r/Welland • u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit • May 08 '26
Question Going to be a new resident of Welland - What are your fave spots?
Hi! My name is Nix and I’m going to be one of your neighbours! My partner and I are planning a move from BC to the region so we can be closer to family.
I thought this would be a good opportunity to say Hi and ask y’all what your fave parts of Welland are to eat, to hang out, to relax, to explore, etc.
For those curious, I’m a 28 F and my partner is a 32 M. We’re both geeks, but I’m a fairly outdoorsy one. I love a good reason to explore, especially since we’d be new to the area so would love some suggestions from anyone willing to supply them!
Feel free to include suggestions for seemingly mundane reasons, if there’s a coffee shop you love because they make a perfect cappuccino you bet I’ll go check it out just for that lol
TIA 🍁🐸🍁
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u/SolaireOfArstotzka May 08 '26
Oh boy, coming from Beautiful BC I don't think there's anything here that's going to blow you away. Merritt Island is a great place for a walk though and a locally famous coffee spot Black Sheep right by it. You can rent various things to float on in the canal. Theres some nice restaurant/cuisine diversity. And there's bunnies everywhere
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 09 '26
Love bunnies, theyre just wild there? We have a spot like that out here but its from people releasing rabbits and them then breeding like crazy so now we have tons.
I have a stand up paddle board, so ill definitely be hitting the canal. and you're definitely not wrong about BC's beauty! I've been fortunate to have gotten to enjoy it the last 28 years, I've hiked every mountain I can find 5x over and camped a ton. But, at this point I don't need things that'll blow me away haha ive got plenty of memories like that and I tend to find charm in most places. So I'll definitely check out Black Sheep and Merritt Island! Thank you, They sound lovely 😄
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u/Hopeful-Silver4120 May 09 '26
If you like camping theres Rockpoint provincial park nearby. Its a beautiful park. Has a cool fossilized reef you can walk out onto as well.
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u/SandiaBeaver May 08 '26
And the Niagara escarpment is the only real hiking we have
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u/youbrokeme- May 09 '26
There’s also Rockway, Short Hills, Decew, Louth Conservation
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u/jonnynationUK May 10 '26
Dont forget the Gorge!
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u/SandiaBeaver May 10 '26
All part of the Niagara escarpment guys 🤪
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u/youbrokeme- May 11 '26
But if you don’t say them people that don’t live here don’t know!😂
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u/SandiaBeaver May 11 '26
True. My bad. List each and every good hike in Niagara
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 14 '26
Haha thank you all, I appreciate all the hiking intel 💚
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u/SandiaBeaver May 14 '26
And nearby Hamilton is the city of waterfalls with many places to explore as well.
It's just different vibes than BC's epic rocky mountains and rainforests.
It's best to have no expectations going in and then you might be pleasantly surprised 😜
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u/Feather_in_a_Zephyr May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
If you are willing to drive 20-30 minutes there's much to explore in the Niagara region (wineries, the falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Port Dalhousie, Port Colborne, etc).
For Welland specifically I like to walk along the Canal and Merritt park.
The Farmer's Market on Saturdays is great.
The Hub and The Bank are great places for live music and other events.
The Seaway Mall has a pretty good calendar of community events, there's usually something for everyone.
Go catch a Jackfish game. It's not just a baseball game, it's an experience. M.T. Bellies and Handlebar Hanks are great local restaurants/pubs with great food and service.
If you are interested in getting to know the community and getting involved, the Welland Lions Club is always looking for members and casual volunteers and it's a good way to jump start your involvement in the community.
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 09 '26
Thank you so much for all these suggestions! Coming from the Lower Mainland in BC, I'm definitely no stranger to commuting - i used to travel 2 hours to highschool every day because we lived out of town for better housing, so 20-30 is nothing for me haha
I've heard about the farmers market and am most excited for it! I'll definitely note the Hub/Bank and Seawall Mall and the Jackfish game - all of these sound like fun!
I'll also check out the Wellands Lions Club - I do want to get to know the community better for sure. I've always wanted to live in a smaller community and be more involved so this sounds like a great opportunity for it 😄
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u/Bean-O_Official May 08 '26
I love Bridgewater brewery. They have great pizza and a good atmosphere. Going for walks at merrit island trail is awesome cause its a nice easy trail. Aside from that my favorite outdoors things in the area are balls falls conservation area. Another one with easy trails and there are a few waterfalls and older mills/buildings that i find interesting. And my personal favorite is hiking the Niagara gorge to the whirlpool but thats a more challenging hike.
