White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa 253 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON Tel: (905)704-5608 Fax: (905)688-2220 Web site: www.whiteoaksresort.com
please just click on photos to enlarge	White Oaks main entrance in winter	The four lovelies

White Oaks, as it is affectionately known in Niagara, is a four diamond property, and is nothing if not unique. The original 90 rooms of the hotel were built 22 years ago. All of the rooms were done over two years ago and the Tower section added. This 220 room complex has two accessible rooms (rooms 402 and 502) but it also has a pool, eight tennis courts, 5 squash courts, two racquet ball courts, a full cardio and fitness centre with 3500 club members. And, there are trained personnel on board such as Kyra Waters, a nutritionist, to help you with any fitness or diet problems. There are also two restaurants in the hotel and a lovely park-like area outside where weddings are held. As well as all of that, it has design features that constantly made me smile or stop to take it all in. No other hotel in Niagara features what I'd call a Deco-modern Italian look. When I began taking pictures, I couldn't stop. I saw interesting compositions everywhere; interesting, and sometimes bizarre touches tucked into a corner, in the line of a lamp or drawer pull or high up on the wall near the ceiling. I'll put a few of my photos in this writeup but you really have to see it to enjoy it.

All guest rooms in the hotel are no smoking.

White Oaks is also a conference centre. Please go to their Web site (above) for more on their conference facilities and packages.

Although the address for White Oaks is in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the actual building is not in what locals call The Old Town but right next to the Queen Elizabeth Highway as it comes out of St. Catharines heading for Niagara Falls and adjacent to Niagara College in an area being newly developed. There is the 27 hole Royal Niagara golf course across the road and an outlet shopping mall is in the planning stages.

PARKING: The resort is undergoing some renovations (Feb. 2003) and there are two designated parking spots at present. One is large enough for a side loading van. The parking lot for the hotel is huge and I'm told that there is only one or two times a year when it is so full that you can't find a spot a little further out to park a side loading van. When we were there, I parked further away from the entrance, and took up two spots out in the back. Plans include more accessible parking closer to the door and larger spots. I'm hoping they include at least two for side loading vans. There is also valet parking at no extra charge. There is a $3 facilities fee which includes all parking, club access, pool, etc. This is per night charge.

Front lobby	Lobby foyer	Unique seating

ENTRANCE, DOORS AND LOBBY: This complex is out in the country so to speak so there is no sidewalk around except from the parking lot. There are curb cuts onto the sidewalk from the parking lot and a curb cut on the main entrance. No matter which way you come in, from the parking lot or pull up in front, you're okay.

The front entrance is covered and there is always a doorman on to help with luggage, equipment or anything that needs taking in or out. The huge doorways are not automatic but some kind of automated system is in the works. There are no lips or mats to get over. Everything is flat and either carpeted or tiled.

Once in the doors four tall white beauties standing in water catch your eye. Wow! These slim lovelies set the tone for the entire hotel. To your right is the concierge desk manned by senior concierge, Ian Shulman, and his crew. Ian suggests you use his service for anything you need, directions, or even obtaining room aids. The hotel has used a local pharmacy for years and can get most bathroom aids quickly and easily. They even have a van at their disposal and will run down and pick up if something is needed very quickly.

To your immediate right is the front desk which is 3' high. You'll be given a clipboard to sign your registration form if the desk is too high for you. Just as with other hotels in Niagara, if you'll need help during a possible emergency, your registration will reflect that and you'll be notified by hotel staff or firefighters in person should there be a problem. Both of the accessible rooms are equipped with strobe lights to wake the hearing impaired in case of emergency.

There is also a small lounge with fireplace in the lobby. The furniture in the lounge is truly unique and fun to use.

ELEVATORS, HALLS AND ROOM ENTRANCE: There are two elevators. The one to the rooms is large with a 48" (1.2m)opening. Beside it is the elevator to the pool area which is on the main floor but down a level as the back of the hotel is lower than the front. Behind the pool and the four statuesque lovelies is a ramp that also leads you down to the pool area, a washroom and a small gift and snack shop. I never thought I'd say this about a ramp but, this one has beautiful lines and it is flanked by a white sand river and glass that looks into the pool. Water runs on the other side of the ramp...the water the four statues stand in. Over the ramp is a flight of stairs to the second floor which you can ignore but under the stairs is a large square of dark green snake plants reaching up as if to touch the steps. This ramp doesn't look like an afterthought, as some do, and the entire lines of the design blew me away.

