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

…helping you explore & experience Niagara!

BOOK DIRECT (ON OUR WEBSITE OR CALL US) AND SAVE SUBSTANTIALLY!

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 #045-2024

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

                                   
Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2024
 
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!

NOTL Update:

Here is a quick link to many upcoming events Go To Niagara.

Winery Tours & Tastings! Please note many wineries are requiring reservations so we recommend booking in advance. Looking for a guided tour that includes wineries, breweries & distilleries, Brewery & Distillery Tours has numerous options, ask us for a code to save $10 off per person (if you want to book a e-bike with them we can also save you $10 per bike). 

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. 

Shaw Festival has announced their 2025 season! Get ready for another Narnia adventure with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Along with Anything Goes, Murder on the Lake and much more! Tickets now on sale.

Perhaps a Carriage Ride is more your style. Since 1989 Sentineal Carriage has offered visitors horse drawn carriage rides through Niagara on the Lake’s historic downtown. The informative narrated tours pick up in front of the historic Prince of Wales Hotel and last 30 min, 45 min or an hour. Throw a blanket over your lap, hold your sweetie tight, and enjoy a truly unique experience as you trot through one of Ontario’s most picturesque high streets.

Want to know What’s In Bloom in Niagara? Find out what’s blooming at Niagara Parks. Their Nature & Gardens experts update the bloom calendar for garden enthusiasts who want to know what blooms are available at certain times of the year and where you might find them.
 
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours are back for the 2025 season. There’s no better way to experience the power of the Niagara River. Let us know if you are booking as we have a discount code for you.
 
Experience the creativity and talent of incredible artists at Queenston Pottery, join them on Thursday mornings from May 15 – October 2 (10:30–11:00 AM) for a free drop-in session to see their daily work or you can book a tour! This year they also will host  a Visiting Artist Program which will bring a rotating selection of painters and mixed-media artists to their gallery, offering a fresh and inspiring collection of artwork throughout the year.
 
The Handmade Market is back on May 30-31, 2025 & June 6-7, 2025 at 13th Winery. Savour a selection food from the food trucks at the market or visit the Vineyard Kitchen & Bistro. Live music will be at both the market and at 13th Street Winery. Shop over 1000 one-of-a-kind handcrafted items all at one location!
 
Niagara Jazz Festival announced the exciting lineup of events for their 12th summer season. Taking place on June 14, 20-22, 27-29, 2025, the Niagara Region will be filled with the incredible sounds of jazz, world and soul music.
 
Music Niagara’s 27th Summer Festival runs June 15 to August 15, 2025. There is something for everyone to enjoy!
 
Concerts at Jackson Triggs Winery return again this year. Every year there is an exciting line-up! Tickets are now on sale! Better yet the venue is walking distance from Explorer House. Concerts take place from June 20 to Sept. 13, 2025. There will be 20 different artist performing this year.
 
The Niagara Historical Society will offer guided historical tours of the Old Town every Saturday and Sunday from June to end of September, 2025. Tours start at 11:00 am at the Queen’s Royal Park Gazebo and the cost is only $10.
 
Shaw Guild 19th Annual Garden Tour is set for June 14, 2025. This annual Shaw Guild Garden Tour offers a self-guided tour of at least 8 fabulous private gardens in beautiful and historic Niagara-on-the-Lake.
 
Various wine festivals will be taking place all summer long. First up is the Niagara Grape & Wine Sip Into Summer on June 20-22 & 27-29, 2025 with 25+ Wineries across Niagara participating.  This year the Wine Country Tailgate Party will take place on June 28, 2025 at Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate (walking distance from our place – very convenient!)
 
The Strawberry Festival returns again this year on June 21, 2025. Come out for a “sweet time”! Strawberries, baked goods, silent auction, BBQ, crepes &
strawberry shortcake🍓🍓🍓 
 
A Summer Kick-0ff Party with a live music concert at 13th Winery will take place on June 28, 2025. Entrance will begin at 6:30pm and at 7:15pm Paige Armstrong will take the stage followed by The Postmen Band at 8:30pm.
 
The 33rd annual Artistry by the Lake is back on June 28, 2025 to July 1, 2025. This is a juried show of over 80 artists and artisans. Again this year it will take place at the Queen’s Royal Park and admission is free!
 
St. Mark’s Annual Cherry Festival will take place on July 5, 2025. This event celebrates everything cherry. Indulge in the sweet abundance of this succulent fruit while immersing yourself in the warm community atmosphere. The annual fundraising event will have cherries, cherry pies, books, jewelry, treasures, and clothing for sale with a barbeque, bake sale, and music.
 
Get ready to wander through breathtaking gardens at the Niagara on the Lake Horticultural Society Gardener’s Garden Tour on July 12th, 2025! Tickets go on sale March!
 
i4C 2025 event tickets are on sale now! Join the International Cool Climate Chardonnay festivities this July 17-20, 2025 as we raise a glass to 15 years of celebrating cool climate excellence. People are buzzing about the return of Friday Night Flights to the Niagara District Airport (NOTL) on July 18, 2025 and ticket sales are already starting to take off! If you love chardonnay you do not want to miss this!
 
The Peach Festival is back on August 8-10, 2025. Indulge in an afternoon of pure delight as we come together to celebrate everything peach at the Annual Niagara-on-the-Lake Peach Festival! Explore a variety of vendors offering delectable culinary treats, both sweet and savory, all infused with the succulent goodness of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s homegrown peaches. Enjoy non-stop entertainment throughout the afternoon with live music performances that will keep your spirits high and your feet tapping. Witness the battle of the bakers in the traditional peach pie contest! See who will be crowned the winner and claim the title of having the best peach pie in all of Niagara.
 
Canada’s newest attraction is preparing for takeoff at Niagara Parks. Are you ready? Niagara Takes Flight will start boarding on Aug. 29, 2025, this immersive, awe-inspiring journey takes you soaring along the entire Niagara River corridor, from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, showcasing views like never before. Cinematic visuals captured with advanced state-of-the-art drone technology pair with multisensory effects—like motion, wind and mist—to simulate the exhilarating sensation of free flight. You will soar over 56 kilometres of parkland and swirling rapids, glide past steep rock faces and lush forests, and travel through dramatic battles that changed the course of history, all before getting closer than ever to the mighty Horseshoe Falls. 
 
Weekends in September bring the Harvest Grape & Wine Discovery Pass. With 30+ Wineries across Niagara participating, you will have lots of options to use your pass which entitles you to food and wine pairings. Part of the September events also include the Grape & Wine Festival September 25-28, 2025.
 
Keep you eyes posted here for the dates & details for other summer festivals & events.
 
Also find us and the latest happenings at Explorer House, along with tips on what to do while visiting us on our Facebook page.