Off To The Falls...And S'mores! – Wednesday, June 16, 2010

On Wednesday we decided to get a little honest-to-goodness tourist action! Although Niagara Falls is definitely “touristy”, it is breathtaking.

It was very hot, but lucky for us, the constant barrage of the Fall’s spray kept us cool. Our coifs didn’t fair too well, but, if you are visiting the Falls, you pretty much should just give in to the fact that you will not look picture perfect at the falls – as you certainly can see in our pictures!

We decide to just park and walk around the Falls (Canadian side) for awhile and just take it all in. We went to the visitor’s center, walked out to the overhang to experience the spray and just took in the general splendor and awesomeness of this wonder – it really is incredible.

After being batted about by the spray, we all decided it was time for some appetizers and drinks – we settled on a restaurant overlooking the Falls. Ironically we couldn’t get away from the spray because it still hit is while were eating!

That night, we decided to cook out on the grill: chicken, veggies and…S’MORES!

Unfortunately because it was so expensive to buy groceries, we didn’t cook in as much as we’d like to that week, but this meal was excellent – thanks Larry and Scott!

The s’mores were yummy also, but we all decided that somehow they seemed to be easier to make when we were kids – still though…yum!

We ended the evening with playing Dominoes and drinking Konzelmann Pinto Noir – in my book…that’s a winning combination!

A Evening In Wine Country - Tuesday, June 14, 2010

That evening we went to Deluca's Wine Country Restaurant (www.tonydeluca.ca) for dinner - right across from Jackson-Triggs and Stratus wineries - so it was nice to be in the "thick" of wine country for dinner.

I was so incredibly starved, that I pretty much hoovered my meal; not sure I was able to fully appreciate what I had - the 2º Pork (slow roasted belly and tenderloin/yYukon hash/mustard jus) - although I will say that the food and service was excellent. I do wish, however, that the menu offered a few more entree options. I was avoiding the seafood because of my mussels fiasco of a few days ago and that only left me with limited options. But again, overall, it was a great experience. Great view too!

It's Winery Time! - Tuesday, June 14, 2010

We had been trying to figure since Sunday how we were going to tackle the wineries in the area - there's about 22 in Niagara-On-The-Lake. The management company of our cottage recommended that we use a limo service to tour the wineries. But when we looked into it they were ridiculously expensive and only included 4 wineries!

So Larry offered to be the designated driver and after breakfast we hit the wineries.

I have to say...we managed to visit quite a few - about 15 of the 22!

Although not quite as picturesque as Napa and Sonoma over this region, which the four of us visited several years ago, it was quite beautiful...just a tad flat.

I wanted to mention that Konzelmann (www.konzelmann.ca ) was our favorite - fantastic Pinot Noir and we also enjoyed visiting Jackson-Triggs (www.jacksontriggswinery.com)

There is a great website of the wineries in NOTL - take a look if you are visiting the area: www.wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com.

Enjoy the view!

Relaxing - Monday, June 14, 2010

Monday was a beautiful day. The guys went to go play golf and Gwen and I went to the spa - The Ospa at the Oban Inn - which was conveniently right down the street form the cottage; good for us, maybe not so much for the guys. :) I had a fantastic pedicure and Gwen went for a massage.

The Ospa (www.obaninn.ca) was perfect - very relaxing and "spa-like" - honestly, if I won the lottery, I can see hanging out all day at a spa...live like the other half live. :) The spa was pricey, but unfortunately not out of the norm of spa prices in town - Niagara-on-the-Lake caters to the tourists, so I suppose I can see why it's pricey...but I don't have to like it!

Gwen went back to the spa for a facial, while I took a nap. I swear I'm turning into a cat, because naps are all I seem to do lately! Then again, naps seem quite appropriate for vacation!

We later met Larry and Scott at the golf club for drinks. It was a perfect setting: right on the lake, a beautiful view of the U.S., great conversation...and sun!

For dinner we went to Corks, right on Queen Street (the main road of downtown N-O-T-L) - nice meal, great outdoor seating.

Corks Restaurant

Unfortunately, I was still very queasy from last night's meal, so bailed quickly and headed for bed...but I did hear Larry, Scott and Gwen have a good 'ol time playing poker. Honestly, I was so happy just to be in bed and to sleep of the mussels-from-hell, that all I wanted to do was relax and be cozy in bed with a DVD and not move...and the seemed to do the trick!

 

It's Cottage Time...Arrival In Niagara-On-The-Lake - Sunday, June 13, 2010

We had about an hour and a half to Niagara-on-the-Lake to and it was nice to see that finally the sun came out; I can tolerate overcast in a city...but when you are headed to wine country for a week...darn it...you want sun!

We arrived in Niagara-on-the-Lake and it was just as beautiful as I remembered it when Larry and I were there 7 years ago for an annual meeting I had in Niagara Falls. It's such a picturesque town with shops, restaurants, spas, golf courses and the famous Shaw Festival (theater), which I must confess we did not go to. I would imagine this town is a big attraction for Torontonians to go away for the weekend - quaint and not too far away.

We found our cottage on Gate Street - relaxation here we come! It was just perfect. Although, for some strange reason both Gwen and I thought the house was yellow instead of gray. But who cares...it was "ours" for a week!

Scott and Gwen won the Cubs opening bet (what we always base our trips on for who gets to select the better room), so they picked the upstairs bedroom. But don't cry for Larry and me...we still had a great room!

Sunday was pretty low-key; just settling in and then heading out to look for a dinner spot.

After walking around and around - apparently the four of us have a hard time making a quick decision :), we settled on Grill on King Street. Great ambiance, yummy appetizers etc. The downside was the the waiter outright scolded Gwen and me when we said we ordered balsamic vinaigrette on the side for our salad. The salad came with the dressing on the salad and then instead of balsamic...it came with some sort of raspberry vinaigrette. When we said we ordered balsamic on the side, he then said it didn't come with balsamic and did not even offer to take them back! I was pretty miffed because I went to look at the menu and it clearly said the salad came with the balsamic vinaigrette - not that I can't be easy going, but he clearly did not know the menu and then pretty much insulted us - sheesh. And when we were ordering Scott asked him about something on the menu and the waiter not only did not answer his question...he was sarcastic when he responded! And then to add insult to injury...I ordered mussels for dinner, even though I know you are supposed to avoid them during the summer, and got sick. Not our best eveningout in Niagara-on-the-lake. Plus I felt bad because I steered everyone to this place based on the look of it.

So I was pretty much out of commission with a queasy stomach for the next couple of days - my luck!