One-Tank Trip for
March 21/20
(c) By Jim Fox
They’re hoping to “add
a bit of sparkle to the early days of spring” with a rescheduled “festival of
fizz” touring event in Niagara wine country.
Plans for the first
Spring Sparkles Festival were all set to go this weekend – before the
coronavirus outbreak reared its ugly head.
“The Niagara Grape
& Wine Festival has been closely monitoring the evolving progress of
the coronavirus COVID-19,” said Dorian Anderson, executive director.
 |
| Enjoying the fizz in Niagara. |
It “remains a
low-risk event (according to Health Canada assessment tools),” and organizers
decided to postpone it until April 18-19 and April 25-26, she said.
“We will continue to monitor the situation
and consult with Niagara Public Health, Health Canada and other event experts
daily, and will inform if further postponement or cancellation is required by
April 10.”
The event is similar
to its popular Discovery Pass program and celebrates Ontario VQA sparkling
wines in the traditional or charmat method of any varietal or style.
The latter is a sparkling wine-making process that traps bubbles in wine via
carbonation in large steel tanks.
Discovery
Passes (costing $45; designated Driver’s Pass, $35) entitle visitors to eight
wine and culinary experiences designed by winemakers and chefs to celebrate the
flavours of Niagara, Anderson said.
They are redeemable
at 34 participating wineries across Twenty Valley and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Other
options include return Go Transit train service along the
Toronto-Aldershot-Niagara line and four Twenty Valley wine pairings or four
wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake with a designated tour guide. ($89.99).
 |
| Sampling at a Niagara Grape & Wine Festival event. |
There is also a “Bring
on the Bubbles” sparkling dining series. niagarawinefestival.com/spring-sparkles
Hornblower delays opening
Still in Niagara, Hornblower
was aiming to begin its cruises for the earliest opening ever on March 28 after
a milder winter until the virus changed everything.
They’re now looking
at opening on April 6 “to ensure the health and safety of all staff and guests
and following the recommendation of the Government of Ontario.”
“Hornblower Niagara
Cruises is committed to doing its part to help contain the spread of COVID-19
and continue to monitor ongoing events and undertake the precautions and best
practices recommended by public health experts,” said vice-president Mory
DiMaurizio.
 |
| Hornblower Niagara Cruises hopes to start its season next month. |
When the season
does get under way, Hornblower offers Voyage to the Falls’ catamarans, Niagara Thunder and the Niagara Wonder on the Niagara River.
The
attraction didn’t open last year until May 15 because of excessive ice build-up
in the upper Niagara River.
The
Hornblower Niagara Funicular, which opened for the first time in a generation
last year, will be back for visitors to use with each cruise. niagaracruises.com
Camping canines
Fido wants to go
along on that camping trip to Ontario Parks.
Dogs are now
welcome in select roofed accommodations, said spokesman Jeff Brown.
When the park
season resumes, dogs will be welcome in select yurts, cabins and trailers across
the Ontario provincial parks system, he said.
 |
| Raven and Cisco are now welcome to stay in Ontario Parks’ roofed accommodations. (Jim Fox photo) |
“As some guests
have allergies, only certain roofed accommodations will be open to four-legged
friends.”
There is an
additional fee of $20 for a maximum of two dogs a night.
For a list of dog-friendly
accommodations: ontarioparks.com/parksblog/dogs-roofed-accommodations
It was announced on
Wednesday that all provincial parks are now closed and there’s a tentative
opening date of April 30. ontarioparks.com/operatingdates/2020
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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