Looking for things to do in St Catharines, Canada? If so, keep reading!
If you’re visiting St Catharines soon, you might be looking for suggestions for Looking for things to do in St Catharines, during your trip! Well hopefully, we can help!
St Catharines is the biggest city in Canada’s Niagara Region, and its enviable location on Lake Ontario makes it a popular destination for little weekend getaways. If you’re looking for great options for things to do in St Catharines, hopefully, this list will give you plenty of ideas!
St Catharines is only a short drive from Toronto (about an hour, give or take!), and it’s right across the border from US cities like Niagara Falls and Buffalo. For a lot of people, St Catharines make a perfect base during a weekend away from the bigger cities, or it makes for a great base if your plan is to explore local attractions such as Niagara Falls.
So anyway, let’s get into our list of the best things to do in St Catharines!
Here’s our list of the best things to do in St Catharines!
Lakeside Park
First on our list of things to do in St Catharines, it’s Lakeside Park. If you’re looking for the most beautiful views in St Catharines, then you’ll want to head down to Lakeside Park. Though it may look like a simple waterfront, there’s truly so much to do here.
From beaches, to parks, to waterfront trails, there’s plenty at Lakeside Park to keep the whole family occupied all day long! Just be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen while you’re out – there isn’t much shade around, so you’ll want to stay as protected as possible. This is a lovely choice for things to do in St Catharines, so don’t miss it.
Walk the Bruce Trail!
Next on our list of things to do in St Catharines, it’s the Bruce Trail. If you didn’t know, there are some incredible trails in St. Catharines. Seriously, people head up here just to experience the amazing hikes here! If you’re looking to take things back to basics (and back in time!), then we recommend checking out the Bruce Trail.
This trail is by far St. Catharine’s oldest offering, and it’s even considered a UNESCO World Heritage site these days. The trail runs for about 7.5 miles and passes through the city at various points. Just don’t forget to bring your camera, folks! This is a must-do for things to do in St Catharines, especially if you love spending time outdoors.
Woodend Conservation Area
If the Bruce Trail doesn’t quite float your boat (or is slightly too long for the whole family to enjoy), then check out the Woodend Conservation Area. The hikes here are still beautiful, but you can tailor them for little legs and stop plenty of times along the way.
If you happen to be visiting during the winter months, you can even strap on some skis and explore that way! For all your troubles, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the local Lake Ontario. Another amazing choice for things to do in St Catharines.
Visit Niagara Falls
It would be crazy for us to write a list of things to do in St Catharines, and not mention Niagara Falls. A lot of visitors to St Catharines, stay in the area because of it’s close proximity to the Falls – so taking a day trip there is an absolute must.
There are bus tours, but also public buses too – so it’s really easy on public transport. And, of course, if you’re driving, you can just make your way there yourself. Niagara Falls is one of the most famous tourist attractions in this part of the world, so you’d be silly to miss it, especially if you’re in the area! It’s definitely one of the best things to do in St Catharines.
Read more: 50 things to do in Niagara Falls!
Morningstar Mill
Morningstar Mill is next on our list of things to do in St Catharines. Another beautiful heritage site in St. Catharine’s is the Morningstar Mill. A visit to this mill is considered one of the top things to do in St. Catharine’s due to its unique appearance and incredible waterfall.
Though you’ll find out all about how the mill functions if you choose to pay it a visit, we can tell you that this incredible attraction still uses its original water source to grind grain. It’s an incredibly interesting process to watch, so don’t miss out. Don’t miss this beautiful location on your schedule of things to do in St Catharines.
St Catharines Museum
Next on our list of things to do in St Catharines, it’s the St Catharines Museum. There’s nothing better than a fantastic museum, and St Catharine’s Museum is one of the best in the Niagara region. This museum aims to educate visitors and locals on the city’s history using prominent artefacts.
Not only does this museum have excellent permanent exhibits that are worth exploring, but it tends to run temporary exhibits on pertinent national issues too. Oh – don’t forget to pay a visit to the gift shop on your way out!
Read more nearby travel ideas: 15 fun things to do in Alexandria Bay, NY
Outlet Collection at Niagara
On the outskirts of St Catharines, you’ll find Outlet Collection at Niagara, which is next on our list of things to do in St Catharines. It’s a classic choice for things to do in St Catharines on a rainy day – because shopping is always the perfect rainy day activity!
Outlet malls offer well-known brands with discounts and affordable prices, so if you love indulging in a bit of shopping – chances are you’ll love spending a bit of time here!
13th Street Winery
13th Street Winery had to make it onto our list of the top 15 things to do in St Catharines. Sure, the wines here are phenomenal, but what takes this winery to the next level are its surroundings.
Picture the scene: it’s a gloriously sunny day, you’re perfectly dressed, and you’re sipping on a selection of St. Catharine’s finest wines. Can you imagine a better day out or choice for things to do in St Catharines? We know we can’t…
Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm
Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm is one of the top things to do in St Catharines for nature lovers. As you might expect, you can spot plenty of animals here, so it’s the perfect way to introduce little ones to the animal kingdom!
Though you can’t get totally up-close and personal, there is a great designated viewing area for visitors that gives you fantastic views of the adorable wildlife. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a top-notch playground and picnic area that are great for kids who have excess energy to work out! This is such a great idea for things to do in St Catharines.
Walk the Waterfront Trail
Another lovely hike / walk to try out in St Catharines, this is definitely one of the best things to do in St Catharines if you want to soak in those lake views. As the name of this trail suggests, it takes you right along the waterfront, and there are so many beautiful views to be enjoyed along the way.
