Niagara-on-the-Lake

Since 1962 Niagara-on-the-Lake has been considered the southern outpost of fine summer theater in Ontario because of its acclaimed Shaw Festival. But it offers far more than Stratford, its older theatrical sister to the west: as one of the country's prettiest and best-preserved Victorian towns, Niagara-on-the-Lake has architectural sights, shops, flower-lined streets in summer, and quality theater nearly year-round. The town of 14,000 is worth a visit at any time of the year for its inns, restaurants, and proximity to the wineries, but the most compelling time to visit is from April through November, during the Shaw Festival.

Niagara-on-the-Lake remained a sleepy town until 1962, when local lawyer Brian Doherty organized eight weekend performances of two George Bernard Shaw plays, Don Juan in Hell and Candida. The next year he helped found the festival, whose mission is to perform the works of Shaw and his contemporaries.

This is a small town that can easily be explored on foot.