Independent Arrivals/Welcome & Orientation/Historic Niagara and the War of 1812

Arrive To: HOTEL CHECK-IN: Independent arrivals to the hotel in Niagara Falls in the afternoon; check-in after 3:00 p.m. The front desk will let you know where to register with Road Scholar program staff and pick up your arrival packet containing the most up-to-date schedule and program information. Please be aware that local circumstances may require adjusting program elements. In the event of changes, we will notify you as quickly as possible and appreciate your understanding.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: ORIENTATION: Following dinner we will have introductions and an orientation of the program to review the updated schedule, responsibilities, safety, guidelines, emergency procedures, any other administrative issues, and answer your questions. LECTURE: The Historic Niagara Region. A presentation will focus on the history of Niagara and the area's connections to the War of 1812. An expert from the Niagara-on-the-Lake Historical Society will bring this chapter of history to life.

Lodging: Old Stone Inn

Meals Included: Dinner

International Wine and Culinary Institute/Winemaking Pavillion/Southbrook Vineyards/Inniskillen Winery

Breakfast: Breakfast at the inn.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Niagara College Wine and Culinary Institute. Travel to the Niagara College Wine and Culinary Institute, located in the heart of the Niagara wine region. This state-of-the-art facility features a wine-tasting lab and the Niagara College Teaching Winery - the first commercial teaching winery in Canada with three on-site teaching and research vineyards. Go into the field with a viticulture expert who will discuss the importance of the perfect ‘terroir’ - a combination of soil, climate and topography - and how it affects the flavor and characteristics of the award winning VQA wines. Visit the winemaking pavilion and explore the production area and barrel cellar for a comprehensive look at the winemaking process. Attend an interactive tasting seminar that will explore the "6 Scents" of wine. FIELD TRIP: Southbrook Vineyard. Travel to Southbrook Vineyard, a low-yield artisanal wine producer and Canada’s first Certified BioDynamic wine estate. Meet the head Vintner who will guide you through the winery'’s sensory centerpiece - a stunning LEED certified glass pavilion. From the field, learn about Southbrook’s eco-friendly growing methods and how they care for the vineyard organically. Return to the tasting pavilion for a private tasting of their premium wines and signature fruit.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch on the Pizza Patio overlooking Southbrook vineyards. Cooked in wood-fired oven, gourmet pizzas are made-to-order and topped with locally grown herbs, fruit, artisanal cheeses, and seasoned grilled meat.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Inniskillin Winery. Partake in an educational tour and tasting that will focus on the winery's famous icewine production. Inniskillin Icewine is well renowned as the world leader in Icewine. It is sold in over 59 countries and is the #1 distributed wine in Global Travel Retail.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant

Evening: Enjoy a free evening to enjoy the Niagara region.

Lodging: Old Stone Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: EXCURSION: Backstage at the Shaw Festival. Go backstage with the Program Director and gain insight into the makings of a live theatre production - from artistic development, to costume design, to the actors on stage. Hear about the different roles of theatre members, choreography as well as what it takes to create a sell-out performance. LECTURE: Bernard Shaw. Meet with a theatre expert who will discuss Bernard Shaw, acclaimed dramatist, literary critic, a socialist spokesman, and a leading figure in the 20th century theater. A freethinker, a supporter of women's rights and an advocate of equality of income, Shaw was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925. Learn about his life and works and the making of the Shaw Festival – a celebration of the dramatic works of Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries.

Lunch: Lunch at a local venue.

Afternoon: THEATRE PERFORMANCE: Attend the matinee performance, "His Girl Friday" at the Festival Theatre. Tough-talking, wise-cracking reporter Hildy Johnson's had enough of the journalism game. But her former editor (and ex-husband) can't let his gal go. So he lures her back with the breaking story of the year - some poor dope lost his job and is waiting to swing, all because the mayor needs to be re-elected. A screwball comedy with a strong dash of politics and corruption.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Evening: Free evening to enjoy the Niagara region.

Lodging: Old Stone Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the inn.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Niagara-on-the-Lake. Discover the rich history of Niagara-on-the-Lake. With a local historian, learn about the history and experiences of the area from the First Nations peoples, to the arrival of the Europeans, to the War of 1812. A historian will lead an architectural walk in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Explore historic buildings along the way and hear about its past from wars, conflicts, rebellions, and threats that faced the city and the region in the course of its development.

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Afternoon: EXCURSION: Post Show Chat. Following the play, enjoy the opportunity to talk with members of the acting ensemble in a private post-show "meet and greet". This is a wonderful opportunity to meet, talk and interact with actors who were just on the stage.

Afternoon: THEATRE PERFORMANCE: Attend the Bernard Shaw matinee performance, "Misalliance" at the Festival Theatre. Hypatia is a bored heiress to an underwear fortune, trapped in an unhappy engagement. But then a plane crashes into the conservatory, bringing a handsome man, a female daredevil and all kinds of new ideas to shake up the quiet weekend in the country. Who will wind up with whom? And which alliance will be a hit - or a miss?

Dinner: Enjoy dinner on your own.

Lodging: Old Stone Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at the inn.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: The Fort. Once in Fort Erie, you will stop at the historic site to participate in an educational lecture that will highlight and discuss the conflict between the British and Americans that lead to one of the "bloodiest battles" in Canadian history.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch on your own in Niagara Falls.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Ravine Vineyard. Ravine Vineyard is a 34 acre winery site located in the sub-appellation of Niagara called St. Davids Bench. It is different from other sub-appellations in Niagara mostly because it is the warmest area – 20 percent warmer than any other location in the region. The vineyard shares that fortuitous distinguishing feature with its neighbours, but if you go a little deeper, that is where the physical attributes it has in common ends. In fact, the property is actually an anomaly. The soils are lighter, its airflow and water drainage are more consistent, and its position on the Bench is at its highest elevation. FREE TIME: Enjoy free time to explore the many boutiques, antique shops and galleries found in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Dinner: FAREWELL DINNER: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Old Stone Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Final Breakfast at the Inn.

Morning: INDEPENDENT DEPARTURES: Independent departures after breakfast. Check-out is 11:00 a.m.

Meals Included: Breakfast