Summer is Here Ottawa! Let’s Get Out and Drive!

Mont Tremblant

Approximately 2 hours from Ottawa, the drive to Mont Tremblant is beautiful through the Laurentian mountains. Regardless of what season it is, Mont Tremblant has lots of activities all year round. Most famously it is known for its skiing, snowboarding, and village accommodations at the base. If you go during the spring, summer, and fall – you will be welcomed with loads of activities. On the water you will be able to rent canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, pontoon, or runabout boats, or enjoy your day on the cruise. You can also fish or do water sports such as go white water rafting, waterski, wakeboard or tube. If you are looking for something more thrilling, Tremblant offers mountain biking, ziplines, rock climbing, tree-top trekking, mountain edge-walks, dune buggy tours, bungee jumping, go-karting, paintball, and helicopter flights. There are also more relaxing activities such as golf, tennis, horseback riding, hiking, riding the luge or a tour on the panoramic gondola. Kid’s will enjoy water activities, splash pads, play areas, the beach, mini golf, bird shows, and a virtual reality arcade.

If you do not want to stay in the village, book your stay or get a day pass at the Mont Tremblant National Park for tent, trailer, yurt, or cabin camping!

Gatineau Park

Located just across the river 4km from downtown Ottawa, Gatineau Park is the largest green space in the region, occupying an area of more than 36sq kilometers and is the second most visited park in Canada. Here visitors will enjoy beaches, camping, picnic areas, trails, and parkways. There are 165km of hiking trails, 90km of mountain bike trails and almost 200km of cross-country ski trails. One of the best features of Gatineau Park is Pink Lake – a meromictic lake with tiny algae that give it a bright green colour.

The Town of Perth

Located 83km southwest of Ottawa down a twisty Highway 7, Perth is a beautiful historic town that sits on the Tay River. There are numerous café’s, diners, breweries, bakeries, and patios to enjoy, including the picturesque Mex & Co restaurant which has a beautiful patio right along the river. Afterwards, be sure to stop by Perth Pie Co. for dessert. Pro tip: get the coconut cream pie – it may quite literally be the best pie you have ever had. Other things to do around Perth include the Farmers Market which is open on Saturdays between 8:00am until 1:00pm at 31 Basin Street. If you are looking to get active, Perth has some wonderful golf courses such as Mapleview Golf Course and Timber Run, as well as kayak and canoe rentals at Perth Major Outfitters and paddle your way down the waterway.

Parc Omega

Open year-round and an hour’s drive east of Ottawa, Parc Omega is an amazing way to see a variety of Canadian wildlife on a 12-kilmetre self-drive safari! Omega is approximately 2200 acres in the beautiful area of Montebello, Quebec. You should have no problem seeing deer, moose, bear, elk, bison, caribou, wolves, and other animals in their natural habitats – and you can even pickup a bag of carrots at the entrance to feed some that may come up to your car! Before the safari, there is a one-kilometer hiking and snowshoe trail that leads past Indigenous totems carved by Algonquin artist Dennis Charette, and on certain dates in the summer and fall, the path will be illuminated! You can even spend the night in their special wolf cabins or lodge with panoramic windows all throughout so you can look directly into the wolf’s den, day, or night.