Ottawa bucket list activities to do before summer ends
5 Minute Read
Summary
- Ottawa offers a mix of outdoor adventures, cultural highlights, and seasonal experiences in the final weeks of summer.
- Activities range from waterfront outings and festivals to landmarks best enjoyed in warm weather.
- The list encourages residents and visitors to make the most of summer before the season winds down.
Each year, it feels as though the days have just started to get longer, and before we know it, it’s halfway through summer. Don’t fret, there is still time to check activities off of your Ottawa summer bucket list.
If you’re still looking for things to do in Ottawa this summer, you can explore waterways by boat, soar over rivers, take a bike tour, navigate obstacle courses and much more.
Rent a bike or a SUP board
Make the most of the warm weather and explore Ottawa by land and water with Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals. You can join a guided bike tour downtown or paddle on the Ottawa River in Gatineau.
CAA Members save on kayak, SUP and bike rentals. Reserve online using promo codes.
Cruise down a mountain coaster
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Camp Fortune in Chelsea, Quebec, offers thrilling adventures, including a mountain pipe coaster. You’ll fly down a monorail track at 40 km/h with views of forests and hills.
The park also has a new zipline course that features three different ziplines, and you can end the experience with a free-fall jump. They are dual ziplines, so bring an adventure buddy.
Explore historic caves
Head to the Ottawa Valley and venture underground while exploring the Bonnechere Caves. Take a guided tour of these ancient caves, full of fossils up to 500 million years old.
After navigating tunnels and admiring stalactites, you can relax in the aboveground picnic area, where you’ll catch a stunning view of Fourth Chute Falls.
Take a city tour on an amphibious
Can't decide between a boat tour and a bus tour of Ottawa? You don't have to because Lady Dive Tours has the province's only amphibious tour that takes you from land to the river. In addition, there is a bilingual guide to help you learn more about the region and its history.
Compete in paintball and an obstacle course
Battle your family at the ultimate activity park, Marked Adventure Park. You can take a swing at axe throwing, amp up your hide-and-seek skills with Laser Combat, get in on the action of paintball, test your endurance on the obstacle course and cool off with a water gun fight. Finally, end the day by relaxing around the campfire.
Zipline between provinces
You can soar across the Ottawa River between Ontario and Quebec with Interzip Rogers. This interprovincial zipline is 1200 feet long, 120 feet high and will have you flying up to 50 km/h. You'll be able to see river rapids, Parliament Hill, and other monumental buildings from the sky.
Cruise along the Rideau Canal
Float down the historic Rideau Canal on an electric boat, learning local history as you take in the views. The 1.5-hour ride highlights Fairmont Château Laurier, the Canadian Museum of Nature and Dow’s Lake, among other sights. Ottawa Boat Cruise offers canal tours multiple times daily and Ottawa River cruises — book them together as a combo.
Navigate a water maze
Éco-Odyssée is a nature park near Ottawa with a water labyrinth you can paddle through on a canoe, kayak, SUP board or pedal boat. Choose your adventure, by day or night, and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife such as beavers. The park also features walking trails, a volleyball court and a campfire area.
Go whitewater rafting
The Ottawa River features some world-class rapids for adventurers, and you can go whitewater rafting in the valley with OWL Rafting. The river offers different routes, so you can choose a tour with a level of intensity that’s right for you. Head out for a day trip or stay a few nights at their waterfront resort.
You can save 10% on whitewater packages and trips with CAA Membership.
Paddle around an island beach
You can spend a day soaking up the sun on a sandy shore and rent watercraft from Petrie Island Marina. You'll pass the marina as you drive onto the island, and you can rent boats like kayaks and paddle boards. It's open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until September 1.
The island has numerous beaches for relaxing, some walking trails, and a canteen selling snacks.
Browse fresh market produce
Ottawa Farmers’ Market hosts markets in four different neighbourhoods: Lansdowne, Barrhaven, Westboro and Orléans. So fill your cupboards with fresh produce, baked goods, reserves, hot meals, crafts and more. The markets are held on different days of the week until October and sometimes feature special events, such as live music.
Hike through a lush forest
Gatineau Park is the region's largest green space, covering over 361 square kilometres and offering 183 kilometres of summer trails. The NCC's free shuttle service will take you from Ottawa to the park on weekends until August 27, 2023. Epic lookout points, forest pathways, and lush hillsides await exploration.
Play through farm attractions
Bring the family to Saunders Farm for their Summer Maze Days activities. There are many things for the kids to play on, such as hedge mazes, playgrounds, jumbo jumpers, splash pads, and zip lines. In addition, you can browse a farm shop and enjoy lunch, plus adults can sip Saunders Cider at the CiderHouse.
Climb inside a gorge
If you're seeking the ultimate adrenaline rush, you can adventure through a river canyon in a number of exciting ways. Chutes Coulonge Park is a historical and adventure park where you can enjoy a simple nature walk, climb a tree obstacle course or navigate the Via Ferrata, a mix of ziplines, a suspension bridge and climbing a rock face.
Cool off at a giant waterpark
The biggest themed waterpark in Canada, Calypso Waterpark, is located just half an hour from downtown Ottawa. It’s the perfect day trip for the whole family, with something for everyone, including a wave pool, two themed rivers and over 35 waterslides, one of which is the tallest waterslide tower in the country.
Pick berries
There are several berry farms around Ottawa where you can pick fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries throughout the summer. July and August are typically blueberry seasons; you can pick your own at Proulx Farm and many other local farms.
Before your adventure, have your CAA Membership handy
CAA Members can save wherever they go with memberships starting at just $30 a year. You can save when dining out, fueling up or trying a new attraction.