The elevator doors stay open long enough to get out. The elevator buttons are low and there is braille on the outside of the elevator telling you what floor you are on. The buttons inside are also low at 28" (71cm) from the floor. While it is not a "talking" elevator it is big enough that you can actually turn around in it to face the floor signal if it isn't full of people. I didn't turn around and could turn my head and see the floor display behind me.

Hallways are wide, carpeted and moderately lighted. They are bright enough, just not as bright as hotel hallways facing outdoors. Both accessible rooms are no smoking rooms.

We visited room 402 right beside the elevator so you don't have to go looking. I'm told that both accessible rooms are identical and neither have adjoining rooms. Ian took us on our tour and he says that there is little sound from the elevator except perhaps the pinging when the door opens and that wouldn't be a problem at night when everyone is tucked in. I always travel with a white noise sound machine anyway that blocks out strange hotel sounds so I can sleep. An ice machine was quite a trek down the hall but is accessible. I could get my scooter into the small opening quite easily and it is only a matter of inserting the bucket and pushing a button to get ice. Someone in a large or wide wheelchair would have a problem.

The door to the room has both high and low peepholes and the 34" (86cm) door is opened by a plastic card key and lever handle. There is no lip on the doorway. The room numbers are very high on the left beside the door. It would be best for a visually impaired person to be taken to their room the first time around.

Hallway into room	Left side of room	King bed setuip	Right side of room	Desk and armoire

BEDROOM: Upon entering the room, you are in a hallway. There is a light switch that operates a pot light in the ceiling. A small closet with doors that open out is on your left. In the closet is a luggage rack, an iron, ironing board, extra pillow, blanket and plenty of hangers and pant hangers. There is no lower rack for people who are seated to hang their clothing on independently.

Beside the closet, also on your left, is a 59" long (1.5m) coffee bar with a large (59"x63") (1.5mx1.6m) mirror over it. The counter is 21" (53cm) wide and the knee hole is 29" (74cm). A coffee maker, coffee, tea and all the fixings are supplied here. This is all in the hall.

Then the room opens out into a large, well-appointed area. There is a floor lamp beside a double pull-out couch on your left, and traveling by eye around the room, a king size bed with two bedside tables and lamps as well as a clock/radio. Two tub chairs and a small round table, a desk and chair, a mini bar with a small room safe under it and an armoire featuring a color remote TV that you can view your billing and check out on. There is no full length mirror in the room.

The desk has a nice lamp over it operated with a twist knob and there is dial-up and high speed internet access there. There is a telephone on the desk, one beside the bed and one in the bathroom.

The mini bar is automatically operational once your credit card is accepted at the front desk. A tab is run automatically as items are taken from it and prices are adjusted according to specials featured throughout the week and seasons, e.g. there might be a happy hour from 4 to 5 p.m. when the drinks in the mini bar are $1 less. A portable mini fridge is available free of charge for storage of drug items and other perishables upon request.

The pullout has legs if a Hoyer lift is needed. The king size bed is on a platform. A light switch on the wall beside the bed operates three pot lights over the bed and the lamps beside the bed are operated by easy twist knobs.

There are plugs all over the room at 17" (43cm) from the floor and one in particular by the bathroom door that would be ideal for charging scooter or wheelchair batteries.

The room is lighted by two large low windows looking out over the back garden. "A perfect seat for the summer weddings below," Ian says.

There are smoke and heat alarms in the ceiling and a strobe light that will alert the hearing impaired in case of emergency.

Everything has a unique deco touch to it from the design of the lamps to the pulls on the armoire.

Underlit sink setup	shower seat (note distnce from lip of unit)	Business end of the shower	Grab bar over toilet	Lightswitches, towels, TV volume control, etc.

BATHROOM: The bathroom is directly off the left of the bed. There is a turnaround of 72"x 106" (1.83m x 2.7m)going into the 34" (86cm) bathroom door and the bed can be pushed a little to the right if the area going through is tight. There is a knob on the bathroom door and we suggested it be replaced. There is no way I could get myself out of that bathroom if I had to turn a knob. My hands are simply too weak.

On your left is the sink and counter area. The sink is 32" (81cm) from the floor with a 28" (metric) knee hole that is lighted. You can actually see where you dropped things. The oval sink is 41/2" (11cm) from the edge of the counter, and there is a lift and swivel type of faucet. The entire counter is 4' (1.2m) long and there is plenty of room for toiletries. Soaps, washcloths, etc. are also provided here as well as a hand-held hair dryer that is portable. It isn't attached to the wall. A large mirror over the sink is 59"x471/2" (1.5m x1.2m) and well lighted from above. Low 37" (94cm) switches control the lights in the room and there is even a TV volume knob that lets you hear the TV while in the bathroom.

