Toronto 
The GTA spreads out from east to west across the Lake Ontario shoreline, with Toronto at the centre of it all. And while most of the GTA regions and cities are busy, bustling places, the far ends of the GTA offer a bit of calm, relaxation, and quiet for a getaway to southern Ontario.
Credit: Oshawa Tourism
Oshawa, in the eastern part of the GTA, is a quiet little city with an impressive number of places to stay, so even if you do plan to visit Toronto, there is still direct access from Oshawa and its accommodations.
There are many reasons to keep the entire getaway, day trip, or vacation to Oshawa in Durham Region. In addition to being a quieter part of the region, as it borders rural and parkland areas to the east, Oshawa is a vibrant summer destination offering visitors a variety of fun activities and celebrations.
The Best Trails around Oshawa
Oshawa is part of Lake Ontario’s 900km waterfront trail that connects dozens of different shoreline cities and communities. The waterfront trail offers a great chance for hikers and cyclists to see most of the city’s waterfront or continue on to other parts of Durham. Plus, many other trail areas and parks around Oshawa, or right in the city, offer dozens more kilometres of walking, jogging, hiking, dog walking, or cycling routes.
- The expansive Lake Ontario Waterfront Trail is hundreds of kilometres worth of multi-use trails which span much of SW Ontario. The Oshawa Waterfront Trail is the local section of that larger trail which runs through Oshawa’s Lakefront West, Stone Street, and Lakewoods Parks.
- There are over 7km of trails across the scenic and peaceful McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve on the east side of Oshawa. This park is also on the Lake Ontario Waterfront, where there are great opportunities for birding or nature photography as well as hiking.
- Central to Oshawa is the Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens, where visitors can stroll among hundreds of blooming flowers in the scenic creek valley. The garden trails also connect to the 7km Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path, a paved multi-use trail which winds around the Oshawa Creek. Take this path south all the way to the Lakeview Park and Beach.
- Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park offers scenic views of the Port of Oshawa, access to the Waterfront Trail and Oshawa Creek Bike Path, and features the Garden of Human Rights, pedestrian bridge, pathways, and amphitheatre seating, making it a serene and connected lakeside destination.
Family Fun in Summer
Pingle’s Farm Market and Linton’s Family Farm feature kid-friendly games and u-pick vegetables and farms, while Treetop Eco-Adventure Park provides zip-lining and axe throwing.
- Treetop Eco-Adventure Park offers outdoor excitement with ziplining, a high ropes course, and iBounce trampoline net park. The park features five courses, with ziplines ranging from 100 to 734 feet and heights from 20 to 80 feet. A dedicated children’s course (ages 6–9) offers simplified elements, a child-friendly safety system, and their own zipline.
- Oshawa Zoo and Fun Farm features a spacious, interactive environment where children can engage with friendly domestic and exotic animals. The zoo offers hands-on feeding and petting through large enclosures. Visitors can see baby animals like lambs, goat kids, a mini horse, and a lemur. Pony rides run on weekends and daily in summer.
- Pingle’s Farm Market offers a variety of summer activities, including an 8-acre corn maze, wagon rides, mini-golf, farm animals, and a pick-your-own produce section featuring strawberries, beans, and sunflowers. Visitors can also enjoy baked goods, flower fields, and greenhouse shopping.
- Linton’s Family Farm offers a range of kid-friendly activities, including a tricycle track, corn bowling, a giant sand pit, rubber duck races, a tunnel swing, net maze, playhouses, and a giant slide. The farm grows seasonal produce such as strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, and pumpkins, and sells preserves, honey, frozen meat, and fall decorations. They have a large Farm Market, and U-Pick (strawberries).
Summer Beach Days in Oshawa
On top of all the beautiful Lake Ontario shoreline around Oshawa, the city is also near an outdoor waterpark! With several local or nearby beaches, and the Cedar Park Resort, the Oshawa and Durham region offer multiple days of hot summer days on or in the water.
- Enjoy beach fun without leaving Oshawa and head to the local Lakeview Park & Beach, also the site of the Oshawa Museum. Lakeview Park has a ton of family-friendly fun to offer for a day at the beach including swimming, floating, or paddling, time at the playground or beach volleyball courts, or with a picnic. The park also offers ample parking and washrooms.
- A second beach option sits on the Lake Ontario shores east of Oshawa and within Darlington Provincial Park. The beach and day use area have numerous amenities like washrooms, water, and changerooms, as well as picnic sites, trail access, and a campground
- Cedar Park Resort is roughly 20-minutes northeast of Oshawa where the park provides an outdoor waterpark with slides, a pool, and a splash pad, plus camping and concessions.
Explore Oshawa’s History
Parkwood Estate National Historic Site
Oshawa’s rich history, especially with the automotive industry, and the city’s vibrant arts scene, are on display in a variety of ways. Explore the small city to uncover museums, public art on the streets, gallery art, local music, or local shows.
- The gorgeous grounds around the Parkwood National Historic Site are free to the public while guided tours inside the historic mansion are available by paid reservations. Those tours include separate guided experiences through the Gardens, the Basement, and the Auto Baron’s Experience Tour. Parkwood offers a variety of programs and tours throughout the year, as well as during other seasons.
- During summer, Oshawa’s Canadian Tank Museum / Ontario Regiment Museum is open seven days a week! Browse over 4000 Canadian military artifacts or join the museum for the big Aquino Weekend in July.