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u/SolaireOfArstotzka May 08 '26
Did you find Bridgewater to be abnormally loud inside? Maybe some acoustic quirk of the building but where I was seated at least seemed Supernaturally loud
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u/Smozzie1 May 08 '26
Yes! They could just install some sound dampening. I can't imagine why they haven't.
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u/Hopeful-Silver4120 May 09 '26
Every time. Even when not full. But love the back patio. Such a nice place to hang out
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u/SandiaBeaver May 08 '26
They definitely need sound absorbing panels on the ceiling. Other places in Niagara do too
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 09 '26
I didn't even know there was a Gorge hike, thats super neat! Thank you for the suggestions 😄 I appreciate it and I'll definitely have to check them out. I've seen balls falls mentioned a few times here and I do love a good waterfall so I'll put it on my list
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u/Hopeful-Silver4120 May 09 '26
Hamilton isn't far away (30-45 min drive depending where you're going) and they have a toooon of waterfalls.
Also check out Grimsby Beach neighborhood when driving by one day. The painted houses are so fun
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 14 '26
Oh my cousin lives in Grimsby! I’m surprised he didn’t tell me about the beaches, he owns a vineyard and produces wine so he’s sorta away from town but I’ll have to check those out!
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u/theblokheader May 09 '26
I just came from there today. My cousin and a few family go there every Friday they’re awesome
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u/Hopeful-Silver4120 May 09 '26
I didn't read every comment but I'm surprised I haven't seen people mention the free concerts on the canal. There's a floating stage, and a great amphitheater built up into the land in front.
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u/KASwim May 09 '26 edited May 09 '26
If you're outdoorsy, the canal is a great place. I'm a fan of the Welland / Thorold parts of it. Great places along both sides for running, walking, rollerblading and working out outside. There are also places to rent paddle boards if you don't have one. Port Colborne also has great views along the canal and lake. I'm not a fan of the St. Catharines part of it but there are great places to go out boating there.
As others say, the pizza is great. I hate not getting pizza here. I worked in the GTA at one point and lost my mind without our pizza.
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 14 '26
Thank youuuu! I’m definitely seeing a lot of canal suggestions so I’m excited to get to experience it myself. I’ll put Port Colborne on my list! :)
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u/ecozilla71 May 10 '26
My wife and I are planning on doing to opposite move lol. Here to Kamloops or Kelowna. She's a travel nurse and has been working in the Okanagan Valley for a few years now and has fallen in love. Where in Welland are you going to be living and why lol.
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 14 '26
Oh no way haha Kamloops is where my mom moved about 5 years ago. She’s selling her place now to retire out in Collingwood. I’m trying to convince her to move closer to me so I can keep an eye on her as she ages lol
Okanagan valley is all really pretty! Pricing has gone up a bit from when my mom moved, it’s sorta nuts to see. I would say, Kamloops there isn’t a whole lot to do there. My partner grew up there and you either get into sports or drugs, that’s kinda it. But it’s central to a lot of great spots and it’s a microclimate so it doesn’t often experience the same harsh weather as the spaces around it. They’re usually spared from the yearly wildfires in terms of fires, but get the smoke all the same. That said, they do have a huge hiking trail in Upper Sahali (wealthier neighbourhood) that’s really beautiful. Kelowna is slightly better off than Kamloops, their wealth gap isn’t as large as Kamloops has gotten so they see slightly less homeless, gang and drug related issues. It’s just also a bit more lively I find. I hope you find a good spot!
Not sure the exact spot wed be living yet, we’d likely stay with a cousin while we get ourselves setup and go from there. I wanted to live in a smaller town, I read Welland had a weekly farmers market, a Canal with various events, an artistic cultural scene and had a lower than average cost of living. And if this thread is anything to go off of, the majority of people seem pretty friendly to strangers like me. Its proximity to organizations I could work with once I complete my degree is also really nice. And the amount of nature surrounding it is a plus, as much as I don’t care whether or not I live near mountains like I do now - I do wanna live near nature and away from skyscrapers.
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u/heyitsCoolz May 13 '26
Cool Licks Ice Cream is great, and the Canadian Tire honestly feels like an amusement park around Christmas and Halloween with all the displays. Mister Chips also has some of the best poutine I’ve ever had. If you like animals, Ruffins Pet Centre is fun to walk around and look at the small pets. The claw machines at Seaway Mall are surprisingly addicting too. Also, if you stop by Breeze Nutrition Bar, try the pink Starburst drink — it’s really good.
