Great Time in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

We recently completed an overnight getaway in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, home of the Shaw Theatre Festival. Downtown streets are adorned with beautiful flowers maintained by a local horticultural school. Our bed and breakfast was excellent. We were surprised at how the local area features many, many wineries, helping to make Niagara-on-the-Lake a destination spot for tourists worldwide. On the way home we stopped to inspect Niagara Falls. We could not have asked for more beautiful weather!

















In front of statue of Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw.
















View of Lake Ontario and Fort Niagara which is on the U.S. side of the mouth of the Niagara River. Here is where water from Lake Erie flows (from right to left) into Lake Ontario.
















Inspecting grapes at a local winery.
















Our sightseeing included a visit to nearby Lock #3 on the Welland Canal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welland_Canal) which enables ships and boats to sail between Lakes Erie and Ontario, bypassing Niagara Falls. It just so happened that the freighter Halifax went through the lock while we were there. It was amazing to watch this 225 foot vessel maneuver into the lock with little room to spare. The lock filled with water within minutes, raising the massive ship smoothly and quickly as though it were on an elevator.

Approaching Lock #3.

















The Halifax will maneuver itself into this narrow space bow first. Lock doors at the ship's stern will then be closed and the lock flooded.


















Going up!


















Thanks for the show!
















On our way back home we stopped to admire Niagara Falls. This video shows the views from atop Horseshoe Falls.

On the Peace Bridge between Canada and the U.S., overlooking Lake Erie. (Double click to enlarge.)