Hip Hotel Niagara-on-the-Lake: Riverbend Inn

By Pegah Aarabi

      If you wish you could just leave it all behind, and escape to a place where romance, luxury, and seclusion combine, then look no further than the Riverbend Inn & Vineyard. A four diamond award winner and distinguished as one of Ontario's Finest Inns, the Riverbend Inn will take you away to a time of opulence and sophistication.

Located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, featuring a rare mix of European elegance and North American convenience, Riverbend Inn is an ideal getaway from the city. The breathtaking tree-lined scenery and old-world charm will soothe even the most stressed soul. It's the small details that make this inn a must-visit destination, from the fireplaces in the grand suites, to antique stylings and views that parallel none other.

There's little that you can't find at this destination. If it's relaxation you crave, visit the quiet lake that gives the town its name, and divides the U.S. and Canada, go for a walk near the inn to take in the country setting, and then return to your room for a rejuvenating in-room massage.

Even shopaholics will be satisfied. You can find everything from the finest Italian cashmere to flavored teas from around the world and designer wears, all in Niagara-on-the-Lake's Heritage District.

Theatre lovers will take delight in the Shaw Festival. From April to late November, you can catch a host of plays both familiar and unique. The theatre is not commercial but a non-profit organization and each season, produces 10 to 12 plays to audiences totaling about 300,000 people.

Taste buds get a treat too! Riverbend's dining room and lounge offers a multitude of selections, and make sure to finish your visit with a delectable breakfast, offering unique and traditional items, including lemon-cranberry pancakes with pure Canadian maple syrup, and fresh baked breads with some of the region's best preserves.

But perhaps one of the best reasons to visit Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Riverbend Inn is the world-famous wine. Wine tasting tours are readily available year-round. Enjoy Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay from Riverbend's recently harvested vineyards. In the summer, you can pass the afternoon sipping estate-bottled vintages on Riverbend's 40-seat patio, surrounded by Niagara's wine county. And no visit would be complete without the one-of-a-kind taste of Ice Wine. Harvested when the temperature drops below -10 to -13 degrees (°C), when the grapes are naturally frozen on the vines, the delightful aroma and sweet taste makes an ideal dessert wine, and the perfect way to complete your getaway evening – sitting by the fireplace in your private Riverbend suite, sipping the region's finest Ice Wine.

Luxury: Cuisine: Scenery: Experience:

Check them out online at www.riverbendinn.ca