Escape the bustle of the city at Streetsville, a quaint town that celebrates the story of its early settlement days. Relax in a spa, enjoy a café lunch and discover some of eastern Canada’s history. Walk through the town and enjoy its laid-back atmosphere and historic charm. While the streets have been adapted to modern living, the buildings reflect the original streetscapes of the 1800s.

The city was established in 1819 and named after frontiersman Timothy Street. One of the town’s early settlers, Street built a mill, distillery and tannery here. By 1824, the area was dependent on five mill sites that stretched along the Credit River. Today, look for Street’s brick house standing on the banks of the Credit River.

Cozy cafés and boutiques line the main street. Stop for an ice cream or browse for locally made souvenirs. Buy fresh bread from the bakery and relax with a picnic in Timothy Street Park, also known as Streetsville Memorial Park. Find the perfect spot for a barbecue while the kids play on the playground or kick a ball on the soccer field. Tour Streetsville Memorial Cemetery and see headstones of the town’s earliest residents.

Streetsville has one of the highest concentrations of historical buildings in Mississauga. See the Streetsville Cenotaph, a 17-foot (5-meter) memorial that honors local residents who died in wars. At the south end of the town is Montréal House, one of the oldest remaining buildings in Streetsville. Visit the United Church, a High Gothic Revival-style structure with pointed windows and dichromatic brick details on the eastern side of the façade.

Free walking tours operate throughout summer. If you are visiting in early June, be sure to participate in the Bread and Honey Festival, a weekend-long celebration with live performances, free food, rides and games.

Streetsville is a 40-minute drive from downtown Toronto and a 10-minute drive from Mississauga. Head to Lake Aquitaine, just outside Streetsville, to fish for trout, bass and catfish.