Summer is such an incredible time to be in Ottawa. From breathtaking sunsets, nights on patios, enjoying nature, and more, there are endless possibilities of things to do in Ottawa. Want to make the end of summer the best? Here’s an Ottawa Summer Bucketlist:
Go On A Biking Adventure
Add biking to your Ottawa summer bucketlist. We’re lucky to have so many wonerful bike paths in Ottawa. Here are some of my favourite routes:
- Ottawa River Pathway, it will take you along the water below Parliament
- Voyageur Pathway, it will take you by the river in front of the Canadian Museum of History.
- Rideau Canal towards Dow’s Lake.
- Rideau Canal towards Major’s Hill Park
- Through the Arboretum
- Rockliffe Park and Aviation Pathway. Head down towards the water from the pathway and you can bike on a gravel road beside the water
Don’t have a bike? You can rent one from Escape Tours and Rentals. They also have tours available and can bring you to highlights of Ottawa.
Get An Explore Jar Full Of Adventures
I’ve created a list of activities for you to do this summer that leads to over 200 combinations of fun things to do. Sign up below and I’ll send you the pdf document with all the activities that you can add to a mason jar. Pull items out of the jar once a week or more. It will keep the element of surprise and help fuel a lot of new summer adventures. Sign up for free through my newsletter on this page.
Enjoy Summer Nights On A Patio
Enjoying a patio is a must for your Ottawa summer bucketlist. It’s a great way to enjoy the nice weather and company of friends. Here’s a guide to Ottawa patios sorted by neighbourhood so you can find one wherever you are.
Enjoy A Night At The Drive-In
This is the perfect social distancing activity. I went at the beginning of the summer and had a blast. We have lots of drive-ins near Ottawa playing movies and concerts. Make sure to buy your tickets ASAP because they sell out. All the info you need about Ottawa drive-ins can be found here.
Visit A Provincial Park
You’ll find some incredible Ontario Provincial Parks not too far from Ottawa. Here’s some ones that would be perfect for a day trip or camping:
- Fitzroy Provincial Park: 56 minutes away
- Voyageur Provincial Park: 1 hour and 11 minutes away
- Silver Lake Provincial Park: 1 hour and 24 minutes away
- Murphy’s Point Provincial Park: 1 hour and 24 minutes away
- Sharbot Lake Provincial Park: 1 hour and 32 minutes away
- Charleston Lake Provincial Park: 1 hour and 49 minutes away
- Bonnechere Provincial Park: 2 hours away
- Bon Echo Provincial Park: 2 hours 17 minutes from downtown
Cool Off At The Beach
One of my favourite things to do in Ottawa in the summer is to go swimming. We have lots of beaches throughout the capital to choose from, including one you can bring your dog and a few that have accessibility wheelchairs. Check out my guide to swimming in Ottawa here.
Take A Day Trip
We have plenty of towns within an hour from Ottawa that are perfect for a day trip. Check out my guides for Carleton Place, Almonte, and Carp. These are some of my most popular blog posts because there is so much charm and unique things to do in each of these towns. Check out my guide to Quebec day trips and Ontario day trips.
Spend the Day on Elgin Street
Don’t let construction scare you away, all the businesses are still open on Elgin Street and very much appreciate those shopping local. There are endless restaurants to choose from, coffee shops, unique stores, and patios. Some of my favourite brunch spots in the city include The Manx and Citizen. Grab some games or journals at The Gifted Type and a picnic to go at Pot and Pantry and head to a nearby park to soak up some sun! Head back and end the night on one of the many patios!
Go On A Burgers and Breweries Tour
Located just outside of Ottawa, Ontario’s Highlands is perfect for a day trip or road trip, where you can explore everything from great views, bites and brews and more. Sometimes it’s the stops along the way that become the most memorable part of the journey. From top-notch breweries and must-have burgers, this blog post will celebrate everything you’ll find if you let your taste buds be your guide.
Explore the Quebec Side
We are so lucky to be a quick walk over to the Quebec side. There is so much to explore from this umbrella installation, restaurants, adventure activities, amazing views and more. Explore Outaouais with this summer bucket list.
Watch the sun set at the Ottawa Locks
This is my favourite place in Ottawa to catch sunset. It is so peaceful to sit here and listen to the running water of the locks while watching colours dance across the water. This is a must every summer. You’ll find two red Muskoka chairs on the right. Scope them out early for the best view of the sunset. They’re from Parks Canada and you’ll find them at all National parks and sites. Find more incredible places for sunset here.
Go On A Mural Crawl
Take an afternoon and explore all the Murals in the Glebe. You’ll find this one at Bank and Fourth. I grabbed this Dreamsicle Dipped Cone at Dairy Queen in Old Ottawa South and then headed over to start my mural search. See how many of them you can find 😉 Good areas to find murals:
- Bank Street: start on downtown Bank and into the Glebe and you’ll find plenty of murals.
- Vanier
- Westboro
- Byward Market
Spend a Day on the Water
Spend a day on the water. There are some pretty incredible views surrounding Ottawa that you can experience from a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. Check where to rent and hit the water here.
Go Berry-Picking
Head to a local farm to pick strawberries, raspberries and/or blueberries. Check out my guide on where to go berry picking here.
Spend the Day Exploring Ottawa Neighbourhoods
Here’s one of my favourite ways to explore multiple areas in a day. Start in the Byward Market, walk down Elgin, then down Somerset towards Chinatown, Little Italy and then Hintonburg! You’ll stumble upon so many great little shops, restaurants, cafes and more. I do this route quite often and it’s always great for finding new gems.
Go On A Boat Cruise
Get a unique view of the Ottawa River on a boat cruise. Ottawa Boat Cruise has multiple tours to choose from and is the perfect way to enjoy a summer day exploring.
Go On A Roadtrip
It’s not too late to go on a road trip. With so many destinations close to Ottawa you can easily head somewhere for the weekend (or longer). You can check out my guide of closeby road trips here. This summer I had the opportunity to explore Saint John and its a must for your Canadian bucket list. It’s the perfect mix of urban and nature adventures. You can check out my full itinerary here.
Visit This Stunning Lookout
If you’re willing to drive a bit out of town, head to Calabogie for Eagles Nest Lookout. You’ll get an incredible view from the top. This is on my personal bucket list. Looking for something closer? Park at Champlain Lookout at Gatineau Park (amazing view) and then hike the Wolf Trail for this amazing view from the Tawadina Lookout.
Visit a Farmers Market
Pick up some fresh produce at a local farmer’s market. Explore all the different vendors and pick up something new. From the Carp, Carleton Place, Lansdowne, Parkdale and Byward Market, there are plenty of farmers markets to choose from.
Take A Ride With the Thursty Pedaler
These pedal-powered pub crawls take you to multiple locations on a unique bike. The group will work together to bring this fully pedal-powered bike to your different bar locations. Pedal down bank street and you’ll make stops at CRAFT Beer Market, Clocktower Brew Pub and Banditos. Each brew stop is 20-25 minutes.
Visit A Local Winery
There are over 10 local wineries surrounding Ottawa. Head out for a wine tasting and find your new favourite bottle. Find where to go with my winery guide.
Julia started Little Miss Ottawa as a way to explore her hometown as a traveller would. She’s always planning her next adventure, whether it’s local or abroad. You’ll find her exploring with her camera in hand. She hopes Little Miss Ottawa helps bring you on new and fun adventures. Happy exploring :)
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