10 Amazing Activities You Didn’t Know You Could Do In Ottawa

The only question is what will you do first?

From an interprovincial zipline to cocktails with skylines, Canada’s capital has incredible adventures, ranging from the genteel to the gutsy. These are 10 of the best outdoor and indoor activities the city has to offer right now.

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1. Zipline across the border between Ontario AND Quebec.

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Looking to cross the provincial border in a completely unique way? Then you MUST check out the world’s first interprovincial zip line! The Interzip Rogers zipline sends guests soaring over the Ottawa River at 40 km/hour. The picture-perfect views of both cities are totally bucket list-worthy. 

2. Turbo Tube on the Ottawa River.

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Want to experience the river and not just take in the view? You've got to try Turbo Tubing. Hands down, one of the most fun ways to paddle in the city. Floaters get their own vessel (perfect for social distancing) and follow a guide from Bates Island to the Canadian War Museum, taking in incredible views of the city and navigating beginner-friendly rapids.

3. Soar about the city.

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If you want that "get outta town" feel but still want to make it home for dinner, cruise Ottawa's skies on a biplane flight with Ottawa Aviation Adventures. You'll get the thrill of flying aboard an incredibly special airplane: an open-cockpit WII-era WACO UPF-7 biplane that fits two passengers. And drifting over the autumn foliage from above will make you fall in love with Ottawa’s beauty all over again.

4. Relax with cocktails and dreamy views.

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At the Fairmont Château Laurier (Ottawa’s own fairy-tale castle), La Terrasse restaurant offers dreamy sunset views and the city's most 'grammable cocktails. Don't know if you should check out the What-A-Melon sangria served in a giant watermelon or the Surf & Turf Caesar, complete with shrimp and chicken 'n’ waffle skewers adorning the glass? Why not both! 

5. Give yourself a delightful fright.

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What’s better than a "Pumpkin Season" filled with puppets, apple cider, and homemade kettle corn? Enjoying it with a side of the undead, of course. Saunders Farm offers wholesome, outdoor family fun by day...and frightful delights at night. No Ottawa Halloween is complete without a visit. 

6. Have a hoot with nature.

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The Canadian Museum of Nature is filled with incredible exhibits on every floor — and now they’re on the rooftop terraces as well. Five owls and one bald eagle call the museum home as part of an innovative, new outdoor partnership with Little Ray’s Nature Centres. You're going to LOVE Oberon and Luna, two of the cutest snowy owls we've ever seen. 

7. Go for a LOOOONG bike ride.

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Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals wants you to ride a bike — and explore! Their guided bike tours will pedal you through hidden gems like public art displays, monuments, waterways, and bridges. They promise that even longtime O-towners will discover something new. Plus, their 20-km tours are beginner-friendly.

8. Bond with the birds.

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Ottawa's fine feathered friends know exactly where to hang out. Shirley's Bay is one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the entire Ottawa Valley, with hundreds of bird species dropping by to say hello during their migrations. When you're there, check out the Shoreline Trail, a short, gorgeous trail that goes through urban marshland.

9. Eat your way through the market.

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The ByWard Market isn’t just a great place to pick up fruit and veggies. It’s also the perfect place for a food tour. The team at C’est Bon Cooking leads tours through the ByWard Market’s courtyards (including a stop at the original BeaverTails stall) and the Lowertown neighbourhood. We're hungry just thinking about it! 

10. And don't forget to have a few pints.

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Ottawa’s microbrewery scene is so passionate about patios, it's hard to know where to even start! You’ll find everything from the East End’s Stray Dog Brewing Company (which does indeed welcome pups) to the city centre’s Beyond the Pale Brewery (which hosts outdoor live music) to the West End’s Small Pony Barrel Works (a sweet spot that serves nothing but sours). Cheers!

Whether you’re hiking, biking, zipping, rafting, or sightseeing in your own style, Ottawa is here and ready to greet you with open arms (or appropriately distanced air-fist bumps, as the case might be). Travel before October 9, 2021 for your chance to receive a value of up to $200 in attractions, restaurants and museums when you book a 2-night stay in Ottawa*. Come see what you’ve been missing.

*Terms and conditions apply