A Traveler’s Reprieve in Niagara-on-the-Lake

…helping you explore & experience Niagara!

If your heart beats faster each time you pack your bag to discover new and exciting sights, then Explorer House is your ideal lodging choice! This modern home-turned boutique bed and breakfast was built with guests’ needs in mind, and reflects the owners’ love of global travel. Inside you’ll find luxuriously comfortable accommodations for your explorations of the Niagara Region.

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Each of our beautiful guest suites is uniquely decorated with a global décor. All are lavishly appointed and include luxurious amenities, use of common areas and a delicious breakfast each morning.

Experience Niagara from our peaceful and beautifully landscaped location on a quiet cul-de-sac near parklands, just a 15-minute walk from Queen Street. Explore the Old Town area with its 19th-century charm; take a carriage ride through the beautiful streets of town or marvel at our town’s beauty by foot, as you duck into the specialty shops, galleries, pubs and restaurants throughout town. Nearby visit the oldest golf course in North America, historic sites, biking/walking trails, wineries and the famous Shaw Theatre Festival; all can be reached via a short walk, bike or car ride. Then return to a quite oasis in our beautiful backyard, which includes a fire-pit-table sitting area, gazebo and hot-tub.

There is so much to explore and experience in the Niagara Region. Let Explorer House host your southern Ontario travels!

Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake License #006-2020

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page” – Saint Augustine of Hippo.

                                            EXPLORER HOUSE HAS BEEN AWARDED
                                 THE 2021 TRAVELERS’ CHOICE BEST OF THE BEST 
TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Best of the Best
 
 
Explorer House has been awarded the 2021 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best, this is Tripadvisor’s highest honor, recognizing the Top 25 Best Inns / B&Bs in Canada. Explorer House has had the honour of this award for 3 years now. 
 
Explorer House was also awarded the TripAdvisor 2019 Hall of Fame Award which recognizes the achievement of receiving a Certificate of Excellence 5 years in a row, and celebrates businesses that have consistently earned great traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past 5 years.
 
Thank you to all of our guests who have taken the time to write wonderful reviews, we couldn’t have done it with out you! 
 

 

Upcoming Explorations:

Keep checking in here to see the latest in happenings in Niagara-on-the-Lake…There is always lots to do in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
And if you feel like just relaxing you can enjoy our lovely guest sitting area with Adirondack/Muskoka chairs & firepit table, or the gazebo and/or the hot tub…all available for our guests. So don’t forget to bring along your swimsuit!. Come explore with Explorer House, book your travel now!

Attention Ontarians – The Ontario Staycation Tax Credit is now officially in effect. When it’s time to file your personal income tax return for 2022, as an Ontario resident you can claim 20 per cent of eligible 2022 accommodation expenses — up to $1,000 as an individual, or $2,000 as a family, for a rebate of up to $200 or $400, respectively. Eligible expenses include leisure stays in Ontario.
 

NOTL Update:

Wineries are open for tastings! Almost all wineries are requiring reservations but they are offering new and creative ways to have a fun visit to their winery while staying safe. Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake provides a listing of many wineries but you will also find a list of many others on the “Explore Niagara” tab of this website. Also here is a handy list of many wineries and their current offerings. Interested in learning more about wine in Niagara? Check out Rick VanSickle’s “Wines in Niagara” website. Please note many wineries get fully booked, especially on weekends, we highly recommend making reservations in advance.

Shaw Festival 2022 line up includes: The Importance of Being Ernest, Cyrano De Bergerac, Too True To Be Good, Damn Yankees, The Doctor’s Dilemma, White Christmas, Christmas Carol and much, much more! Backstage tours have started again – call Shaw to book 1-800-511-7429.

Whirlpool Jet Boats are back! Don’t forget to ask for the discount coupon if you want to book this tour. It’s lots of fun!

Sip & Sizzle is back for all weekends in May, 2022.Sip and savour gourmet food and wine tastings at 16 Niagara-on-the-Lake wineries! They have some wonderful pairings to check out!

Music Niagara Concert Series returns for their 24th Season. The concert series runs June 17-Aug. 20, 2022 and tickets are now on sale. It will feature performances from Susan Aglukark, to Trio Kyiv, to the Elmer Iseler Singers. 

Jackson-Triggs Summer Concert Series are set to return this year! Tickets went on sale May 4, 2022. Numerous artists are in the line up with shows running June 24- Aug. 13, 2022. Get your tickets now!

Celebrate the arrival of the spring season with a visit to the Annual Hydrangea Display at the Floral Showhouse in Niagara falls. Filled with vibrant colours and gorgeous springtime blooms, it runs May 7-29, 2022.