Read more nearby travel ideas: 20 beautiful waterfalls in New York State
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Next on our list of things to do in St Catharines, it’s the Sky Zone Trampoline Park. If you’re looking for something to keep your kids busy one day, then this place is the perfect choice. They’ll burn off loads of energy and have fun whilst they do it.
Listen, the weather in St Catharines isn’t always perfect, so it helps to have some indoors options for things to do in St Catharines up your sleeve! This is one of those options!
Dundurn Castle
If you fancy a little road trip, then we highly recommend adding Dundurn Castle to your list of things to do in St Catharines. It’s not quite on your doorstep (it’s about 45 minutes away by car), but we can promise that this castle is worth the detour.
Located on York Boulevard in Hamilton, this neoclassical mansion is an amazing historical site. Originally home to Sir Allan Napier Macnab and his family, this stately home now tells the stories of the workers who lived here too.
If the attraction itself wasn’t enough to reel you in, then the wonderful gift shop sure will! The shop sells a variety of lovely Canadian crafts, so you’re bound to pick up a souvenir or two. It’s a really educational option for things to do in St Catharines.
Read more nearby travel ideas: 10 beautiful castles in New York State
St. Catharine’s Farmers Market
One of our top things to do in St Catharines is the wonderful farmers market. You really can’t miss this market, as it’s placed right in the middle of the city next to the old Courthouse.
This is a top spot for both locals and tourists, and it tends to be bustling all week long because it sells the most delicious homemade goods. Be sure to pick up a jar of homemade jam and some freshly baked bread while you’re here! Trust us, you won’t regret it. Definitely add this to your list of things to do in St Catharines.
Go Shopping in Downtown St. Catharines
Are you looking for a touch of retail therapy? If so, you’ll love our next suggestion for things to do in St Catharines. Well, Downtown St. Catharines is sure to scratch that itch. There are so many stores to explore in Downtown St. Catharines, but our favorite spot is Beechwood Donuts.
The donuts at this store are no joke and are always baked fresh daily. If you’re a vegan, then this place may well be your new haven, as all of Beechwood’s delectable donuts are 100% vegan. Score!
FirstOntario Performing Arts Center
Next up on this list of things to do in St Catharines, it’s the FirstOntario Performing Arts Center. One of the top things to do in St. Catharines for those who love the arts is FirstOntario Performing Arts Center. It’s not a massive performing arts space, but FirstOntario always deliver top-quality shows in each of their four venues.
If you fancy supporting the local college, be sure to check out one of the many shows performed by the students at Brock University’s School of Fine and Performing Arts. Though they are technically student performances, the quality of the shows is always at a professional standard, which makes this a great choice for things to do in St Catharines.
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
Next on our list of things to do in St Catharines, it’s the Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery. This local winery is a short drive from St Catharines, and if you’re into your wine – then this is going to be a great choice for you!
With wine tours, wine tastings, and a beautiful vineyard to explore – this is really a beautiful day out from St Catharines. They even offer private tours too – if you’re planning for a special occasion!
The Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame and Museum
If you weren’t aware, Lacrosse is one of Canada’s top sports. So, it’s probably unsurprising that there’s an entire museum dedicated to the sport here! The Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame & Museum is next on our list of things to do in St Catharines! You’ll be able to learn more about Canada’s most famous Lacrosse players and the impact that they have had on the sport, as well as plenty of history of the game too.
If you’re a newbie to the world of Lacrosse, you can also find out more about the sport and why it’s so popular in Canada. The memorabilia displayed here is seriously cool, so you won’t want to miss it! This is a great option for things to do in St Catharines.
British Methodist Episcopal Church
Time for a slightly different choice for things to do in St Catharines. The British Methodist Episcopal Church is next on our list of things to do in St Catharines.
What makes this site so significant is the fact that it was founded by African American freedom seekers in 1820. Though this was technically a place of worship back in the day, it was also an important spot for civil rights activists in those early abolitionist days.
So, aside from being interesting to look at, the British Methodist Episcopal Church has an incredible history too! Nowadays, the church has a small congregation of around 20 people and offers great guided tours to visitors.
St Catharines Marina
St. Catharines Marina is a glorious place to visit in St. Catharines, and absolutely deserves a place on our list of the top 15 things to do in St Catharines. This facility is technically a boat docking area, but we feel it’s so much more than that.
As the marina is only moments away from Niagara-On-The-Lake and the Brock Monument, it’s the perfect place to dock for making the most of your trip to St. Catharines. If you want to stick around, you can even pitch a tent at one of the Marina’s campgrounds! Trust us, stargazing never looked so good.Another great location for things to do in St Catharines.
DMZ Paintballing
Next on our list of things to do in St Catharines, it’s paintballing. Now, this isn’t for everyone. But paintballing is a lot of fun if you’ve got the courage to try it! The DMZ paintballing in St Catharines is a really good center and location for it – so if you’re with a group of friends who fancy doing something a bit different (and daring) maybe this is for you!
Montobello Park
Next on our list of things to do in St Catharines is Montebello Park. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, this beautiful park has an incredible rose garden. If you’re wondering just how incredible, this rose garden features over 1,300 rose bushes. Yep – 1,300!
Though the main draw of Montobello Park is the rose garden, it is also a great pick for weary travelers who are looking for a place to bask in the afternoon sun.
Port Dalhousie Range Rear Lighthouse
The next idea on our list of things to do in St Catharines, it’s the Port Dalhousie Range Rear Lighthouse. This is located right by Lakeside park and Lakeside Park Beach, so if you’re planning to check those out, you could definitely head here too.
It’s not really packed with activities, but it’s a really scenic lighthouse, that is well worth taking a stroll to and enjoying the views from. This is our last suggestion for things to do in St Catharines, so hopefully you’re full of ideas now!