August 28, 2021
By: Karisa Simon
It’s time to celebrate the last long weekend of summer! Soak up as much as you can with your family this Labour Day weekend by spending time in Oakville. Though some people may choose to stay home and relax, this is the perfect time to explore the local area. From yummy bagels to fun splash pads, I have mapped out some of the best activities that you can do with your family in Oakville this weekend. Continue reading to find out more.
Morning
Grab a bagel at OKO Bagel:
Start your day with a Montreal-style bagel from OKO Bagel. Their menu consists of their signature bagels and homemade condiments like flavoured cream-cheeses and jams. They also make sandwiches, sweets, tea and coffees. You can purchase bagels for your family in bulk or treat yourself to a specialty sandwich.
We took home the Cinnamon Sugar Bagel with Plain Cream Cheese and Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with Plain Cream Cheese and Strawberry Jam. It was delicious.
Get creative at Pottery N’ Paint Cafe:
Spend the remainder of the morning creating a masterpiece with your family at the Pottery N’ Paint Cafe. Choose from over 100 different ceramic pieces and over 100 canvas patterns. We booked a reservation online and decided to sit indoors. If you choose to sit indoors, you must wear a mask. Drop-ins are welcomed but call ahead or book online to be safe.
My family and I decided to paint ceramic pieces and create our own designs. Once you choose your piece, you are given a piece of paper to write down the paint numbers you would like and a staff member will pour it on a palette and bring it to you. Then you are free to paint!
The staff is there to assist you with any tips and tricks to make your painting experience successful. My family and I really appreciated the attentiveness and helpful nature of the staff since it was our first time doing an activity like this. Once you are finished painting, your pottery piece will be glazed if needed and then fired in the kiln. Your finished masterpiece will be ready for pickup about a week after your first visit.
This is a great activity for families and people of all ages because there are so many ceramic pieces to choose from. From stoneware to dishware, and home decor to figurines, there is something for everyone at Pottery N’ Paint cafe. Not to mention, they also have some really cute Disney, Marvel and Star Wars-themed pottery.
Afternoon
Get lunch at Just Braise:
Stop by Just Braise for lunch! This sandwich shop specializes in braised meat sandwiches with unique and delicious flavours, but also offers many other special dishes. I had never had kimchi before, so I was intrigued by the Kimchi poutine. It was amazing! I also had Thai Tea, which was very refreshing. I will definitely be making another visit to this trendy spot for lunch again with my family.
Spend the afternoon searching for #VORocks:
There is still time to search for #VORocks and enter to win one of five (5) Visit Oakville zip-up hoodies. Participating in this scavenger hunt will give you and your family the opportunity to visit local parks, trails, attractions and neighborhoods in search of our branded lake stones.
Once you find a rock, take a picture with it, put it back where you found it and then follow the steps below for a chance to win.
How to enter #VORocks contest:
- Tag @VisitOakville in the photo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram
- Use the hashtag #VORocks in the caption
- Identify where you found the rock in the caption
The #VORocks scavenger hunt will run until August 31, 2021 and the winners will be notified directly by Visit Oakville on September 1, 2021.
Note: Every new stone location identified counts as an entry, so you can submit multiple photos.
If you want to get a head start, check out my previous blog to find some #VORocks locations.
Head to a splash pad:
Cool off from the sun and head to one of Oakville’s 20 splash pads. All splash pads are open to the public and available for families to enjoy.
I visited the pirate-themed splash pad at Postridge Park with a ship, cannons, palm trees and even a cute frog. There is something for everyone at this splash pad. The park has a lot of parking, multiple jungle-gyms, a gazebo and a huge soccer field nearby.
These cooling stations open at 10 a.m. every morning during the summer after routine safety inspections by Parks staff. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the splash pad rules ahead of time so you’re aware of all safety precautions and codes of conduct.
Address: 366 Spring Blossom Crescent, Oakville, ON L6H 0C2
Evening
Enjoy dinner at one of these kid-friendly restaurants:
Looking for a restaurant that has excellent dinner options for children? Oakville has multiple kid-friendly restaurants that have dedicated menus that are specialized for your youngest family members. Keep reading to learn more about the restaurants that received the most votes for Visit Oakville’s Best Kid’s Menu Talk of the Town Award:
Enjoy a yummy vegan meal at this local burger joint. Their menu is plant-based, 100% cruelty-free, and was created to feed both body and soul. Kids can customize their own burgers or choose from a menu featuring veggie dogs, grilled cheese, soup, chic’n strips, salad and more.
This legendary spot is located in the heart of Bronte Village. It is a great place for sports fans and families. They have a flavorful kid’s menu and kids eat free on Monday nights kids with the purchase of an adult meal!
You won’t regret visiting this upbeat North American bistro with a huge patio and amazing food. Their dishes are crafted by Italian Chef Marco D’Angelo. The kids menu includes pasta, chicken tender sliders and pizza.
Pick-up dessert from Tommy + Chocolato:
Who doesn’t love chocolate? End this wonderful day with your family by grabbing dessert from Tommy + Chocolato.
Located in Downtown Oakville, Tommy + Chocolato is a place where all your sweets come true. There is a treat for all tastes. Enjoy ultra-creamy soft serve, homemade gelato, fondues, royal sundaes, pizza desserts, waffles and more.
I tried the Brownie Caramel Royal Sundae. It had vanilla soft serve, brownie pieces, peanuts and was topped off with caramel drizzle. My mom tried the vanilla gelato. She loved it and said it was creamy and rich in flavour.
On our way out we grabbed some melted chocolate to make fondue at home. There are a wide variety of chocolate dips made from 100% pure chocolate to choose from. This chocolate can be used as coating on ice cream, for hot chocolate and more.
When we got home, we followed the instructions on the container to reheat the dip and put together an assortment of pretzels and fruits to dip into the chocolate. My whole family loved it! Thanks to Tommy + Chocolato’s dip, the construction of the fondue was easy and it was a treat that brought the whole family together.
I hope that this takeover gave you some ideas on how to have fun with your family in Oakville this long weekend. See you next week!
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