Championships; St. Catharines, ON, Canada
7. Fairview at Rockway B&B; St. Catharines, ON, Canada
