Parkwood Estate was built for Sam McLaughlin, the automobile magnate whose companies helped define Oshawa. The house and gardens show the private side of that industrial fortune: formal rooms, service spaces, garden pavilions, and a level of finish that feels far removed from the factory floor.
It is the city's most elegant stop and the easiest one to recommend to travelers who are not especially interested in cars. Check tour times, since access to the interiors can vary by season and event schedule.