St. Catharines is a charming city that offers plenty of amenities and activities to its residents. It is known for its friendliness and pride and has many wonderful characteristics. It’s home to a whole host of restaurants, bars, parks and hotels, and offers visitors many exciting attractions to explore. So if you aren’t sure about what to do, let us help you get started with the 10 best things to do in St. Catharines, Canada!
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1. Spend a day out at Lakeside Park
Lakeside Park is located in Port Dallhousie Ward and offers gorgeous beach, picnic areas, a playground, a waterfront trail and a carousel. There’s so much to see and do at Lakeside Park that you can easily spend a whole day enjoying everything that it has to offer. From the beautiful park to the relaxing beach, you’re sure to find something that all the family can enjoy. It’s the perfect location to spend all day relaxing, eating and playing.
Lakeside Park
Address: 1 Lakeport Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2N 5B3, Canada
Website: Lakeside Park
2. Soak up the sun at Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is located along the picturesque shores of the beautiful Lake Ontario. You’re sure to have a wonderful day relaxing and exploring here. The beach also has a playground, so it’s perfect for children and adults alike. You can also benefit from close trail connections to both the Waterfront Trail and the Welland Canals Parkway Trail. Admire the gorgeous sunset over Lake Ontario and enjoy a blissful day of relaxing on the beautiful beach by the calming waters.
Sunset Beach
Address: 1 Lombardy Ave, St. Catharines, ON L2M 1H8, Canada
Website: Sunset Beach
3. Visit Happy Rolph's Animal Farm
Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm is situated in Grantham Ward, along the beautiful shores of Lake Ontario and offers visitors the chance to experience a wide range of birds, animals and plants, all in a gorgeous natural setting.
You can also enjoy a tranquil seating area and picturesque views of Lake Ontario. There are also two ponds on site for you to admire the wildlife in their natural habitat. There’s also a large playground which is perfect for children and a cute little nature trail for you to see all the wonderful birds, animals and plants.
Happy Rolph's Animal Farm
Address: 2 Northrup Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2R 7K6, Canada
Website: Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm
4. Check out Morningstar Mill
This rural industrial heritage site is owned by the City of St. Catharines and features a working grist mill that was rebuilt in 1872. Morningstar Mill features a wealth of intriguing history and unique features. It’s also one of the few mills in Ontario that still has all of its original equipment and still uses the original water source, so you can expect to find plenty of little quirks hidden in and around the mill. Take a journey back in time to when moving water was still used to mechanically grind grain into flour.
Morningstar Mill
Address: 2714 Decew Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2R 6R2, Canada
Website: Morningstar Mill
5. Explore the history of lacrosse at Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame & Museum
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
This incredibly exciting museum allows you to see the most notable lacrosse players in Ontario, as well as a number of video presentations and a lacrosse shooting gallery. Fans of Canada’s national sport will thoroughly enjoy the hall of fame and museum as you’ll be able to see many brilliant displays and permanent exhibits. This really is a truly remarkable experience to take part in, especially if you love lacrosse, as you’ll receive an exciting insight into the history of the sport.
Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame & Museum
Address: Lock 3, 1932 Welland Canals Parkway, St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 7C2
6. Head to St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre
The Welland Canals Centre lets visitors admire many ships from around the world as they maneuver through Lock 3 on their way through the St. Lawrence Seaway System. The great thing about this observation deck is that it’s free so you can enjoy the ships for as long as you like!
The canal is open from the end of March all the way through to December every year, and it also provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy a picnic in the park or have fun playing in the playground. You can also learn about the canal’s history through a video and various museum exhibits.
St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre
Address: 1932 Welland Canals Parkway, St. Catharines, ON L2R 7K6, Canada
7. Check out St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
The St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame is an excellent place to recognize the many accomplishments of athletes who have dramatically contributed to the development of sport in St. Catharines. You can see a number of exhibits in the hall of fame, including a jacket display, and a selection of sports memorabilia and artifacts. It’s the perfect excursion for passionate sports fans.
St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame
Address: Meridian Centre, 1 IceDogs Way, St. Catharines, ON L2R 0B3
Website: St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame
8. Sample fine wines at 13th Street Winery
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
13th Street Winery is set amongst stunning estate vineyards. They specialize in creating beautifully bespoke, handcrafted wines such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a number of sparkling wines. When visiting 13th Street Winery, you’ll get the chance to experience the tasting bar where you’ll be able to sample a selection of different wines. There’s also an option to relax and unwind on the seasonal verandah, where you can enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the vineyards.
Take a wander through the magnificent grounds and feast your eyes upon all the beauty that 13th Street Winery has to offer, including the bakery where you can enjoy scrumptious freshly baked goods!
13th Street Winery
Address: 1776 Fourth Ave, St. Catharines, ON L2S 0B9, Canada
Website: 13th Street Winery
9. Hike through Woodend Conservation Area
At Woodend Conservation Area you can enjoy the glorious landscape, complete with gorgeous views of Lake Ontario. There’s plenty of opportunities to hike or ski the trails of Woodend, where you’ll see the beautiful meadows, forests and wildlife.
It’s the perfect location for those wanting to observe a range of wildlife in their natural habitats. It’s a beautiful place to explore, observe and relax while taking in all the picturesque surroundings.
Woodend Conservation Area
Address: 1 Taylor Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2V 3Y5, Canada
Website: Woodend Conservation Area
10. Shop fresh finds at St. Catharines Farmers Market
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The Farmers Market is situated in downtown St. Catharines and serves a range of quality fresh food and produce. You also get the opportunity to learn about the way that the food is grown and cared for by the lovely people selling it; it’s a very lovely experience and quite different from simply purchasing food from your local grocery store.
There’s a whole plethora of fresh fruit and vegetables, succulent meats and yummy freshly baked goods; you’ll be spoilt for choice with all the offerings of the Farmers Market! It’s also a wonderful way to experience the local culture of St. Catharines as it allows you to see first-hand the variety of people that wander through the market.
St. Catharines Farmers Market
Address: 91 King St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3H6, Canada
Website: St. Catharines Farmers Market
Immerse yourself in all the things that St. Catharines has to offer
St. Catharines is a truly wonderful place to visit for all the family, with so many exciting activities to take part in, and plenty of wonderful sights to feast your eyes upon, it’s clear to see why St. Catharines is so popular with tourists from every corner of the world.
Don’t miss out on the many parks, beaches and delicacies that St. Catharines offers!
Where to stay in St. Catharines, Canada
In St. Catharines, Canada, you’ll be able to enjoy nature, take in great views of the famed Niagara Falls, learn about its history in its museum, and savor its wine and cuisine. Do and experience all these while having the best night rests necessary for you to have the energy for the next day’s adventures. Fortunately, St. Catharines has a handful of cozy stays from which you can easily access your destinations. Are you most comfortable in a hotel? You can find clean, spacious, and furnished hotel rooms in the area for your convenience. Are you on a budget yet keen on finding charming rooms? There are private apartments with lower price tags that are still just minutes away from top attractions. Do you want to get the most of St. Catharines’ killer views? There are homes located in strategic spots that can give you just what you need.
Here are our top recommendations on where to stay:
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