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7 Best Things to Do in Oshawa, Ontario

7 Best Things to Do in Oshawa, Ontario

Looking for fun things to do in Oshawa?

Oshawa sits on the shores of Lake Ontario, so there are plenty of lovely spots to talk walks and enjoy the nature views.

There’s also great shopping and food in Oshawa, and plenty of other fun things to do.

Here are some of the best and most fun things to do in Oshawa, Ontario!

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If you’re looking for even more fun things to do in the GTA, you might enjoy these posts:


Fun things to do in Oshawa


Have a picnic at Lakeview Park

Lakeview Park is a lovely spot along the Oshawa waterfront, and it’s the perfect place for a picnic.

We grabbed takeout from Firehouse Subs, a sub chain founded by firefighters, and enjoyed our lunch inside the gazebo.

Afterwards, you can take a short walk over to the Lakewoods Park Lookout and enjoy the views.

There’s also a really nice bike trail along here if you’re in the mood for a little cycling!

LOCATION: 55 Lakeview Park Ave, Oshawa, ON

Firehouse Subs picnic at Lakeview Park in Oshawa, Ontario

Hike at the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve

Not far from Lakeview Park is the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve, which is easily one of my favourite hikes in Durham Region.

It’s a beautiful nature reserve with hundreds of different plants and all kinds of wildlife.

There’s a mix of forest, marshes, and even sandy beaches, and it’s super beautiful.

Definitely remember to bring along some bug spray, because the bugs will be bitin’.

LOCATION: 1908 Colonel Sam Dr, Oshawa, ON

Hiking at the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve in Oshawa, Ontario
Near the entrance at the wildlife reserve.
Hiking at the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve in Oshawa, Ontario
Hiking at the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve in Oshawa, Ontario
Some old-looking trees at the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve.

Grab dessert at Hollywood Cone

Hollywood Cone is literally dessert heaven, especially if you’re a milkshake lover.

It’s actually located in Whitby, which is right by Oshawa.

As you’d expect by the name, the shop is pretty glamorous both inside and out, and they’ve even got theatre chairs as seating.

We tried the Chief Wiggum (coffee-flavoured with two sprinkle donuts) and Nutella Donut (Nutella-flavoured with two Nutella-filled doughnuts), both of which were amazing and v Instagram-worthy.

If you’re looking to do something epic while you’re here, try their Titanic Split – if you can eat the whole thing in 20 minutes, it’s totally free!

LOCATION: 75 Consumers Drive, Whitby, ON

Hollywood Cone mutant milkshakes in Oshawa, Ontario
Epic mutant milkshakes from Hollywood Cone.
Hollywood Cone dessert shop in Oshawa, Ontario
Lights, camera, action.
Hollywood Cone dessert shop in Oshawa, Ontario
Theatre seating inside Hollywood Cone.

Shop at the Oshawa Centre

The Oshawa Centre is the largest mall in Durham Region, and there are over 230 stores to shop.

It’s super beautiful and modern inside the mall, and they’ve got pretty much all of the popular stores like Aritzia, Lululemon, and Sephora.

LOCATION: 419 King St. West, Oshawa, ON

Heartmelt Motel at the Oshawa Centre
At the Heartmelt Motel popup at the Oshawa Centre in 2019.

Shop at the Courtice Flea Market

The Courtice Flea Market is actually located just outside of Oshawa, and they open up shop year-round every weekend from 9-4:30 PM.

They’ve got over 200 vendors both indoors and outdoors selling old and new goods, including everything from vintage furniture to specialty foods.

The vintage furniture is definitely my favourite part of the whole flea market!

If you’re visiting from May to November, they have fresh fruits and veggies at their Outdoor Farmer’s Market every Sunday.

There are a few food vendors on-site if you’re hungry, and Courtice Canteen makes an amazing Chicken Club (not an actual club sandwich – it’s a fried chicken sandwich).

LOCATION: 1696 Bloor St, Courtice, ON

Vendors at Courtice Flea Market in Courtice, Ontario
We bought some pink grapefruit marmalade from this vendor!
Vintage furniture at Courtice Flea Market in Courtice, Ontario
The vintage furniture selection at Courtice Flea Market is pretty great.
Chicken Club & Chicken Fingers at Courtice Canteen Restaurant at the Courtice Flea Market
The Chicken Fingers were bland and came with no sauce but the Chicken Club sandwich was fantastic.

Visit Linton’s Farm Market

Linton’s offers up all kinds of fruits and veggies at their farm, and they even have pick-your-own pumpkins during the fall!

The market is also open everyday, and you can shop all kinds of fresh homegrown produce, cheese, honey, and more.

LOCATION: 571 Raglan Rd E, Oshawa, ON


Stop by the Parkwood National Historic Site

The Parkwood National Historic Site is a popular spot for weddings because it’s absolutely stunning.

It was built in the early 1900s and was the former home of Colonel Robert Samuel McLaughlin, the founder of General Motors of Canada.

The McLaughlin family lived in the mansion until the 70s, and it’s now a historical site in Oshawa, with its original furnishings and decor still intact.

You can do tours at the estate ($12-$15 per person) and even enjoy a meal at the teahouse (currently closed until 2022).

LOCATION: 270 Simcoe St. North, Oshawa, ON


Fun things to do in Oshawa:

  1. Have a picnic at Lakeview Park
  2. Hike at the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve
  3. Grab dessert at Hollywood Cone
  4. Shop at the Oshawa Centre
  5. Shop at the Courtice Flea Market
  6. Visit Linton’s Farm Market
  7. Stop by the Parkwood National Historic Site

What are some other fun things to do in Oshawa? Let me know on Twitter or Instagram!

If you’re looking for even more fun things to do in the GTA, you might enjoy these posts:

Jessica Lam | Toronto lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and travel blogger | Diary of a Toronto Girl, a Canadian lifestyle blog

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