- With the auto industry as big as it is in this part of Ontario, the city of Oshawa has created an homage through the Canadian Automotive Museum. The collections include vehicles from Canada, the States, and Europe, as well as a collection of motorcycles.
- Continue on your historic touring and conclude the tour at the Oshawa Museum, also next to the beach! The museum houses a wonderful collection of local artifacts and hosts an array of monthly events.
Credit: Canadian Automotive Museum
Explore Oshawa’s Local Arts & Culture
It won’t be too difficult to find local art and culture on display in Oshawa, as this is a mural city! Murals decorate much of Oshawa’s downtown exteriors , while down at street level, there will also be many public pieces of art to uncover. Take it all in on the Mural Walking Tour with stops at the local gallery or theatre included on the way.
- The Robert McLaughlin Gallery always have a wide variety of artistic exhibits on display with a rotation of different artists that changes month-to-month.
- The 20+ locations on the Oshawa Mural & Art Walk are within a vibrant part of the city around the Gallery, Regent Theatre, and Automotive Museum, as well as many local restaurants.
- Oshawa’s Regent Theatre host a combination of film screenings and live performances. A couple of the upcoming summer shows include a live performance of Tuesdays with Morrie, or a Classic Movie Night with Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Summer Events
Many of the summer events coming up in Oshawa for 2025 are recurring events or those take place over a couple of different dates. This includes a great number of local summer markets, the biggest military show in Canada, and activities from the Oshawa Museum.
- Oshawa’s Events in the Park series offers free live entertainment across the city’s parks, featuring music, theatre, dance, and an outdoor movie night. Locations include Memorial Park, Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park, and Columbus Park. Additional performances by the Oshawa Civic Band will take place at Memorial Park and the Oshawa Museum.
- Aquino Tank Weekend, hosted by the Canadian Tank Museum, is Canada’s largest celebration and showcase of military vehicles which span all eras. This exciting event uses those tanks and military vehicles to create live shows and battle reenactments.
- Several summer events and fun things to do with the Oshawa Museum, which hosted Canada Day at the Lake, and is set to host Music in the Gardens, a Tea & Talk, Holodomor National Awareness Tour, a Craft Circle, and Friday Morning Yoga in the Gardens (Fridays in July).
- Kars on King is a one-day outdoor festival in downtown Oshawa celebrating classic cars and trucks. Hosted by the City of Oshawa, the event features vintage vehicles displayed along King Street and surrounding areas. Plus, live music, children’s activities, and family-friendly entertainment.
- There are two local farmers’ markets that pop up for the warmer months in Oshawa. Head to the North Oshawa Farmers’ Market (Saturdays, May-October), or the Oshawa Centre Farmers’ Market (Fridays, July-October), for amazing goodies and treats from dozens of local vendors.
- There is yet another Farmers’ Market shopping options nearby in the town of Orono, east of Oshawa. The 3rd annual Orono Farmers’ Market is every Friday until mid-August.
The Best of Oshawa’s Summer Dining
When it comes to the best of summer dining anywhere, a few things might come to mind: refreshing drinks on a sunny patio, a round of ice cream for the whole family, or mornings on quaint café patios. Below are a few highly rated suggestions for all of the above, while Oshawa, especially downtown, is home to several more eateries, restaurants, and bars.
- The Food Truck Corral features a variety of local food trucks offering diverse cuisines making it a popular, family-friendly destination for casual dining and local food experiences.
- As the temperatures rise around Oshawa there will be more want to dine outdoors; and luckily there are many wonderful patios from which to choose around this small city: Berry Hill Bistro, Baxters Landing, All or Nothing Brewhouse, The Jube Pub & Patio, Billie Jax Grill & Bar, and the Symposium Cafe Restaurant all offer welcoming outdoor spaces for diners.
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- Get those colder treats to further enhance a hot summer day, or as a post-patio treat, from places like Gabe & Pancha’s, Roll Me Up Ice Cream, or the Enniskillen General Store
- When the need for coffee, breakfast, or more sweet treats arises, check out the local cafes around Oshawa like Olive Branch Cafe, Coffin Creek Cafe, BOND|ST Cafe, or the Gray & Co. Coffee Shop.
- Celebrate summer with a cozy, sit-down, family meal at local eateries such as the Bistro 238, Pho Surpryz Asian Cuisine, Mandarin Restaurant, Harpo’s Restaurant, MATHILDA’S, Avanti Trattoria, or Ciao Amici.
Where to Stay in Oshawa
An overnight (weekend, or week) trip to Oshawa could include almost any type of accommodation imaginable. This includes B&Bs, cabins and cottages in rural Durham, homes or apartments in downtown Oshawa, campsites, and glamping rentals.
- Get back to nature when you’re not exploring the city with a camping trip to the outskirts of Oshawa. Options include Darlington Provincial Park, Cedar Park Resort, or glamping at the Soper Creek Wilderness Villas.
- Downtown Oshawa is home to a handful of chain hotels with cozy rooms and comforting amenities like pools, hot tubs, or continental breakfast.
- Shorter stays pair perfectly with bed and breakfasts! Find a room and meal with the Southwoods Bed & Breakfast, or Our Valley View Bed & Breakfast.
- Oshawa is home to several private rentals with Airbnb and VRBO that offer a wide array of options among them.
