2026 Oshawa Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in September)

If you have a free day in Toronto in October, you absolutely must see the Salmon Run! The sight of giant salmon swimming upstream from Lake Ontario to spawn is a quintessential symbol of autumn in Canada. This time, we'll introduce an easy spot you can visit from Toronto, as well as a satisfying day trip plan if you rent a car. · Easily accessible by TTC! Humber River The spot near "Old Mill Station" is easily accessible from downtown by subway (TTC). The "Salmon Run Ladder" is within walking distance from the station. When I went, it seemed to be a little off-season, as we only saw jumps about once every few minutes. Even so, waiting while listening to the sound of the river was the perfect digital detox! Along the way, you might even spot a blue jay, the vibrant blue bird that's also the motif for the MLB's Blue Jays. It's a recommended half-day stroll. · For an overwhelming number of sightings! Rent a car and head to Port Hope Since the Humber River wasn't quite enough, a few days later I rented a car and drove about an hour east from Toronto to Oshawa and Port Hope! 【12:00】Diner Lunch in Oshawa First, we had a meal at the famous "Rainbow Restaurant" in downtown Oshawa. The menu and original shakes are excellent, enjoyed in a classic diner atmosphere! 【14:00】Movie Locations and Reclaimed Art Next, we went to Port Hope, a town famous as a filming location for the horror movie "IT." The shop "Primitive Designs" here is a must-see! A collection of giant robots and dinosaurs made from scrap materials and old metal parts is lined up, making it a fantastic spot to appeal to any man's imagination. [15:30] Time for the main event! To Port Hope Fish Ladder This is the main event of this trip! The moment I saw the river, I was astonished by the sheer number of salmon, a completely different level from the Humber River. The river was swarming with salmon, and the spectacular jumps of the fish as they desperately tried to climb the fish ladder were breathtaking! There were so many tourists that we had to wait a little to park our car. This is a must-visit spot for fish lovers, and anyone who can take a day off during this time of year should definitely go (I really wanted to go fishing!). [17:00] Enjoying Autumn! Pingle's Farm Market We headed back a little towards Oshawa to this very popular farm. The "Harvest Festival" is being held at this time of year, and pumpkins are placed as far as the eye can see in preparation for Halloween! (It's also famous for its sunflower fields in the summer.) Although our stay was short this time, it's perfect for relaxing and taking commemorative photos in the square. 💡 Want to venture a little further? Recommended nearby spots There are still many attractive spots in the Oshawa and Port Hope area! The Big Apple (Colborn): Located further east from Port Hope, this facility is marked by a giant apple sculpture. Their freshly baked apple pies are very popular with Canadians! Parkwood Estate (Oshawa): A beautiful historic mansion that has been used as a filming location for movies such as 'X-Men'. Recommended for a stroll through its elegant gardens. · In conclusion Autumn in Toronto is truly short! However, a short drive will take you to a plethora of autumnal wonders, including beautiful autumn foliage, Halloween events, and the vibrant salmon run. Be sure to enjoy this autumn to the fullest and don't miss out! Thank you for reading this far! 🙇♂️ Please check out our other articles as well! #CanadaTravel #Toronto #CanadaWorkingHoliday #SalmonRun #PortHope #AutumnScenery #DayTrip #TorontoDrive

Summer romance is hidden in fields of purple lavender Here are lavender farms within a 2-hour drive from Toronto👇 🪻 Short trips about 50 minutes by car ✔️ Kelso Lavender (Milton) 50 min drive|🎫 $15.9–21.2 25,000 lavender plants, vast purple hills perfect for photos, with photo props, picnic areas, and lavender ice cream ✔️ Tranquility Trails Farm (Pickering) 50 min drive|Online $12 / On-site $15 3.5 km forest trail, lavender lemonade, lavender cookies, and macarons available ✔️ The Giving Place (Mount Albert) 50 min drive Regular lavender afternoon teas and craft workshops, quiet with few visitors 🪻 Free admission ✔️ Christel Lake Lavender (Greenbank) 1 hour drive|Free admission (reservation required) 57-acre flower field, 19 types of lavender, with a children’s playground and picnic tables 🪻 Family-friendly + kid activities Pingle’s Farm (Oshawa) 1 hour drive|🎫 From $6 Besides lavender, there are sunflowers and wildflower fields, slides, mini golf, small animals, and a sandpit—kids can play all day 🪻 Pick your own bouquet to take home ✔️ Lavender-Blu (Scugog) 1 hour 10 min drive|Entry $5, free for under 12, self-picked bouquet $15/bundle Handmade lavender workshop where you can create your own aromatherapy gifts 🪻 Atmosphere for dates / sunset picnics ✔️ Purple Hill Lavender (Creemore) 1 hour 30 min drive|🎫 $15, free for under 5 Scenic valley farm, with pottery, oil painting, and yoga in the flower fields 🪻 Winery + lavender double delight ✔️ Bonnieheath Estate Lavender & Winery 1 hour 40 min drive 130-acre estate with English and French lavender, pick your own flowers and tour the winery

