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!

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

If for some reason you’re delaying on acting on your wanderlust, remember that travel can be one of the most life-changing experiences…. not all of us can travel the whole globe, but just making travel a priority—even to a new place a day’s drive away—can be eye-opening. – Mark Twain

EXPLORER HOUSE WINS 2018 TRIPADVISOR TRAVELERS’ CHOICE AWARD
 
Explorer House has been awarded TripAdvisor 2018 Top 25 B&Bs and Inns in Canada. This “Travelers’ Choice” award is the highest honor TripAdvisor can award. The hallmarks of the Travelers’ Choice Awards are remarkable service, value, and quality. 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!

Next Up:

Get Fresh in the Valley is happening again this year on the weekends of April 21 & 22 and April 28 & 29, 2018. It is a self-guided wine tour of up to 20 wineries in Niagara’s Twenty Valley wine country. It is a great event to showcase the new vintage and aromatic wines paired with fresh spring flavours.

The 2018 season of the Shaw Festival is now on sale. The regular season runs from April 4 to Oct. 28, 2018. The shows this year include The Magician’s Nephew, Grand Hotel, Mythos Trilogy with Stephen Fry, The Hound of Baskervilles, Henry V, and many more! Then the Christmas holiday season, Nov. 14 to Dec. 23, 2018, offers you the classic Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol.

Sip & Sizzle is back for all weekends in the month of May. Over 20 wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake will each offer a unique grilled food and VQA wine pairing. Don’t forget to get your weekend pass!

May 11 & 12, 2018 brings the Handmade Market back to 13th Street Winery. With 140 artisans, wine, food trucks and music it is guaranteed to be a fun event.

Join the fun at Peller Estates on May 19 to 21, 2018 when the food trucks return to Peller for “Party in The Vineyard“. Kick off your summer at the ultimate backyard bash at Peller Estates Winery with 3 days of delicious food, award-winning wine & fun entertainment.

The weekly Wednesday night Supper Market returns May 23, 2018 running until Sept.19, 2018. It is guaranteed to be a fun evening with numerous food vendors, music, wine & beer.

The Summer Concert Series returns to Jackson-Triggs Amphitheater with the following shows:

  • Sam Roberts – June 7, 8, 9
  • Whitehorse – June 15
  • Broken Social Scene – June 16
  • Serena Ryder – June 22 & 23
  • Alan Doyle – July 4 & 5
  • The Threws – July 6
  • The Sheepdogs – July 7
  • The Tenors – July 13 & 14
  • Matt Anderson – July 19
  • Finger Eleven – July 20
  • Chantal Kreviazuk – August 10 & 11
  • Terri Clark – August 16
  • Bahamas – August 17 & 18
  • The Jim Cuddy Band – August 23
  • Rootstock – August 24
  • Joel Plaskett – August 25

The Niagara Historical Society is offering a guided historical tour of the Old Town every Saturday and Sunday from June to September. Tours start at 11:00 am at the Queen’s Royal Park Gazebo and the cost is only $10.

Fridays in June are “Movie Nights in the Vineyard” at Trius Winery. Movie tickets include a glass of wine and popcorn. The movies are:

  • June 1 Dirty Dancing
  • June 8 Grease
  • June 15 Risky Business
  • June 22 Pretty Woman
  • June 29 Forrest Gump

 Graze the Bench is quickly becoming one of the most popular events in wine country. This year event takes place on June 2 & 3, 2018. This is a weekend celebration of wine, food & music along with beautiful vistas of rolling vineyards and Lake Ontario. 

13th Annual Shaw Guild Garden Tour will take place June 9, 2018 from 10am-4pm. This year’s garden tour has been expanded to include beautiful gardens in the nearby village of Queenston in addition to stunning gardens in Old Town NOTL.

Fort George hosts the Napoleonic Weekend & Re-enactment on June 9 & 10, 2018. Europe comes to Canada as Napoleon’s army descends on Fort George for a weekend of muskets and majesty. Napoleonic style French uniforms will adorn Fort George with demonstrations and battle re-enactments happening both days.

