Staying in St. Catharines, Niagara's Garden City

Sunset on Lake Ontario 1

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

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.

	Grapes on the vine in Niagara 2

ORIENTATION & TRANSPORTATION

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.

A ship negotiating the Welland Canal 3

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.

	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

Horseshoe Falls in Winter 5

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.

	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.

Fairview at Rockway B&B 7

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