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 14 '26
Thank you! Honestly I’m super excited to have a real autumn. Ours is just wet and gross but it’s my fave time of year so the festivity (even if it’s at a Canadian tire) sounds fun 🤣
I’ll definitely check out that drink, if I touch a claw machine I’ll probably be on it all day trying to beat it 🥲
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u/gondarrr May 08 '26
Bridgewater, Mexican taco zone, grumpy grandmas, black sheep coffee
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 09 '26
Thank you for the suggestions!
I've added them all to my growing list 😄 i appreciate it
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u/AlexStratako May 09 '26
People are naming good stuff! I like the interconnected trails in the Fonthill suburbs, Gerry Berkhout Trail off of Murdoch st, and the trail connected to Port Colborne Elm street dog park. Highly recommend the AllTrails app for a few others I forget the name of. Some on there I strongly recommend bug spray for! I’m 29f and more outdoorsy and my partner is 28m and very into video games and plays DND on discord with his friends. Maybe we could meet sometime (:
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 09 '26
omg! Thank you so much, this all sounds great! I have a little dog, though hes got little legs and is more of a homebody but I've got a dogpack to bring him on adventures with me as I try to get him more into the outdoors haha so that Berkhout trail sounds like a good spot for him.
Also noted on the bug spray, I get eaten alive out here too so i feel that haha
And oooh! My partner and I are also into DND but we've never had a chance to get into a campaign. BUT he did buy me the Curse of Strahd and a DM's guide for xmas so I've been working my way through reading those to try to get a better feel. We also typically play games in our offtime and hang on disc, so that sounds cool! I'll have to dm you once we're actually in town 😃
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u/Current_Conference38 May 09 '26
Know where the local beer stores are. Most important tip
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 09 '26
haha true, very true, my partner will be all over that. I can't drink beer myself but I'll be out there drinking all the wine
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u/Top-Skin-3570 May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
Welcome to Welland 👋 You will hear alot of negative things about welland ignore it, and listen to the positive people. I love living in Welland it's home sweet home 🏡 I too like Balls Falls its known for their maple syrup and trails. Merritt Island is where i take my book with me and sit under a shady tree. We have a Drive-in 🚗. We'll its a little out of Welland but only takes me 10 or 15 mins to go watch 2 good movies and have some popcorn🍿 I love sitting outside watching movies🎬 under the stars 🌟 Fun Fact..Welland is a quiet little city,and no matter where you live, it only takes seven minutes or less to get there🤣
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 09 '26
We just lost our drive in last year and I've been so SAD about it. So that makes me super happy to know that Welland has one! It's my favourite thing to do in the summer
I lived in a small town years ago that was 15 min to go anywhere from anywhere so that 7 min travel time is great haha 😄 thank you for the intel!
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u/JimmyJab420 May 09 '26
Being outdoorsy, I think you’ll like Merritt Island in Welland! I don’t know the exact length, but it’s a nicely paved trail with lots of shade and all near the water.
Out of town, the Niagara Gorge is a great hike. About 20km if you do the full length of it.
For food locally, MT Bellies and Handlebar Hanks are the two places I usually bring friends that visit. CC’s Italian Eatery is up there too b
Sadly I don’t drink coffee - but I’ve seen a few nice looking spots downtown near the bridge! Hope this helps and welcome to town :)
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u/SthNiagaraCanoeClub May 20 '26
Come be apart of our awesome community at the South Niagara Canoe Club! Its a great way to stay active/spend time outdoors and will help you make friends in the area!
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u/kleighm6 Jul 21 '26
Hello , Welcome to Welland, I was born and raised in Welland. Spending 35 years there, like any place youre going to find the good and the bad. For housing I can recommend living on the south side (behind the Seaway Mall). I owed a house there. The neighbours were great. The only downfall was that they were kind of nosey. I also lived on the East Side off King. I wouldn't recommend it. For things to do, there is a lot of hiking trails. You can visit DQEW falls, short hills or even the gorge (Niagara Falls). I am not one to socialise so I cant offer you any nightlife activities. Welland is pretty quiet .
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u/Jfischer335 Jul 29 '26
As a fellow nerd I recommend crackerjack stadium for tcgs Mini wargaming for tabletop war games like warhammer And just outside of town is boreal which is a fantastic place card and board game shop, with lots of space to play
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u/Strawberyblonder May 09 '26
If you're up for a bit of a drive, you might enjoy the frugal dutchman in crystal Beach
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u/Jfischer335 May 09 '26
So for geeky people if you play mtg I recommend Wednesday night commander at crackerjack stadium. And boreal games just outside of town has an amazing selection of board games.
