Niagara on the Lake - Shaw Festival

You receive star treatment from start to finish. All staff are dressed in regal uniforms, and they great you from the moment you pull in with genuine smiles and assistance. Our valet set the tone for our whole stay, and there were no disappointments for our 2-night visit to the Prince of Wales hotel. We were in a luxury suite with a sitting area, king-size bed, and tub. The saltwater pool was wonderful to visit in our hotel-supplied robes.

We had dinner at the hotel, which was $100 per person, but worth every bite just for dessert and the wine alone! After our show, we returned to the lounge for drinks, which were served with the same outstanding service we received during the rest of our visit. We went to the sister hotel, Pillar and Post, for brunch for $35 per person, and the quality of food and organization was wonderful. You can walk to Pillar and Post or take the hotel shuttle.

The rooms have no kitchen, but you are provided with welcome fruits and drinks. There is no DVD player or VCR in the rooms, but there is full TV service with movies and games.

This restaurant offers you a casual or formal meal depending on how much more shopping you have to do or what time your show is. There is a large variety of beers on tap, as well as a large selection of healthy and traditional foods. It is 1 block north of the main strip and right beside the Court House Theatre.

All the shows at the festival for the last 6 years have been amazing. My husband won't let me do anything else for his birthday since I took him in 1999. There are shows every day, and you can get tickets for $30 for folks under 30, or there are lots of discounts for groups, weekday shows, and other matinees.

There are a lot of hotel packages as well that can make this an affordable night away, or if you live in the area, it is a doable day trip. The wineries nearby are a great place to visit for lunch or dinner. There is not a bad seat in the house.