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Niagara on the lake is a little town at the mouth of the Niagara River.
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It is only 12 miles north of Niagara Falls.
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It used to be true that very few tourists would bother to travel from the falls down to Niagara on the lake.
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Nowadays, however, the little town itself is a major tourist attraction.
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The town has a remarkable history.
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The area played an important role in both the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.
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As a result, the little town has two forts, Fort George and Fort Mississauga.
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When Fort George was reconstructed for the public in the 1930s, Niagara on the lake got its first big tourist attraction.
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Because Niagara on the lake was the First Capital of Ontario, it has many significant firsts.
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There was the first parliament in the province, the first legal society, the first library, the first newspaper, the first museum building and many more firsts.
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Besides its history, the town, which is bordered by Lake Ontario and the Niagara River, has beautiful scenery.
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On a summer's day, visitors can watch the sailboats going out the river to the lake.
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On the land side, Niagara is part of the fruit belt of Ontario.
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Peaches, pears, apples, cherries and strawberries grow here in abundance.
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There are also long rows of vines, and winemaking has recently become a major industry.
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The mild, humid climate allows plants to flourish.
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The trees, especially the oaks, grow to remarkable heights.
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Flowering trees and shrubs perfume The air in the spring gardens are often spectacular for much of the year.
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Because of this, Niagara on the Lake attracts many painters and photographers.
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Many of the private homes also have a long history and great care is taken to keep them looking their best.
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The biggest single attraction is the Shaw Festival Theatre.
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The festival was founded in 1962 by a group of Shaw enthusiasts.
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Early productions were often held in the historic courthouse on the Main Street and plays still take place there.
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In 1973, however, a new 861 seat Shaw Theater was built at the South end of town.
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Since then, traffic to Niagara on the lake has been steady all through the long summer season.
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In 1996, Niagara on the Lake was voted the prettiest town in Canada.
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Partly it is the scale of things that makes the Old Town so attractive.
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The Old Town is only about 8 blocks long.
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By 8 blocks wide it has a population of little more than 1000 people.
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Nonetheless, there is a lot for people to do and see.
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There are many interesting shops, old hotels, bookstores, art galleries, museums, a golf course, a Marina, historic churches and cemeteries, several parks, 3 theaters and lots of restaurants.
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Because it is small, Niagara on the lake is a good place to walk around or bicycle around.
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There are also horse and wagon rides.
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Although the Main Street can be hectic in tourist season, one doesn't have to go far off the Main Street to get in touch with an older, slower time.
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Most of the downtown buildings haven't changed much since the days of Queen Victoria, and tourists can still imagine that they are back in the days before computers and television.