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. 

The Christmas Season has arrived at Shaw Festival, come see A Christmas Carol and/or Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Shaw has also has announced their 2026 season! Get ready for Amadeus, The Wind in the Willows, Funny Girl, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, One for the Pot, A Year with Frog and Toad, Sleuth, Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense and much more! Tickets on sale now for supporting and Nov. 8 to the general public.

The holiday season is a perfect time for a Carriage Ride. 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.

Canada’s newest attraction Niagara Takes Flight  is now opened. 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 kilometers 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 November bring the Taste the Season. This is your invitation to explore Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country during the most magical time of the year. During weekends in November, visit the 24 participating wineries to enjoy carefully curated holiday-inspired food and wine pairings. Note: Taste the Season Tasting Passports and Day-Of Tickets must be booked online. 
 
The Poppy Project returns for Nov. 1-11, 2025. Click on the link to find out how Niagara-on-the-Lake has continued the beloved poppy project, started in 2020, and where to admire the display this year.
 
Candle Light Stroll returns again on Dec. 5, 2025. The stroll begins at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Court House (26 Queen St) and continues down Queen Street. The Candlelight Stroll is an annual holiday stroll in the Heritage District (Old Town) with musical performances.
 
The 26th Annual Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Holiday House Tour returns on Dec. 5 & 6, 2025. If you like interior design, architecture, and seasonal decorations, the annual Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Holiday House Tour is for you. Tour 7 gorgeous, beautifully decorated homes; visit local historic and cultural sites; sample complimentary tastings from 3 featured wineries and a winery/distillery; and enjoy specially priced luncheons for attendees as well! And all the profits go to charitable causes.
 
Find unique treasures at the Holiday Market! Dec. 5-14, 2025 at the Niagara Pump House. The holiday market features a wide range of one-of-a-kind, handmade holiday gifts, ornaments, and decor by artisans.
 
On Saturday Dec. 13, 2025 NOTL Christmas Parade takes place. Santa comes to town in one of Ontario’s best Santa Claus Parades.
 
Niagara’s coolest wine festival, The Icewine Festival, is back again this January. Tickets to the numerous events go on sale Nov. 1, 2025. Key dates are Jan. 17-18 & 24-25, 2026 when the NOTL Icewine Village returns to Queen St., Jan. 31, 2026 for the Cool As Ice Gala at the Niagara Parks Power Station, Niagara Falls, and all three weekends Jan. 17-18 & 24-25, 31-Feb. 1, 2026 for the Discovery Pass across the Niagara Region.
 
Want to know What’s In Bloom when in Niagara? Find out what’s blooming at Niagara Parks to help plan your 2026 visit. 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.
 
Concerts at Jackson Triggs Winery will return again in 2026. Every year there is an exciting line-up! Tickets generally go on sale in April and we will let you know here what the 2026 line up is & when the tickets will go on sale! The venue is walking distance from Explorer House. 
 
Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours will be back for the 2026 season, keep turned here as we will let you know when they are open again. 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.
 
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.