TOILET: The toilet is on your right and there is 8' (2.4m) of room between the door and the toilet and 39" (99cm) between the edge of the shower and the toilet. A transfer could easily be done from the front or the right. The toilet seat is 15 1/2" (39cm) from the floor and there is a 3' (0.91m) diagonal grab bar beside it and a 2' (metric) horizontal grab bar behind the tank. Toilet paper is on the right as you are seated and it is easy to reach. There is an extra roll on the tank. Towels are beside the toilet on a long, wrought iron rod that should not be used as a grab bar but I think has been. Just for safety, it would be good if all bars including towel bars in bathrooms used by people with disabilities were strengthened by making sure they are firmly attached to something steady in the wall and not just molly bolts into drywall.

SHOWER: The shower area is a sit-down/stand/not quite roll-in molded fibreglass unit 36.5" wide and 54" wide (92cm x 1.4m). The corner/side seat is 71/2" (19cm) from the edge of the unit and there is a 1" (2.54cm) lip on the outside on the floor that is 2" (5cm) wide and just high enough inside to keep water in. If you can transfer, you can likely get onto this seat. If you can't, it would be a challenge. You could put a wheeled commode into the open area of the shower and shower from it but that, again, needs a transfer. You could sit on the floor and lift yourself in. I've known some who prefer that.

There is a hand-held shower head that lowers easily and can be lifted off and put in the 3' (0.91m) grab bar at the back to make it available when you are seated. The faucet is a swivel lever type that lets you dial your temperature. There is a 16" (41cm) grab bar on the left. Non-slip and cloth bath mats are provided. There is a light in the shower and it is bright. There is also a shower curtain that can be pulled to keep spray in.

Any bathroom aids needed can be gotten for the day you arrive if notice is given ahead of time and likely the same day if it isn't, as long as it isn't Sunday but almost nothing is impossible.

Going back into the room, I'd say that it is bright, nicely appointed, roomy, has everything you need if you don't require space under the bed for a lift or a total roll-in shower as that lip stops anything from rolling in unless you can lift a wheelchair or commode with a person in it or transfer.

The room environment is controlled through a low unit beside one of the low windows away from the bed so the fan sound doesn't disturb you. Two large, easily turned knobs control heat and air.

I'd suggest you go through the room with the bellman before he leaves you. He can show you where everything is, how to operate everything, and he can move things that might be too close for comfort.

There is room service in the hotel from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and a full breakfast served daily in the Bench Bar and Grille on the second floor.

Entrance to LIV	LIV Dining Room	Alice in Wonderland chair backs	View from LIV

LOBBY RESTAURANTS: LIV and the Bench Bar and Grille - The second floor is where the conference rooms are, a huge area called the Royal Oak Lounge featuring a waterfall behind glass, and the entrances for two restaurants, LIV and the Bench Bar and Grille.

LIV is a fine dining experience and the first thing I noticed was the fragrance of freesia buds that were on every table in high clear glass vases. The room, which seats about 70, is crisp, clean, white and modern with a touch of something unique that takes any stuffiness away. Overlooking the back garden, LIV features black and white with light blue decor, fine linen, soft lighting and an interesting menu that begins with a light, complete or health conscious breakfast, lunch with soup for $5, and salads and exotic sandwiches like grilled sterling salmon burger with chipolte mayonnaise on a dill roll, or shaved, smoked turkey with cranberry plum relish, ripened tomato and alfalfa sprouts on a french stick for $10 as well as items from the grille and wok. Dinner fare is equally as interesting and prices range from $9 for a simple salad with bacon and cheese to $39 for prime beef or veal tenderloin. There are touches everywhere in this room to delight the eye from black and white figure drawings on the walls to etched glass in the storage cabinets and around the bar. Some of the seating is what the staff call Alice in Wonderland chairs. These huge high backed light blue spreading chairs almost take off from the floor and add something truly unique to the room. Best of all, they are fun, and add a light touch to a lovely, quiet dining experience.

The Bench Bar and Grille, or BB&G as it is called in house, is a room for those who want something lighter or have just come from a workout in the adjacent fitness centre. Soup, salad, sandwiches, vegetable plates, items from the grill, pizza and pasta are featured in this interesting room right off a small foyer with a fireplace and the bar. There are three televisions in this area and the dining room overlooks a series of huge tennis courts. That's where the entertainment really is. Seating is mainly on long benches or round tables and chairs. Prices range from $4 for soup to $21 for a large pizza with marinated artichoke, smoked tomato, red onion, roasted peppers and chevre on it.

