The St. Catharines center is approximately the area of Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course and 3 miles northwest of Downtown St. Catharines.
St. Catharines experiences a short, hot summer, with the rest of the months experiencing cool to very cold temperatures. The warm season starts in early June and lasts until mid to late September. The average daily high is a little over 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but temperatures in the 80s are not unheard of. The warm weather starts to ease off towards the end of September and the slide down the scale continues until around the end of January. Average temperatures in the winter are below 40 degrees, with the coldest days seeing an average high of 31 degrees.
There's always a chance of rain in St. Catharines, with an average of 24 percent chance of precipitation from late March to mid-December. The odds of wet weather decreases between December to March. It never hurts to bring a jacket along, even when the weather is supposed to be warm. Staying dry is far preferable to running for cover when a rainstorm comes on unexpectedly. And be sure to pack warm clothes if you're in town during the winter.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to save on your hotel room, and Canada's Best Value Inn St. Catharines offers discounts that help you achieve your goal. If you're a member of AAA/CAA, you can save up to 10 percent on your room with a valid membership ID. AARP members also get a 10 percent discount on their room rate. Military members, whether retired or active, first responders, and government employees can get a special room rate as long as a valid ID is presented.
Rooms at Canada's Best Value Inn St. Catharines are outfitted with amenities that include a microwave and mini-fridge, flat-screen TV with cable and premium channels, desk with lamp and work chair, and free WiFi. There's free coffee offered in the lobby. Dogs are welcome for an additional charge.
Another hotel with excellent discounts is the Staybridge Suites Niagara on the Lake. This hotel is less than 5 miles away from St. Catharines, which makes getting to Niagara Falls a breeze. Discounts offered by the Staybridge Suites include discounts for AAA/CAA members, a senior discount for those with a valid ID for proof of age, and special room rates for those who work for government agencies. Check with the hotel for the exact discount rates prior to booking your room.
Suites at the Staybridge come equipped with amenities that include a stove, microwave toaster, full-sized refrigerator, dishwasher, serving and cookware, a flat-screen TV with cable TV channels, a work desk with lamp and electrical outlet at desk level, and free wired and wireless internet connections. The hotel features include an indoor heated pool, on-site fitness and business centers both open 24 hours a day, free breakfast served daily, an evening social every Monday through Wednesday, and laundry/dry cleaning services.
Saving money on a hotel room doesn't mean giving up creature comforts when you stay at the Comfort Inn St. Catharines. It's located near FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and a short distance away from Niagara Falls. Rooms at the pet-friendly hotel come with a flat-screen TV with cable channels for entertainment, a microwave and mini refrigerator for your snacking and dining convenience, a coffee/tea maker with mugs, a desk with ergonomic desk chair, and a sofa to stretch out on for when you're not quite ready for bed.
Throughout the hotel, there's also a fitness center, an on-site restaurant, free WiFi, laundry facilities, free newspapers during the week, and free coffee offered 24 hours a day.
The Capri Inn is a surprisingly good deal with modern furnishings, decor, and attention to comfort. Rooms feature pillowtop mattresses from a top brand, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, mini-refrigerator, in-room safe, tea/coffee maker, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, and electronic key card system to keep your belongings secure. High-speed WiFi is free. The property features a garden with seating and a view of the Niagara River.
One of the must-see destinations in St. Catharines is Montebello Park, designed by famed landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted. It's home to 1,300 rose bushes representing 25 different types of roses. There's also a historic band shell and pavilion which are still used for performances today. It's worth taking the time to explore the park and view how Olmsted brought nature into an urban setting.
The Lakeside Park Carousel is a historic carousel that was carved between 1898 and 1905 and was originally made for an amusement park. It was relocated to its current location in Port Dalhousie, itself once home to an amusement park sometime in the mid 20th century. Nowadays, the carousel operates under a protective housing and its 68 animals still spin around its circle for five cents a ride. You can relive your childhood experiences for a nickel while listening to music coming from an antique Frati organ that uses paper rolls to play a song.
If you didn't get your fill of waterfalls at Niagara, head over to DeCew Falls which is home to an operating flour mill, a 50-foot waterfall, 25-foot cascade, and hiking trails to explore the area. If you're feeling adventurous, take the Bruce Trail and grab the rope swing to take a plunge into the swimming hole.
St. Catharines, ON, is full of beauty, both natural and man-made. It's large enough that it's difficult to see everything in one trip but small enough to not overwhelm you when you're looking to add a new city to your list of experience.
Below are reviews of the city of St. Catharines, ON from an actual visitor's perspective.
Restaurants were good!
The Mexican restaurant we went to (I forgot the name) was good. The hotel is just few miles away from the Niagara Falls!
The Hampton was awesome!
The service at OSiris restaurant for breakfast was fantastic!
Very close to all Niagara attractions and to Niagara-on-The-Lake. Close to wineries.
Close to Niagara Falls!
The city is beautiful!
St. Catharines is a lovely city with places to walk, shopping and entertainment!
Cool bridge!
Everything