For a short day trip to Oshawa, bookmark this! 🐴 🌿There's no city walk option in Oshawa (you can choose Oakville in the west). Focusing on these two main attractions (the estate and zoo) should be enough! · ✨01. Parkwood Estate: A century-old estate with a backyard garden for afternoon tea, and also a filming location for X-Men 🥰 · They offer various guided tours, including those focusing on the estate itself, those incorporating historical elements, and those specifically emphasizing movie locations. Advance booking is recommended. The teahouse afternoon tea also requires advance booking; it's mainly for taking photos. ✔️ · ✨02. Oshawa Zoo & Fun Farm: A very cute zoo and farm, though not very large. 👉An adult ticket plus a serving of popcorn for feeding the animals costs $21, so a walk-in is possible. · You can see alpacas, kangaroos, sloths, guinea pigs, etc. It's an outdoor area, and you can spend about an hour there. Although small, it's very interactive, and seeing the animals is very enjoyable. · 🍴For food, we ate at [Berry Hill Bistro] (picture 9). Prices in Oshawa are very reasonable. The steak and eggs were huge, a classic English brunch style – highly recommended!! (Not far from Parkwood) · On the way back to Toronto from Oshawa, you can also check out Ajax Waterfront Park, which I recommended last time ⛲️ ✨03. Ajax Waterfront Park This park is great for hiking and cycling, and the park itself is free!

A place I visit every summer. 📍 Frenchman's Bay, Pickering (Photos 1-4), a beach I’ve been to every summer for the past few years, about a forty-minute drive from Markham. Haven't been this year yet because there are so many other fun places to explore🍦 📍 Pringles Farm, Oshawa (Photos 5-8), personally, I think this is the most beautiful and photogenic farm around Toronto. Kids love it, and there’s everything for eating, drinking, and playing. I've already been three times this summer🍦 Just picked strawberries this weekend, highly recommended. 📍 Toogood Pond (Photos 9-11), a tree-lined path around a pond, right next to Unionville, perfect for a quiet summer afternoon stroll for two. 📍 Edwards Gardens (Photos 12-14), I think the most beautiful time is in May when the flowers are in full bloom, breathtakingly beautiful. Great for bringing food and having a picnic under a big shady tree🍔🥗🍎 📍 Lakeview Park, Oshawa (Photos 15-18), a lakeside park perfect for taking kids, with a splash pad, slides, swings... plus large picnic areas, and no worries about parking spots, highly recommended. Does anyone have any other fun places to recommend? . . . Always thinking of you

Winter in Oshawa, Ontario, always feels like being enveloped in a magical silver world ❄️ A visit to The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens was like stepping into a winter wonderland. Whether you're looking to capture stunning snowscapes or enjoy a relaxing winter stroll, it's definitely worth a visit! This iconic garden in Oshawa isn't just a popular spot for flower viewing in spring and summer; its winter snowscape offers a unique charm—a pure white, tranquil corner right in the heart of the city 🤍 🌳 Recommended Attraction: The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens The Oshawa Botanical Gardens is a very popular local getaway, especially during the Peony Festival in May. However, if you come in winter like I did, you'll experience a completely different, healing atmosphere. Under a blanket of snow, the entire garden seems to be enveloped in a frozen time, the air so fresh you can't help but take a deep breath, and every plant and tree transforms into a pure snow sculpture. 📸 Winter Wonderland: A Must-Visit for Photo Opportunities · 155 Arena St, Oshawa, ON L1J 4E8, Canada · Opening Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM year-round, perfect for a morning run or evening stroll. · Transportation: By car or by bus from the Oshawa GO station (approximately 8 minutes). Parking is available nearby. · Tips: Remember to wear non-slip boots and a warm jacket in snowy weather! The paths within the park are quite easy to walk on even when covered in snow, making it suitable for families with children. ☕ Facilities and Dining: While there are no restaurants within the park itself, there are several cozy cafes on nearby Arena Street. We recommend trying The White Apron Cafe (151 Arena St, Oshawa). A hot coffee and homemade cake, paired with a snowy view, create an even more wintery atmosphere. 📝 User Experience & Practical Tips: 1. While the snow scenery in the park is beautiful, the open space and strong winds make it highly recommended to bring an extra hat and gloves for warmth, especially as temperatures drop sharply after sunset. 2. A walk around the main path takes about an hour. Don't rush in the snow; a leisurely stroll and taking photos will be more enjoyable. 3. If you enjoy taking portraits or photographing objects in the snow, it's best to visit in the early morning or late afternoon when the sunlight shines obliquely on the snow, creating a wonderful atmosphere! 4. The park opens at 6:00 AM. Visiting during these times allows you to avoid crowds and enjoy a moment of tranquility. 🌟 Additional Tips: If you happen to visit on a snowy day, the snow at The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens is very thick. Bring a power bank, camera, and hand warmers so you won't feel cold while taking photos and selfies in the snow. If you have time, you can also explore the nearby Lakeview Park, where the different winter scenery is also worth seeing. #winterwonderland #Osawasnowscape #botanicalgardens #fblifestyle #winterseason