The Saturday Morning Farmers’ Market is set to open for the 16th straight season on May 28th, and will run until Oct. 8, 2022 with some of NOTL’s favourite vendors in attendance. The market is a short 15 min. walk from our place!

Niagara Parks attractions are now open again. Their online Information Centre is there to help you plan your visit. Whitewater Walk, Aerocar, Butterfly Conservatory, etc. are all open. The Niagara Falls Adventure Pass allows you to save on the most popular attractions.

The Niagara Parks Power Station officially opened last summer! Guests will experience a multi-sensory daytime experience and the once dormant station come to life through an immersive sight & sound show in the evenings! This immersive experience features incredible 3D projection, interactive moments of wonder, and a breathtaking musical score in the heart of the power station.

The Handmade Market returns to 13th Street Winery on June 3 & 4, 2022 and June 10 & 11, 2022. Each weekend features a different mix of curated one-of-a-kind Canadian makers. Sip wine-by-the-glass, small batch coffee and fresh squeezed lemonade while you shop. Enjoy gourmet food trucks and live music all day. Tickets MUST be purchased online prior to attending. Tickets will NOT be available at the gate. Ticket quantities are LIMITED and time slots will sell out.

The White Effect Dinner is back, it’s been 3 years since the last event! So join for a moonlight dinner, in typical Niagara-on-the-Lake celebratory fashion on June 9, 2022 from  7-11pm at Queenston Heights. Book you table now! 
 
The 16th Annual Shaw Guild Garden Tour returns on June 11, 2022. It features 8 fabulous private gardens in beautiful and historic Niagara-on-the-Lake. This is a self-guided tour where you can linger as long as you like, have your questions answered by Master Gardeners, and enjoy a glimpse of creative and unique garden design and plantings.
 
The Niagara Homegrown Festival welcomes visitors to vineyards over the course of June 17-19, 2022 and June 24-26, 2022. Tickets are on sale now, each Discovery Pass entitles you to six curated pairings. Choose from 18 wineries across Niagara, each presenting something special.
 
The annual Strawberry Festival returns again on June 18, 2022. This annual strawberry festival gives everyone an opportunity to eat strawberry shortcake and join in other fun activities! Location is St Andrews Church, 342 Simcoe St, Niagara-on-the-Lake.
 
The Summer Concert Series at Redstone Winery is back! They are putting the finishing touches on the 2022 Concert Series line up at Redstone Winery. There will be 6 nights of live music, great wine and delicious food. The dates are as follows: June 23, July 7 & 28, Aug. 11 & 25 and Sept. 15, 2022. More details to follow.
 
Up next is the Cherry Festival on July 9, 2022 hosted by St. Mark’s Anglican Church. The festival will be similar to previous years, with a jewelry sale and barbecue. The popular cherry pies and cherry jams will also return.
 
NOTL Horticultural Society’s 30th Anniversary Tour will take place on July 9, 2022 from 10am-5pm. To celebrate their anniversary, this year the tour will be an Open Garden Tour with FREE admission! This open tour will showcase a wide selection of gardens in NOTL villages and rural areas. Tour attendees will be invited to visit and enjoy these beautiful gardens at their leisure throughout the day.
 
Van Gogh Niagara Falls opens July 20, 2022. It is an immersive experience featuring the work Vincent Van Gogh’s. Van Gogh Niagara Falls brings over 300 of his most popular works together in a dynamic show.
 
i4C is back! i4C will return to NOTL on July 22-24, 2022. This July, they are rolling out the red carpet for the return of the flavours, the friendships and the festivities of Niagara’s International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration.
 
The Peach Festival is the third major fruit harvest celebration, with plans for the festival to go ahead on Aug. 13, 2022. This event will see a return of festival favourites that take over Queen Street for a day. Also the popular Shades of Summer dinner is scheduled for the following day. 
 
The Canada Games comes to NOTL on Aug. 6-21, 2022. Held every two years, alternating between summer and winter, are the largest multi-sport event in the country and represent the pinnacle of interprovincial/territorial sport competition. Tickets are now on sale!
 
The NOTL Museum is planning a whole bunch of events this year, with its two major festivals being the “Past is Present Heritage Festival” on Aug. 1, 2022 and the return of Niagara Polo on Sept. 10, 2022. Niagara Polo will include polo games on the Commons, food and vendors, the popular divot stomp and entertainment.
 
The First Ontario Performing Arts Center in St. Catharines has a number of concerts this fall. Tom Cochrane with Red Rider – Sept. 29, 2022 and Johnny Reid – Oct. 13, 2022.
 
Also find us and the latest happenings at Explorer House, along with tips on what to do while visiting us on our Facebook page