If you ignore the surrounding sprawl, this 181-year-old town is full of picturesque charm. The 11.4 acres of manicured lakeside grounds at Gairloch Gardens (905-844-4402) are beautiful and peaceful. The estate’s Tudor-style house, built in the 1920s, houses a prestigious collection of contemporary art, and now hosts exhibitions by international and Canadian artists. For shopping and eating, head west along Lakeshore Road to the downtown retail strip, which is dotted with posh shops, cafés and restaurants, and the shady Lakeside Park. It’s also brimming with history: at Thomas House (a two-room homestead) and the town’s first post office located next door, actors in period costume tell you how it was in the olden days. Erchless Estate (905-338-4400), the home of Oakville’s founding father, William Chisholm, stands at the edge of the park. Completed in 1858, it’s been restored to how it would have looked in 1925. If hay barns and hiking trails are more your speed, drive 12 minutes southwest to Bronte Creek Provincial Park.
Driving Time:
half an hour.
Location
  • map marker #1
    QEW west to Oakville, exit at Trafalgar Rd., head south.

Large map

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