Beyond the Barrel
The town of Niagara Falls is home to a growing arts community, and the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center offers a calendar of events, concerts and exhibitions throughout the year. The center is housed in the town’s former high school and has gallery space for 75 local artists. Its annual Beyond the Barrel Exhibition, now in its 11th year, runs during the summer months and commemorates the people who have traveled over the falls in a barrel, as first attempted by the intrepid Annie Taylor in 1901.
In June, the town hosts the Niagara Falls Music and Art Festival, a three-day showcase of live music, local artwork, street entertainment, wine tastings and more. Bring along a chair, support the local restaurants, and soak up the eclectic atmosphere, coupled with the late-night firework display.
Old Fort Niagara
At Old Fort Niagara State Historic Site, visitors can enjoy the various displays and re-enactments, which cover much of the fort’s military history. Established by the French in 1679, it was later held by the British, then handed to the United States before being briefly captured by the British once again in 1812. Even after the Civil War, it remained in use as a training barracks until 1963. I explored each building at my own pace, rejoicing that I could return to my comfortable bed-and-breakfast that night instead of sleeping in one of the tiny soldier’s bunks.
Costumed interpreters demonstrated musket and cannon firings on the hour, but the highlight was watching a soldier being drummed out of the corps. Stripped of his insignia and dishonorably discharged, our re-enactor may have simply been drummed into the parking lot; his predecessors centuries ago would not have been so lucky, finding themselves forced to survive in the New York wilderness until they might stumble across civilization. I pondered his fate, but not for long, as I was soon distracted by the magnificent views across Lake Ontario.
Niagara Wine Trail
For the final day of my brief visit to Niagara, I decided to leave the history behind and instead experience some of the area’s modern wonders. The 22 vineyards along the Niagara Wine Trail offer a selection of award-winning varietals, as well as ice wines, mead and ciders. In short, there should be something to suit most palates. With so many wineries from which to choose, it can be difficult to know which to visit if you are on a limited schedule.
My first stop was the Winery at Marjim Manor, known equally for its wines and its spirits — of the haunted kind. As I tasted samples of the delicate Peach for the Stars and the tart Plum Dandy, host Margo Sue Bittner told ghostly tales of the manor’s past. Although the winery has only been in operation since 2004, the property itself dates to the 1800s, having been used first as a farm and later as a summer retreat for nuns. Ghosts sighted at Marjim include members of the original settler’s family and the nuns’ dog. I departed without meeting any apparitions but with my imagination tantalized as much as my taste buds.
Five miles down the road, at Black Willow Winery, I opted for a richer red wine, the Black Willow Trilogy Red, followed by a delectably sweet traditional honey mead. Whatever vineyards you choose to include on your tour, each will offer something different far beyond its selection of wines. Black Willow offers wine and chocolate pairings; Vizcarra’s bakery means you are likely to leave loaded with a homemade pie or two, fresh from the oven.
As I was leaving, and the lakes and vineyards of Niagara were fading into my rearview mirror, I made a mental note that there was still much for me to discover in the region.
For more information contact Niagara USA at 877-325-5787 or go online at www.niagara-usa.com
