Lakeside Park is the classic Port Dalhousie waterfront stop, set on Lake Ontario where St. Catharines meets the old harbour and beach district. It has sand, lawns, a pier, lake views, and the historic carousel that gives the park much of its nostalgic character.
The park is most appealing in warm weather, when it works as a low-key beach outing or a break after exploring Niagara wineries and the canal. It also helps visitors understand St. Catharines as more than an inland city: its lakefront neighbourhoods have their own older resort-town feel.