Why you should visit Mississauga—Canada's lakeside city near Niagara Falls

While Mississauga’s sleek yet modest skyline and expansive waterfront might not be as well known as the limelight-stealing attractions of neighbouring Toronto, this attractive city on the shores of Lake Ontario has plenty to offer. As home to the country’s largest airport, it serves as the entry point for many travellers to Canada, but there’s much to reward visitors who stick around, with more than 500 wildlife-filled parks, an international food scene and Niagara Falls just across the water, plus a vibrant schedule of year-round markets and festivals. Here’s what not to miss in Mississauga.

Step into nature

In the heart of the city, Riverwood Park’s 150 acres features curated gardens blooming with rhododendrons, as well as forests, wetlands and meadows hiding herons, sandpipers, hawks, owls and the country’s iconic blue jays. With a revolving activity program, travellers can book an expert-led birding trek, or a nighttime nature tracking walk for all the family, as the park’s forests rustle to life.

For more wildlife encounters, tread Rattray Marsh’s maze of footpaths towards the city’s western shores to spy egrets, white-tailed deer and beavers that inhabit the 90-acre conservation area.

On the easterly edge of Lake Ontario, you can hire a kayak from Port Credit Adventure Rentals to explore picturesque waterways at family-friendly Lakefront Promenade Park, or go for a dip on one of the sandy beaches.

In spring, Kariya Park’s cherry blossoms flourish in a sea of pink petals. The trees were gifted by Mississauga’s Japanese sister city, Kariya, and flower amidst Japanese-inspired architecture and artworks creating the most tranquil of settings in Downtown.

During the city’s balmy summer, pack a picnic and wander some of Erindale Park’s 222 acres along the meandering Culham woodland trail. As the season changes, fishing for salmon in the Credit River is a relaxing way to bask in the park’s golden autumnal scenery.

Delve into culture and cuisine

Mississauga’s history as an immigration hub has brought a multitude of peoples and cuisines from around the world — about 50% of the city’s 750,000 residents speak English as a second language. As a result, Mississauga’s cultural and culinary scenes are just as rich as its natural landscapes.

Start at cobbled-stoned Streetsville, nicknamed ‘the village in the city’ thanks to its charming 19th-century centre, which is dotted with independent shops and restaurants. Here, delve into deep-fried burritos at Border MX Mexican Grill, or share a smoky goat karahi at Charsi Karahi BBQ.

In the city centre, MCC – Mississauga Chinese Centre hosts an array of unique shops, food stalls and restaurants from across east Asia, like QJD serving authentic Peking Duck or Sushi Omigoto for sashimi and bento.

For Middle Eastern flavours head to Tarboosh, or tuck in to Indian fare at Tamarind Modern Indian Bistro and Guru Lukshmi, the latter specialising in vegetarian dishes like spicy chilli-cheese dosa. And for variety, Square One — Ontario’s largest shopping centre with over 300 retailers— has more than 100 dining options. Its Food District is loaded with independent stalls dishing-up everything from pulled pork poutine to Japanese cheesecake.

After dinner, catch a show at nearby Mississauga Living Arts Centre, where performances range from stand-up comedy to classical symphonies and rap.

Join in year-round festivities

Like its restaurants, Mississauga's calendar of events showcases the city's diversity, with festivals like May's Carassauga and August's Japan Festival, celebrating multiculturalism via food, music, and dance.

Many of Mississauga's events take place at the city's central hub — Celebration Square. These range from elite skateboarding competition Jackalope in July and APIK ski and snowboarding festival in February, to Lions Farmers' Market from June to October. One of numerous farmers' markets to pop up during summer, also worth paying a visit is Lakeview Farmers’ Market for local preserves and organic cider, or peruse artisanal products by the water’s edge at Port Credit. This vibrant waterside neighbourhood, flanked by the city’s marina and its emblematic lighthouse, also hosts the Southside Shuffle Blues & Jazz Festival in September.

In the evening, The Night Market TO summer and autumn events series delivers feasts and festivities — like Harvest Fest at Square One. Embodying all the joys of fall, this event offers pumpkin photo opportunities and food trucks serving maple syrup treats.