In spite of constant and exciting development, one of greater Toronto’s most multicultural districts remains a warm and friendly place.

Visit the impressive mall that brings modern style and appeal to the idyllic landscapes and architecture of Don Mills. Use the fantastic local facilities to play tennis and soccer or amble along secluded trails and through charming gardens.

After frequently undergoing changes since its original opening in 1960, Shops at Don Mills has transformed from a strip mall to an indoor mall to a characterful open-air shopping experience. Head to this delightful town within a town to find plenty of North America’s leading brands, including Calvin Klein, New Balance and Pandora.

Stop for a break in the pretty central square to rest your legs and enjoy a coffee or meal. Check out the peculiar clock tower and gaze at the fountain that shoots plumes of spray into the sky twice an hour. Designed by Canadian artist and author Douglas Coupland, the strange symbols on the clock tower, Supernova, represent the different types of houses found in the Don Mills area.

Away from the retail hub, stay active in green spaces such as Bond Park and Ames Park, offering baseball fields and tennis courts. Alternatively, rent a bicycle and explore the 6-mile (9-kilometre) paved trail that follows the scenic western valley of the Don River east toward Scarborough and Warden Woods Park.

Edwards Gardens, next to the Toronto Botanical Garden, was once the garden of an estate. Visit it in the spring to see wildflowers and rhododendrons and in the summer for roses and perennials. Cross the stream on a quaint bridge and listen to the sound of a small waterfall. See the Canadian geese grazing and look at the rookery in the garden valley.

Don Mills is in the North York district of Greater Toronto, a 30-minute drive north of the city itself. The area has a handful of fairly basic hotels and plenty of restaurants of all types in and around the town centre.