Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Oakville

"An icon of the Old Town district since the early 1800s, St Lawrence Market earned the title of the world’s top food market from National Geographic in 2012. And to taste the best of the 120 merchants that converge on this grand old marketplace, you need a little expert advice. For 89 Canadian dollars ($69.38), join your guide on a stroll through a smorgasbord of St Lawrence’s most mouthwatering delicacies, sinking your teeth into everything from Indian candy and Ukrainian pierogi to Toronto’s legendary peameal bacon."

"Old York's sensational St Lawrence Market has been a neighborhood meeting place for over two centuries. The restored, high-trussed 1845 South Market houses more than 50 specialty food stalls: cheese vendors, fishmongers, butchers, bakers and pasta makers. The Carousel Bakery is famed for its peameal bacon sandwiches and St Urbain for its authentic Montréal-style bagels.Inside the old council chambers upstairs, the Market Gallery has rotating displays of paintings, photographs, documents and historical relics."

"What’s more Toronto than shooting Instagram photos by the iconic Toronto sign?. It’s a recent addition to the city, but they definitely kept it up after the Pan Am Games for a reason. You’ll have to visit during quieter hours if you don’t want too many tourists all around it, because it’s pretty much always surrounded by tourists."

"GENERAL VIBE: Flowery, Colourful, Nature-y, OvergrownBEST SEASONS TO SHOOT IN:  All 4, Especially WinterHIGHLIGHT FEATURES:  Greenhouse, Cool PlantsTHOUGHTS:  If you’re wanting your photos to happen during the winter but don’t want a winter vibe, you absolutely can’t go wrong with shooting indoors at the Royal Botanical Gardens, particularly the Mediterranean Room. This spot is essentially just a big glass greenhouse which means it’ll be perfect for getting the beauty of plants and greenery in your photos without having to freeze your tooshies off outside. There is a small fee of about $25 to shoot here, but in my experience, it’s been worth it every single time."

"Of all the attractions in Hamilton, a visit to the largest Botanical Garden in Canada, the Royal Botanical Gardens, is a must. Boasting over 77 kilometers of nature trails, across 300 acres of land, the Royal Botanical Gardens includes 5 cultivated gardens and over 312,000 individual plants – it is no surprise why. It provides an unforgettable experience where you can witness over 2400 plant species flourish and bloom."

"The RBG is another popular wedding venue that can also be booked for engagement photos. The property features an outdoor garden, pond and lot’s of greenery. There’s also an indoor greenhouse that is beautiful year round."

"Situated astride Lake Ontario, East Point Park is one of Toronto’s largest parkland places spreading across an area of 136 acres. It is home to more than 178 species of birds and is also a migratory staging area for monarch butterflies. The unparalleled view of the landscape made up of meadow, beach, forest, and wetland is worth watching."

"The scenic 120 acre Glen Drummond Farm centres around a sprawling pumpkin patch, but there are a whole lot of other things going on, from nine-hole mini putt to a huge corn maze. Explore the seriously scary haunted house if you dare. Wagon rides take you to the edge of the escarpment where you’ll catch breathtaking views."

"This farm is full of family fun activities including a barnyard play area, a machinery shed, straw fort, animal farm, 9-hole mini putt, and the classic wagon ride and corn maze."

"A post shared by George Longley (@george_art_longley) on Apr 26, 2018 at 1:49pm PDT. Just a tiny trek outside the city and you can check out Centennial Park Conservatory. It can be accessed between 10 a.m."

"Owners Justin and Kristin Butler first launched Eva’s Original Chimneys as a food truck in 2015. The family-run Toronto ice cream business was named after Justin’s grandmother who’s originally from Budapest. The duo’s Hungarian chimney cone concept (known as Kürtöskalács in Hungary or Trdelník in Czech), was such a success they opened a storefront in 2017 on Bloor Street West."

"A post shared by Eva’s Original Chimneys (@ogchimneys) on Apr 22, 2019 at 6:24am PDT. Eva’s is known for their chimney cones, which are made from their traditional chimney cakes. Soft serve ice cream is then doused with a variety of toppings."

"Eva’s Original Chimneys has always been very vegan-friendly. Their chimney cones are naturally vegan, and they have vegan ice cream, too. Many cones are marked as vegan on the menu."

"Head to Cabbagetown for cake flavours like funfetti and red velvet, filled with cream cheese, salted caramel, strawberry and more. Signature cakes include drippy cakes in nude chocolate or floral cascades. View this post on Instagram"

"A post shared by Velvet Lane Cakes Toronto (@velvetlanecakes) on May 31, 2020 at 2:46pm PDT. It looks supreme and tastes it, too. Doesn’t get much better than that."

"McMaster Museum of Art isn’t just another university art gallery – it’s home to over 6,000 creative works and cultural artifacts. Opening to the public in 1994, the McMaster Museum of Art has proved time and time again to be a space of importance in the Hamilton arts community. The public programs at the museum change regularly, offering visitors a plethora of historical, modern and contemporary art to view."

"DescriptionThe McMaster Museum of Art is a non-profit public art gallery at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. The museum is located in the centre of the campus, attached to Mills Memorial Library and close to the McMaster University Student Centre. Phone: +1 905-525-9140 ext. 23081Web: https://museum.mcmaster.ca"

"Elizabeth Doxtater, Where the Water Never Freezes|Courtesy of McMaster Museum of Art. What’s a university without an art gallery?. After opening to the public in 1994, the McMaster Museum of Art has served as a creative home to a significant collection of 6,000 works at McMaster University."

"Home to all kinds of interesting and interactive exhibits, the excellent Ontario Science Centre can be found just fifteen minutes’ drive northeast of the center. A fun, family-friendly place to visit, it has plenty of hands-on activities and experiments that shine a light on the fields of science and technology. Since being established in 1969, it has been a firm favorite with adults and children alike due to its informative yet engaging displays and live demonstrations."

"Visiting the Ontario Science Centre is a great way to connect with your inner Bill Nye, the Science Guy. Even kids who don't seem keen on science will be enthralled by over 800 interactive exhibits. This museum of science is designed to spark curiosity and even spark you with high-voltage electricity to make your hair stand on end."

"Queen Street stretches right across Toronto, from east to west. Given its length and the fact that the Queen streetcar makes it possible to travel the street's full distance, it makes sense that Queen Street is dotted with neighbourhoods that have their own unique vibe and stores that range from mega-retailers to mom-and-pop shops. The stretch from University Avenue west to Spadina Avenue, known locally as Queen West, was the epitome of cool for shopping and entertainment in the 1980s and 1990s, and is still lined with leading U.S. retailers and great music venues."

"Queen Street West is notably more different than the downtown Toronto shopping districts mentioned previously. It’s a vibrant neighbourhood with a mix of great shops, beautiful art and some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. To paint a picture of this area in case you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting quite yet, in 2014, Vogue named Queen Street West the second-hippest district in the world."

"From the tower make your way up to Queen Street where you can then catch a streetcar or start shopping your way down the street. Further down Queen Street West you’ll find Kensington Market, a bohemiam and hipster neighbourhood filled with vintage shops and many ethinic cuisines. It’s a great spot to stop for lunch or you can wait as you make your way to Chinatown."