Oshawa-Durham, Ontario on TransCanadaHighway.com
Why Visit Oshawa-Durham?
This area is the eastern end of the Golden Horseshoe manufacturing belt around Toronto (with Canada's major General Motors auto plant, right in Oshawa), but is best know for its Lake Ontario vistas, its access to the wine-making district of Prince Edward County (jutting into the middle of the Lake), and the lake-strewn cottage country of the Kawarthas and Halliburton (leading up to Algonquin Park).Oshawa has a population of over 140,000 and lies 60 km east of downtown Toronto, and is part of Durham Region which has 560,000 residents living along Toronto's eastern edge. Oshawa sits on Highway 401 connecting Toronto to Quebec and the Maritimes, and is the doorway to Ontario's Kawartha Lakes cottage country.
This area has recently become urbanized and has a number of communities in close succession, travelling east from Toronto are Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Uxbridge. These communities are both "bedroom communities" for Toronto and manufacturing centers in their own right. East of Oshawa are Bowmanville. , Port Hope, Cobourg, Trenton and Belleville. Just south of Trenton and Belleville is the Prince Edward County, a tourist mecca also becoming famous for its vineyards.
To the north, in the Kawartha Lakes region, which forms the backbone of the Trent-Severn waterway are the communities of Scugog-Lindsay and Peterborough. These communities are both manufacturing centres, regional shopping clusters and doorways to nearby recreational cottage country. In between these communities is farmland prized for its access to Toronto markets and area highways.
The area began to be settled by European immigrants after the American Revolution, when many British loyalists were granted land in Upper Canada along the shores of Lake Ontario. Later immigration of Irish followed by relocated French Canadians was supported by early industrialization.
By 1853, the Port of Oshawa was established, followed shortly by the construction of the Grand Trunk Railway connecting Toronto and Montreal. In 1858, the Oshawa Manufacturing Company grew into the largest producer of agricultural implements in Canada, followed in 1876 by McLaughlin's carriage works, which grew into todays' General Motors of Canada. The area developed into a significant industrial region during World War II, and has never looked back.
When the 401 and the St Lawrence Seaway were built in the 1950s and 1960s, market access let to further economic growth. More recently the addition of GO Train enabled these communities to be affordable bedroom communities for those working in downtown Toronto.
Away from Lake Ontario, along the recreational Trent-Severn Canal, lies a large "cottage country" region, which encompasses Lake Scugog, Rice Lake, and the Kawartha Lakes. Homes along or close to waterways and lakes have high recreational value to nearby city dwellers.
Today the Oshawa-Durham region has lots of variety in employment, with both blue collar and white collar options, and has excellent access to public and post-secondary education in the community.
Trans-Canada Highway History
Oshawa-Durham Communities Map
There are many communities around Oshawa, along the east-west Highway 401 (which IS NOT the Trans-Canada) roughtly following the lakeshore, and further north to the Kawartha cottage country extending north ot Algonquin Park.
Use mouse to drag/move map. Click on "+" or "-" to zoom in or out. "Satellite" combines map & photo.
Oshawa-Durham Accommodation & Attractions
Here are a featured SAMPLING of hotels, motels, long-term accommodation, vacation rentals, lodges and campgrounds. For a complete (and searchable listing) use the red SEARCH feature at right.
Accommodations Directory Listings
Here are some of the hotels, motels, campgrounds, and lodges/cottages to be found along the Trans Canada Highway:
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Located in the Heart of the Kawartha's with access to Sturgeon Lake and the Trent Canal System via the Emily Creek System.
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00 acres of wooded land for you to explore. Enjoy the peaceful surroundings, good fishing, boating or lazing on the beach in the sun. Take a cool dip in the clear waters or bask on one of our floating docks. Fully equipped playground
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Spacious 1890s home/quiet street/downtown. Built by a lumber baron, with heritage timbers and spectacular windows. Became a European style guesthouse in 1922. Lovingly restored with ensuite baths in two keyed guest rooms and one spa suite.
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Stay our our wonderful campground, and enjoy the great outdoors… see our website for details
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Stay our our wonderful campground, and enjoy the great outdoors… see our website for details
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TransCanadaHighway.com has lots of hotels,mnotels, beds & breakfast, long-term accommoodtion, and comprgrounds to choose form in and around Oshawa-Durham.
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Attractions Directory Listings
Here are some of the attractions, museums, historical sites, and sports activities to be found along the Trans Canada Highway:
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Thomas Cook is the largest leisure travel retail company in Canada. We employ experienced professional travel consultants, backed by a fully integrated web site & call centre. Our customers benefit from our superior buying power with our suppliers.
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This 18 hole championship course with an open front nine and thick forest lining the fairways along the back nine. Originally farmland, the front nine was constructed in early 1959 and the back nine about twelve years later. The golf course
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Featuring Fruit, vegetables, jams, jellies, maple syrup, baked goods
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Deal with the cruise experts to find and book your next dream getaway for less. Exceptional savings and value await.
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Unlike other rental car companies, Enterprise focuses on neighborhood markets. We specialize in renting to people who need a temporary replacement car or a vehicle for a special occasion.
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TransCanadaHighway.com has lots of attractions, festivals, tours, and things to see & do in and around Oshawa-Durham.
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