NOTL turns pink on June 9 & 10, 2018 when Peller Estates, Trius Winery and Wayne Gretzky Estates celebrates all things Rosé during their Yes Way Rose weekend.

One of the ultimate outdoor social events of the summer combining culinary, friendship and wine admist the backdrop of beautiful Queenston Heights and the Brock Monument is the White Effect Dinner. This year it takes place on June 14, 2018.

The Niagara Homegrown Wine Festival is the perfect time to celebrate the start of summer. From June 16-24, 2018 award-winning winemakers are eager to showcase their best as Niagara opens its cellar doors to share this homegrown experience with you.
 
As part of the Niagara Homegrown Festival the TD Tailgate Party will be held this year at 13th Street Winery on June 23, 2018. This unique celebration of Niagara’s Homegrown assets features over 35 Niagara wineries uncorking their seasonal best alongside 10 top local chefs preparing farm-to-table favourites in the vineyard at the solstice celebration. 
 
Don’t miss the Cherry Festival on July 7, 2018. Come for the freshly baked cherry pies and stay for the fun at this family friendly event.
 
Come celebrate a day of everything lavender from 10am-6pm on July 7 & 8, 2018. The Niagara Lavender Festival offers a tasting tent full of culinary delights like lavender icecream, lavender pizza, lavender lemonade and these are just a few of the items to be offered for the day.
 
Still looking for something to do on July 7? The 27th Annual Garden Tour also takes place in NOTL from 10am-4pm.
 
Trius Red Rocks the Vineyard again this year on July 14, 2018. This year Niagara’s Best Classic Rock Tribute Party will feature all your favourite hits from AC/DC and KISS tribute bands.
 
The International Cool Climate Chardonnay celebration takes place again this year on July 20-22, 2018. There are numerous fun events to attend over the 3 day festival. 
 
Art at the Pumphouse takes place on Aug. 4 & 5, 2018. This 13th annual, juried, original art show and sale offers plenty to see and do both outdoors, on the picturesque grounds along the river’s edge and inside the Niagara Pumphouse heritage brick building.
 
28th Annual Peach Festival takes place August 11, 2018 from 10am-5pm. The festival will feature lots of tasty, “Peachy” delights from local bakeries and restaurants and (of course!) local growers selling their delicious fresh peaches.
 
Trius Red presents their 29th annual Blues Festival on August 11, 2018. The perfect day in wine country!
 
Peller Estates brings you Wine Country Fare on August 25, 2018. Put on your Stetson and dust off your cowboy boots to Party in the Vineyard at this summer’s hottest country music festival!
 
The Niagara Pumphouse will host the Moonlight Picnic on Sept. 7, 2018 from 6-10pm. Spend an enchanting evening on the banks of the Niagara River while enjoying a Moonlight Picnic.
 
Polo “The Sport of Kings” returns to NOTL this year on Sept. 8, 2018 from 12-4pm. Spectators can enjoy 2 live polo games, divot stomp, half-time entertainment, and food and artisan vendors.  
 
The Niagara Grape & Wine Festival from Sept. 15-30, 2018 offers over 100 events including cellar door experiences, concerts, fresh local food, street parades and more.
 
5th Annual Grand Canadian Steampunk Exposition returns to Fort George on Sept. 21-23, 2018. 
 
Every evening beginning at dusk, Niagara Falls is transformed into an incredible, multi-coloured water and light masterpiece. But there are also special illuminations for this summer:
May 21 – VICTORIA DAY: Purple every hour for 15 minutes
May 28 – MEMORIAL DAY: Red, white and blue every hour for 15 minutes
June 5 – WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: Green every hour for 15 minutes
July 1 – CANADA DAY: Red and white every hour for 15 minutes
July 4 – INDEPENDENCE DAY: Red, white and blue every hour for 15 minutes
 
Perhaps a cooking class is more your style. Wine Country (at Strewn Winery) offer Saturday cooking classes from 10am-3pm. They also offer a number of other food & wine classes. 
 
Also find us and the latest happenings at Explorer House, along with tips on what to do while visiting us on our Facebook page