Wine Tasting in Niagara-On-The-Lake (aka, the cutest town in North America

In August, we did a Home Exchange in Toronto for a week. We also still had our Southwest Companion Pass then, so instead of flying into Toronto, we flew into Buffalo, NY and drove to Toronto (it's about a 2 hour drive). I went to Niagara Falls when I was 11 or 12 years old, so I have a faint memory of the Falls, but I thought it would be fun to visit again as an adult. When telling our friends who used to live in Toronto about our upcoming plans, they suggested we stop in Niagara-On-The-Lake for some wine tasting and dinner. And I'm so glad they did! We absolutely loved it.

Since we were there in August, it was SO HOT. Plus the mist from the falls made everything extra humid. We were basically drenched in sweat and mist all day. But it was still really fun to see the falls. I have to say, the Canadian side is SO much better than the American side. If you're feeling nerdy, Google pictures of what it looked like when they put up a dam in 1969 to stop the flow of water to the American Falls in order to study the rocks. It's crazy looking! They're apparently going to do it again in the next few years, and I can't wait to see what crazy stuff they find down there.

After we got our waterfall viewing on, we drove about 20 minutes north towards Niagara-On-The-Lake. Before we got into the town, we hit up a few of the famous ice wineries. Ice wine is special, because they pick the berries while they are still frozen on the vine, which makes a very sweet, concentrated dessert wine. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but it was fun to try.

We went to The Ice House & Inniskillin.

THEN we actually got to Niagara-On-The-Lake! It might be the cutest place I've ever been. This adorable downtown main street, perfectly sculpted landscaping, with cute shops and restaurants lining the boulevard. I loved it.

We found a brewery and did a tasting, and spent a few hours wandering in and out of shops. Adorable. This would be a great place for quiet getaway where you stayed in a B&B and did wine tasting every day. That actually sound idyllic to me... booking that now ;) 

Seriously - could this place be more adorable? We only spent the afternoon here, but I'd be happy with a luxurious long weekend to enjoy all of its cute corners.

Have you ever been to Niagara-On-The-Lake?
xo

Our Visit to Napier & Hawke's Bay - New Zealand Travel Diary

While our stay in Napier was brief, it certainly left its mark on me. 

The quaint, beach side, Art Deco towns charm is unprecedented. Not to mention, it is situated in one of the most prestigious wine regions in New Zealand (or the world, if we are talking Sauvignon Blanc). 

Wine, waves and whimsical appeal - I could've stayed there forever.

We arrived in Napier after our hike along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. We started early and hiked 20 kilometers, so we were exhausted. Having a ocean view room with balcony was just what the doctor ordered, as I had zero energy left or muscle use in my legs :) I wanted to stay at this hotel but it was full, so we opted for this one. At more than 1/3 of a price discount, it was not decorated as lux as the Art Deco, but simple decor, a comfortable bed, and that balcony - winner winner chicken dinner!

We walked along the beach and enjoyed dinner at Mint. One of the best meals we had in New Zealand! We passed by the Six Sister's Houses (cute row houses on the water front) and admired the adorable 1920's architecture.

The next morning, we ventured out for breakfast and found Mister D's on Tennyson St. Oh yeah, did I mention all the streets are named after famous authors and poets? Adorable.

Mister D's was so delicious! Great coffee, approachable but creative menu. Also right in the thick of downtown Napier if you're in the area. I believe they do lunch and dinner as well, and the atmosphere was so cute, we loved it.

We spent some time wandering around the area and admiring the architecture. Napier suffered from a massive earthquake in 1931 (which is New Zealand's most destructive and deadly natural disaster to date), and so all of the buildings were re-built in the Art Deco style. They're beautiful and have been so well kept - we really loved all the cool buildings and statues in our favorite era of architecture.

Since we had reservations for the ferry, we had to get on the road. On our way out, we wanted to sample this world famous Sauvignon Blanc! We certainly not disappointed. Our favorite was Mission Estate Winery - the oldest winery in New Zealand (established in 1851). This BEAUTIFUL 150 year old mansion that ALSO happens to be a winery... it was heaven! Can I turn back time and get married here pleeeeeaaasssseeeee? You can also stay on the property if you desire. We almost did, but I knew we'd never make it to downtown Napier (about 15 minutes away) in our one night stay.

We truly loved Napier! 1 night was not nearly long enough. It might not be a glacier, mountain or volcano... but it's truly a beautiful, charming place! Put it on your list if you have the chance :)

Have you ever been to Napier or Hawke's Bay? Am I the only one obsessed?
xo

Wine Tasting on Waiheke Island, New Zealand

Today I want to share about one of the highlights of my trip to New Zealand - Waiheke Island!

Do you like wine? 

Do you like islands? 

Do you like unbelievable views? 

Then, my friend, Waiheke Island is the place for you. Even if you don't think you like those things.... you should go anyway.

While there are plenty of guides about what to do in Auckland, I found very little about Waiheke Island. But after a little digging, and asking around to friends who have been, I discovered that Waiheke island was going to be a favorite!

Waiheke is an island off the coast of Auckland, and takes about 30 minutes on the ferry to get there. We were able to purchase discounted tickets through GrabOne, which is similar to Groupon, which made our price $22 round trip instead of $36. However, the full fare is still worth every single penny! You can purchase them at the ferry terminal or online. The ferry leaves about once an hour so you can easily plan your trip there and back from Downtown Auckland.

You can hire a car or take the bus. The ferry from downtown Auckland will drop you off at the Matiatia pier, which is on the Western side of the island. From there, we took a bus down Church Bay Road and saw some of these gorgeous views of the harbor. We also could have easily walked (which we found out later and walked back to the harbor). 

We stopped at three wineries. Jurassic Ridge, Mudbrick, and Cable Bay. There are dozens of wineries on this island, but these all came highly recommended!

Mudbrick was a favorite of mine, because their food menu was just as amazing as their wine menu. After a generous tasting at the counter, we ordered a glass of the country's famed Sauvignon Blanc and some appetizers to share. It was AMAZING.

YUM. Seriously, it was one of the best meals I've ever had. Delicious breads & dips, perfect shrimp, salads, cheese and olives.... amazing. Tapas are my favorite way to eat! Not to mention we were on this gorgeous patio with the world's most perfect breeze sweeping by. I couldn't have asked for a better day with my two favorite people!

Cable Bay was a 5 minutes walk away from Mudbrick, and after that food, wine and view - we didn't think anything else could hold a candle to our little wine paradise. THEN we arrived at Cable Bay.

We only stayed at Cable Bay for about an hour, but their view was one for the books. They had luxury bean bags on this beautiful lawn and were happy to bring you food and wine to your little cozy spot. We drank wine and fell asleep in the sun. Are you dying to visit Waiheke yet?!

We were sun kissed, full, and happy when we left :) There are so many awesome vineyards on this island, I really hope we can go back for a long weekend sometime (because of course I'm already planning my return to New Zealand). A day trip was a great sample of all Waiheke's beauty and splendor! 

Have you ever been to Waiheke before? Any vineyards I need to hit up next time?
xo