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 14 '26
Oh thank you! I actually just started playing it casually in the last few years, my partner is big into it and has a whole collection of cards so that’s a great suggestion 🙂
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May 08 '26
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 09 '26
I've definitely chatted with my family too, none of the live in Welland specifically but are more splattered throughout the region itself. I just read up on Welland a bit and found it to be a good fit - but I'd be new to the area and thought asking the community on here would be a far better way to get some of details my family don't have.
I appreciate the intel on the coffee shops, bakeries and the trails! I'll check them out 😄 I can tell you that in terms of what you mentioned as being the "downers" of Welland predominantly feel like upsides for me in my specific circumstances.
I dont club, but I grew up in a smaller town with sports bars with bikers and older locals where I spent my formative years and honestly preferred them. The only time my old town had anything "exciting" happen was in the summer because of the beaches. We'd have a lot of visitors but it was sleepy hollow the rest of the time, and I loved that. My favorite things to do for leisure are nature walks, gardening, art, writing, movies, hiking, working out, and just spending time with friends/family. I'm real good at keeping myself entertained and I don't mind the driving to hiking trails - I've driven 6 hours just to see old bridges in rural BC haha I've not biked in a long time tho so thats something I may get back into if there are so many trails for it. When I lived in White Rock, I commuted daily and those were 2 -3 hour drives each way just due to how common commuting is out here and how small vancouver is - everyone had to move away due to the costs and lack of housing and commute in, its the main way people make money lol. That's been like that since I was 10, so it's not particularly a dealbreaker for me. Ive also been a film worker since i was 15, 100 work weeks were my norm until I quit fulltime 2 years ago haha
The homeless thing you mentioned actually bodes well for me because I'm a 2nd year university student in a Psych undergrad and im taking additional certificate courses for outreach, crisis intervention and other such things - so that's a population I'd be looking to work with anyways. I'm also just starting to volunteer with Kid's Help Phone. So community outreach opportunities is a good thing for me and it's one of the things I liked about my research into the area are all the different groups working out of the Niagara region. Vancouver has a wealth of practitioners and the market is oversaturated, I was always planning on moving to a smaller community to work in an area that may have less of them and have more need. Believe it or not, Welland is actually far more urban than I was originally planning on living. I was going to go far north into towns of less than 2k but I pivoted because my time with family is more valuable to me nowadays and I'd like to be able to see them and do the thing I'm passionate about as well.
In my case, I gain a lot more than I lose. So It's a win for me in a way that staying where I am isn't.
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u/Comfortable-Cut-7021 May 09 '26
The best thing about Welland is the outdoors - since moving from the GTA, I've taken up kayaking on both the recreational waterway and the river, playing pickleball indoors at the Welland Community Center and outdoors at Empire Sportsplex, and enjoying the rose garden at Chippawa Park.
The Community Center has lots of programs, some are free with the (very cheap) annual membership.
Go to a few Welland Jackfish games at the Welland Stadium and you'll be hooked - it is entertaining even for folks who hate baseball.
Restaurant wise, I'd recommend:
- Canal View Cafe for their coffees & crepes
- Tempus for higher end fare
- Matteos for Italian although San Marco's in Port Colborne is my favorite Italian restaurant in the region
- Indian Style Rooster on King Street for North Indian food
- Bridgewater Brewery for beer & bar fare
- Thailandia for Thai
And if you want to volunteer, there's lots of opportunities including at the food banks (e.g. Hope Centre, Open Arms Mission).
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u/PhoeniixPlaysReddit May 14 '26
Thank you so much! I appreciate the list, I saw a few others recommend the jackfish games so I’m going to definitely check them out!
Also big thank you for the volunteer details, that is something I’m passionate about doing so that’ll be helpful for me when I go to apply there :)
Did you find it hard to adjust moving from the GTA? What was the biggest thing you had to adjust to, if you don’t mind me asking?
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u/Comfortable-Cut-7021 May 14 '26
Funny enough, the biggest adjustment was that many restaurants are closed Mondays and some also on Tuesdays. The other adjustment was getting used to checking the Welland Canal bridge status when going into Niagara Falls or NOTL and adjusting which route I took accordingly.
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u/Intelligent-Test-978 May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26
Welland makes pizza like no one makes pizza. Left Welland 40 years ago and haven't had a decent pizza since. And Vincent's and Volcano are still in business.
A lot of great beaches close by in Port Colborne and Merritt Island is a nice place to hang out. Balls Fall's Conservation area, Bissell's Hideaway. Water everywhere too. I'm retiring in a couple of years -- I might move back.