With the arrival of spring, the earth awakens, the days become noticeably longer, and the maple trees begin to produce precious maple syrup. In this sweet season, head to Uxbridge to attend the annual Pefferlaw Creek Farms Maple Syrup Festival to explore the mysteries of maple syrup and experience the maple syrup-making process firsthand. Pefferlaw Creek Farms📍Address: 12300 Concession 6, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R2, about an hour's drive from Toronto. The Maple Syrup Festival is held every March and April. This year's event will be held every Saturday and Sunday from March to April 19. The entrance fee is 10 Canadian dollars, and you can also enjoy a maple taffy. As soon as you step into Pefferlaw Creek Farms, the air is filled with a light woody scent and sweet maple syrup aroma. There is a vast maple forest here. Every spring when the maple trees begin to "cry", the farm begins to busy itself with making maple syrup. In the farm house, there is someone who explains the process of making maple syrup. 🔍Maple syrup production process Collecting sap: In early spring, when the temperature is above 0°C during the day and below 0°C at night, maple trees will begin to flow sap. Farm workers drill small holes in the tree trunks and insert tubes or buckets to collect the clear maple sap. Boiling and concentrating: Maple sap contains up to 97% water and must be boiled for a long time to become thick maple syrup. It takes 40 liters of maple sap to make 1 liter of pure maple syrup, which is why maple syrup is so precious! Filtration and bottling: The boiled maple syrup will undergo multiple filtrations to remove impurities, and finally poured into glass bottles, becoming the familiar golden sweet syrup. The farm also offers maple syrup tastings, and you can also try traditional maple syrup snow candy sticks (Maple Taffy) - pour the boiling hot maple syrup on the clean snow, quickly cool it down, and roll it up with a small wooden stick. It has a soft and glutinous texture and is full of maple syrup flavor. After purchasing maple syrup, we took an outdoor maple syrup-making tour. The tour guide took everyone under a maple tree and explained the process of collecting maple syrup and the current automated collection operations on the farm. And actually demonstrate how to drill nails into a maple tree to make maple syrup flow out. The maple syrup flow was very slow, and I waited for a long time before I got a drop. The farm also sells breakfast sausages + muffins + maple syrup, which are very popular among Canadians. We definitely can’t miss it. Maple syrup is a national treasure of Canada, with a unique caramel and woody aroma, sweet but not greasy. Breakfast sausage has a slightly salty and spicy flavor, which forms a sharp contrast with the sweet maple syrup, making the taste richer. The soft batter of pancakes can absorb maple syrup, making the overall taste more rounded. This combination has both sweet satisfaction and salty depth. We bought a breakfast sausage and a waffle to experience the classic Canadian breakfast with a blend of sweet and savory flavors. The maple syrup provided on the table was available for guests to add and top up, with no limit at all! The seasonal Maple Syrup Festival is worth experiencing, so make sure you seize the opportunity. #trip #Toronto self-driving tour

After visiting Oshawa's Valley Botanical Garden, we drove directly to Oshawa's Lakeview Park. A very, very healing lakeside park, and also a great place for family outings. This Lakeview Park is located in downtown Oshawa, covering a large area with beautiful scenery. It is an ideal choice for dates, weekend outings with kids, picnics, and relaxation. 📍Attraction Address: Downtown Oshawa 🚗Transportation: Driving is the most convenient, and parking is also very convenient. 🎟️Ticket Information: No tickets required 💗Other Tips: 🚴 Abundant Children's Entertainment Facilities: · The park has a large children's play area with swings, slides, climbing frames, and even a small water park. Kids can play to their heart's content and release their energy. · The facilities here are not only suitable for young children but also offer more challenging projects for older kids, meeting the needs of all age groups. 🌊 Lakeside Scenery and Activities: · Lakeview Lake is a major highlight of the park, with clear water and pleasant scenery. The lakeside has flat trails, perfect for walking. · The sunset over the lake in the evening is particularly beautiful, and it's a must-see for photo enthusiasts. 🏖️ Beach Fun: · The park's beach area is a paradise for both adults and children. The sand is fine and soft, perfect for building sandcastles and digging pits. · There are also volleyball courts on the beach. 🥗 Perfect Picnic Experience: · The park has many green areas and picnic tables suitable for picnics. Bring your own food and enjoy a delicious lunch in nature, which feels particularly pleasant. 🌟I especially like the area around the lighthouse by the lake.

Some of you might try it by chance as there are not many options for late night dining in town, but even in the daytime I hope you come and try this place. Symposium Oshawa is a family food restaurant specializing in breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts with a fully licensed lounge. If you are having a couples outing, it is an excellent option too...just look at their cake display!!! Aside from their desserts, I love their Renaissance ambiance theme and all the menu offerings available. There are so many reasons why I love this place, that if my review influenced your dining plans, then I know we are all about the entire experience. Bon Appetit! #beachlife#campingglamping#foodie#mytripvlog#urbanexplorer#awesomepic#cafe#bucketlistreboot#2023travelwish