The washroom near the restaurants is not accessible.

Through the bar area off this BB&G is a hallway that leads you into the fitness area. This area features all of the sports amenities I alluded to in the opening paragraph. The front desk for the fitness centre is here as well as a Starbuck's coffee shop, and Pam's Pro Shop selling all manner of equipment and workout clothing. You can also see more tennis courts and right into the racquetball courts below you.

Art in hotel	Fresh flowers	Lobby washroom

LOBBY WASHROOM: There are several washrooms for a wheelchair or a scooter users in the lobby area. One I cannot recommend is down that long ramp and to the right. It has a 32" (81cm) wide door and enough room to get in the single door entry and there is one large stall in it. It might be fine for someone in a wheelchair who can turn around on a dime but I found it very difficult to manage on my scooter. I could get into the stall but it would be impossible to shut the door. There was nothing to hold onto on the door and I'd have to try to grab it on the bottom and then drive in to close it.
This is a continual problem with washroom stalls. There is nothing to hold onto to shut the door when you are seated in your scooter or wheelchair.

The toilet is 16" (41cm) from the floor and there is a tank on the back. A large inverted J-shaped grab bar is on the wall to the right. Paper is easy to reach. There is a purse hook but it is far too high for anyone in a wheelchair.

The sink is 32" (81cm)from the floor and the faucet is a swivel, lever type. You can reach the soap but the paper dispenser is 57" (1.5m) from the floor and out of reach of anyone seated. There is a hot air dryer behind you that is accessible. The mirror behind the sink is large and easy to use, the lighting is medium.

Getting out of this room was quite a challenge as there is no turnaround room for a scooter and the door opens in. I had to back out and have the door opened and held for me. My advice is to take someone with you who can walk when you use this washroom.

Note: I'm not sure how we missed them but we did not see another set of washrooms in the conference centre on the same floor as the pool and lobby area. Directions I am given are: You head to the end of the hall - at the the black granite wall (White Oaks in gold letters), turn right. Follow the hall into the conference centre - immediately after passing the business centre (on your right), there is a corridor to your left - that is where the two washrooms are.
I am told they are larger, have accessible sinks and, Ian Shulman, the head concierge even took a wheelchair in to see if he could manage easily and he could. We'll check them out the next time we are at White Oaks and update you on these as they certainly make the facility easier for visitors not actually staying at the hotel but attending conferences or enjoying the restaurants.

Pool from whirlpool area	Chandeliers over pool	Longshot of pool

POOL AREA: The pool area is lovely and again features some interesting design bits. There are several large chandeliers over the water so when you float in the pool you have all this sparkle above you. The whirlpool area has the bottom of the open waterfall you see in the Royal Oak Lounge area two floors above in one end of it. The whirlpool has a 6" (15cm) rise on the lip around it. The lip is 17" (43cm) wide and there is another 6" (15cm) from the step to the water. There is a ladder with a double railing and three steps. And, if you cannot use the ladder, there is a drop of 13" (33cm) from the top edge to the water in the whirlpool. This would be a challenge for those who don't have the upper body strength to lift themselves in and out of the whirlpool with their arms.

The pool area is somewhat the same. It is pretty to look at but for someone in a wheelchair without the ability to lift themselves with their arms, not very accessible. The steps at the shallow end have one railing and there is a drop of 11" (28cm) from the edge of the pool to the water. The deep end features two hand railings on the ladders and five steps into the water. If you cannot stand or walk and unless you had a hoist or someone who can lift you in and out of the water this pool would not be easy to use.

The change and shower rooms for the pool are very tight and it is recommended that you shower and change in your room.

Mirror detail near LIV	Under stairs in lobby	Skylight in second floor	House phones everywhere

CONCLUSION: This is an interesting hotel with two large accessible rooms featuring sit down showers that are not really roll-in because they have a lip on them that makes it impossible to roll anything into them without lifting it over the lip. Take a look at the photos attached to this, just click on them to enlarge, and you can decide if a room is suitable for your particular abilities.

The hotel's location is ideal as it is not right in the Niagara Falls tourist area but midway between Niagara Falls and the rest of Niagara. Just about anywhere in Niagara can be reached from this hotel within a half hour and the Falls is only 10 minutes down the QEW. I found the fanciful design touches everywhere a delight and the hotel was sparkling clean. The only thing I'd love to see changed is that washroom in the lobby area. If that can be made into a family-style washroom with no stall to impede turns, it will truly be a four diamond hotel for everyone but the washrooms further down in the conference centre are there for you if you are visiting. This is truly an interesting, unique property.