3 days ago
Here's 9 things to see and do along Oakville's waterfront
With the arrival of nice weather, a stroll along a waterfront may appeal to many and here's nine things you can see if you take that stroll in Oakville.
1. Oakville's shoreline includes three harbours: the
Oakville Harbour
,
Bronte Outer Harbour and Bronte Inner Harbour
. Each harbour is home to hundreds of boats. If these sites are not enough, the lighthouses at the Oakville and Bronte harbours have become iconic landmarks well worth seeing. Boaters looking to visit one of these harbours or launch a boat can find more information
here
.
2.
Coronation Park
offers multiple activities for those enjoying the waterfront. The lakeside park features five large, designated picnic areas including a covered shelter area. There is also a splashpad, two beach volleyball courts, playgrounds, a stage, 221 parking spaces, a rock beach, and washroom facilities. The playground area will be temporarily closed until mid-June as it is upgraded for
improved accessibility
.
The Bronte Boathouse patio won a Visit Oakville contest that saw the public vote for the best patio in town.
3.
Bronte Boathouse restaurant
has been described by
Visit Oakville
as 'the ultimate destination for a lakefront dining experience' and earned its
best patio designation last year
. Those who attend can enjoy sushi, pizzas, pasta, burgers, and sandwiches. The restaurant also features event rooms that can be rented out for special events. For more information click
here
.
A Giant Swallowtail butterfly flutters from flower to flower at Gairloch Gardens, near the waterfront in Oakville.
4.
Gairloch Gardens
consists of a park and art gallery. The gallery is a heritage home on the estate of the late James Gairdner who, in 1971, left his estate to the Town of Oakville. There are extensive rose gardens on the property and 15,000 annuals that bloom between June and September. The Town of Oakville noted the site has become a popular destination for special occasions and wedding photography, though a permit is required. For information on the art exhibitions taking place at the gallery click
here
.
5.
Erchless Estate
was once home to Oakville's founding family but is now the location of the Oakville Museum. Visitors can take in one of the museum's exhibitions or walk the grounds and explore many points of historical interest while enjoying the lakeside views. The grounds are maintained by the town's Parks and Open Space department. For information about museum exhibitions click
here
.
6.
The Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park
is home to the Bronte Butterfly Gazebo, which the Town of Oakville said is an ideal spot for a wedding ceremony or photography. The property has a water feature, a washroom facility and 212 parking spaces. Starting June 19 there will be free concerts in the park, under the Sails Stage, on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Oakville's Canada Day celebrations will also be held in this park on July 1 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For more information click
here
.
An Oakville family enjoys a family picnic under a shady tree at Bronte Beach Park, with a view of a sailboat moored just offshore.
7. Those looking for a sand beach can enjoy
Bronte Beach Park
in Bronte Village. This location is the only sand shoreline within Oakville. Redevelopment work at the site is currently underway. This project will see the construction of improved trail connectivity, the adding of a senior and junior play structure, the adding of a shade structure along with seating and lighting. There will also be landscaping and sand renourishment and retention work. Town staff said they plan to have the work on the beach done and the beach reopened by the end of May. The remainder of the work concerning the shade structure, playground, lighting and pathways is scheduled for early July.
8. Those with an interest in Canadian History can visit a special orange spire that can be found in
Tannery Park
. Built to resemble a compass rose, the spire (which lights up at night) is a monument to the HMCS Oakville, a navel vessel that was christened in Oakville during the Second World War. This ship would go on to help defeat and board a German U-boat during an escort mission off the coast of Cuba in August 1942. For more information click
here
.
9. Visitors or residents interested in paying their respects to Canada's war dead can do so at the
Bronte Cenotaph
, which is located in the lakeside Chris Vokes Memorial Park. The cenotaph recognizes those who served in the First and Second World Wars as well as the Korean War. The park is named after Major-General Chris Vokes who took park in the invasion of Italy during the Second World War, leading the 1st Canadian Infantry Division at the Battle of Ortona in December 1943. After the war Vokes moved to Oakville where he died at the age of 80.
