Getting there
The easiest route from Atlanta: a nonstop flight to Buffalo (BUF) — about 2 hours — then a scenic 40-minute drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake that includes the border crossing. Alternatively, fly into Toronto Pearson (YYZ), about a 90-minute drive on the Canadian side.
A rental car is the way to go — the drive from either airport is easy, and parking at Queen's Landing is free for all wedding guests, whether or not you're staying at the hotel.
Don't forget your passport
Niagara-on-the-Lake is in Ontario, Canada, so this is international travel: every guest needs a valid passport (even the littlest travelers, if yours are making the trip). If anyone in your party needs to get or renew one, start early; processing can take a while.
Crossing into Canada
The border crossing is usually quick and friendly — have passports ready and know the address you're headed to (Queen's Landing, 155 Byron St, Niagara-on-the-Lake).
One thing worth knowing ahead of time: Canada's entry rules are stricter than many people expect. Any past conviction — even an old DUI — can require advance paperwork that takes months to process. If that might apply to anyone in your party, please start early, and feel free to reach out to us privately — we've done the homework and are happy to share what we've learned. The official resources: Canada's guide to overcoming criminal inadmissibility, or the CBSA border information line at 1-800-461-9999.
Cards, cash & phones
Your U.S. cards work great in Canada — Visa and Mastercard are accepted virtually everywhere (Amex a little less so at small shops), and tap-to-pay is standard — so there's no need to exchange cash. Three small tips worth knowing:
- If a card terminal asks whether to charge you in USD or CAD, pick CAD — the USD option quietly uses the merchant's (worse) exchange rate.
- Most standard cards add a 1–3% foreign-transaction fee; many travel cards don't, so bring the right one if you have it.
- A quick travel notice to your bank through its app spares you a fraud block mid-vacation, and check your phone plan for international roaming before you go.
Make a long weekend of it
You'll be sleeping in the middle of wine country — tasting rooms line the roads in every direction, the Shaw Festival theater season will be in full swing, and old town Niagara-on-the-Lake is made for wandering. And of course, Niagara Falls is just 20 minutes away — the Canadian side, run by Niagara Parks, has the falls-edge walkways, the boat into the mist, and everything else you'd hope for. We'd genuinely encourage flying in Thursday and out Sunday or Monday — see The Weekend for the shape of things.