Mother's Day in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Mother's Day is quickly approaching and I want to share one of my favourite memories of Mother's Day. My mother is a simple lady who would be perfectly happy celebrating Mother's Day at home sipping tea with her family. One year on Mother's Day, I surprised her with a trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake where we were able to spend quality time together and enjoy the easy pace of the charming town. I hope you will use this guide to get some ideas of how you can celebrate Mother's Day with the special lady in your life.

Where to Stay: I booked a two night stay at the historic Prince of Wales Hotel, which is in walking distance to shops, restaurants and theatres. Even before we enter the hotel, we are taken back in time as a man with a top hat sits inside a horse-drawn carriage waiting to take a couple for a leisurely ride.  

As we enter the hotel, we admire the elegant Victorian decor. We were very comfortable with our spacious room and Egyptian cotton sheets. Other amenities include fitness facilitates, The Secret Garden Spa, restaurants and afternoon tea service in the Victorian Drawing Room. If you want to make mom feel like royalty, I would highly recommend staying at The Prince of Wales Hotel!

Where to Eat: Hob Nob Restaurant & Wine Bar is located at The Charles Hotel. Diners can sit on the charming verandah and can take in views of the oldest golf course in North America, while enjoying a scrumptious meal. Elevated classics include the juicy beef tenderloin burger and Parmesan and truffle mac and cheese. 

Escabèche is a fine dining restaurant inside the Prince of Wales Hotel, that offers gourmet cuisine. The restaurant decor is regal and fancy. Mom especially loves their desserts, including the decadent chocolate dark royale, which is absolutely heavenly. 

Cow's ice cream parlour claims to have the best ice cream in Canada. Mom and I just had to find out if the claim is indeed true. There are a plethora of creatively named combinations, such as Moo Crunch, Wowie Cowie and Gooey Mooey. The ice creams we sampled were luscious and incredibly creamy. We can certainly say that Cow's makes the best ice cream we have ever had the pleasure of enjoying! 

Things to Do: I treated mom to a day of relaxation and rejuvenation at The 100 Fountain Spa at The Pillar and Post. The spa offers a wide range of services to choose from. Mom had the personalized facial and the esthetician catered to her specific skin needs. She felt completely rested and her skin was glowing! I opted to have the body energizing wrap, which consisted of first getting scrubbed with an exfoliant and then being covered in thermal mud to detoxify my skin. The scent of lime and mandarin lotion was quite invigorating and my body felt incredibly soft and silky. 

Niagara-on-the-Lake is known as wine country. Why not take mom to a wine tasting at Château des Charmes? Visit their award-winning St. David’s Bench Vineyard and indulge in wine tastings where you and mom can savour and sip the day away! 

Mom and I enjoyed world-class entertainment when we saw My Fair Lady at the Shaw Festival. The show was a delight with stunning choreography and actors singing beautifully. 

My mom can spend hours shopping, but she mostly shops for other people and is always so thoughtful. She had a wonderful time browsing the Just Christmas store, which is open year round and features all things (you guessed it!) Christmas. 

We found a few kitchen knick knacks in Serendipity: The Little French Shoppe, and of course she bought souvenirs for her friends! 

My mother does so much for me and I wanted to honour and celebrate her with a unique trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake. She enjoyed herself immensely and we definitely did a lot of mother-daughter bonding. I am looking forward to celebrating Mother's Day in two weeks!