Live Like The Locals

Live Like the Locals Winter Edition

By Victoria Gilbert

“Baby, it’s cold outside,” but Niagara’s got you covered. So pull down that hat, pull up those long johns and explore all this region has to offer.

Canadians are polite, kind and sweet. This lovely stereotype pleases most of us Canadians because well, we are nice aren’t we, eh? Another handle we Canadians should have on the world stage is our HEARTINESS. Our winters are cold. There are days in January and February where going outside is a mental battle with the elements for even the toughest among us. We pull down our tuques and layer our clothing and make the most out of the five cold months of winter. Our fun and friendly natures don’t freeze on the coldest nights. In fact, the colder it gets, the greater the excuse to snuggle up closer at a cozy local pub or pump your legs faster on an outdoor rink under the stars. The locals have mastered the art of enjoying winter and so can you.

The Olde Angel Inn

224 Regent Street, Niagara-On-The-Lake | angel-inn.com

This traditional English pub right in the centre of old town is a perennial favourite among locals and tourists alike. The Angel Inn’s website boasts “great food, historic accommodations and good friends await you here at Ontario’s oldest operating inn.” A Union Jack waves in the breeze above the entrance to the Angel and beckons visitors with a style of Niagara’s past. The pub was established in 1789 and rebuilt in 1815 after the War of 1812. Sit up at the bar, like the locals do and ask people about the place with no hesitation — Niagara-on-the- Lake has recently been ranked “Canada’s friendliest town” by Expedia.ca’s annual list of the Friendliest Communities and Towns in Canada. So, while you drink your beer (try a local one: Oast House or Silversmith) and munch down on a huge portion of Bangers and Mash, while you chat about the ghost who lives there (his name is Captain Colin Swayze) or about the War of 1812, which some people still argue about to this day: was it a war or a battle? Most locals are very proud and very knowledgeable about their town and will be happy to talk battles and ghosts with visitors who are interested. The Angel boasts an all-local wine list and a number of local beers, including their own IPA brew, “Angel Inn Lager” which you can sip over live music on Fridays & Saturdays, 9:30pm – 12:30am year round.

The Butterfly Conservatory

2565 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls | Open Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm niagaraparks.com/butterfly-conservatory

When it’s -20 outside, there’s no better place to escape the cold than where the butterflies live, as I was told by a local, many years ago. This remains true to this day. Trick the winter and check your coat and that extra sweater at the entrance to the home of the butterflies because it’s always warm and tropical inside. Iridescent blue, yellow and orange wings mingle with 45 species in this tropical, bright space of meditative waterfalls and dreamy fluttering beings. An ideal spot for a romantic date, or for families with kids, who are all thrilled when a winged creature lands delicately on their shoulder or hand.

Managed by Niagara Parks Commission, The Butterfly Conservatory participates in the Adventure Pass program which includes many other Niagara attractions and can be purchased for $65 on their website: www.niagaraparks.com. An annual pass for the conservatory is also available and is ideal for residents for unlimited visits over the course of a year. Or to simply enter, the price is reasonable for the experience which lasts about two hours: $15/adults, $9.75/kids 6 and over. Kids under 6 are free.

Photos courtesy of Niagara Parks.

Skating Rink at Fort George National Historic Site

51 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake visitniagaracanada.com/do/skating-rink-at-fort-george-national-historic-site/

The 120-foot-by-60-foot rink next to Historic Fort George harkens back to a time of simplicity and innocence. Parks Canada partnered with local hotel giant, Vintage Hotels, to bring this magical outdoor skating rink to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Strung lights, music, hay bales to sit on to tie up skate laces, and hot chocolate under the stars is what this gem of a skating rink offers visitors. The rink is rarely busy and the parking lot next door is convenient and free. Could skating this rink next to Fort George be one of the most “Canadian” experiences a visitor could have? Yes, it most certainly could be. Make sure to check the website to see when the rink is open and be sure to catch some night skating for a wonderful way to enjoy cold winter nights in the region.

Cost to skate: free. Skates: rentals available at the “Agora” or the beautifully-designed modern building adjacent to the rink.

Copyright, Parks Canada Agency.

The Bench Brewing Company

3991 King Street, Beamsville | Open daily 11am-9pm | benchbrewing.com

This large, new brewery opened in 2018 and has already attracted locals and visitors who are increasingly curious about craft beers and what this region can offer. Built within an old school house dating from 1944, the founder Matt Giffen, managed a fantastic retrofit which gives this brewery a modern and sexy vibe and maintains the history of the building. If you are a fan of interesting and new styles of beer, you will delight in the tasting menu The Bench provides and if you are a newbie to IPAs, Farmhouse Ales, Dry Hopped Sours, don’t fret. The flights of beer divided by styles are a phenomenal way to try something new. Even if the famous fruit trees of the Niagara region are dormant in the winter, taste them anyway in The Bench beers fermented from local fruits such as the “Cherry, Plum and Peach Grove Mixed Fermentation Ales on Fruit.” The Kitchen at the Brewery has sublime tasting portions that are well presented and delicious. Creamy smoked baked beans, steamed pork and ginger dumplings, or baked Moroccan style chicken wings pair with the types of beers which appeal to you most: Community Range, Grover Series or Funk Beer.

Photos courtesy of Bench Brewing Company.