Fun Family-Friendly Summer Activities in the Ottawa Area
Summer is here! And that means long sunny days and warm summer nights… that all need to be filled with activities to keep the kids entertained. When you’re planning your summer schedule, be sure to check out these fun, family-friendly summer activities in and around our Nation’s Capital.
Go for a Splash
The City of Ottawa has some great parks with really fun splash pads to help you and the little ones get through these summer heatwaves. You can view all the locations of splash pads across the city with this interactive map. Or visit Millennium Park, Brewer Park, Citiplace Park, Centrepointe Park and Walter Baker Park for some of the city’s top-rated splash pads.
Soak Up Some Knowledge
Ottawa has a great selection of museums that have something fun to offer kids of all ages. Here are three favourites the whole family will enjoy:
- The Canadian Museum of Nature makes the science of fossils, nature, animals, and Arctic discovery fun with galleries, 3D movies, special exhibitions, and guided tours.
- The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum explores farming, food science and how agriculture benefits our everyday lives. Visit the animal barns and explore fascinating agriculture exhibits.
- Canada Science and Technology Museum is filled with fun, interactive exhibits that teach the young and old about science. Travel back in time on a steam locomotive or visit the future with the latest in technology and gadgets.
Watch A Movie Under the Stars
Don’t let another summer go by without enjoying the fun of a night at the drive-in! The Drive-in Experience is back for its second summer in Ottawa with an east and west-end location. In the east, you can catch a show at the Ottawa Baseball Stadium parking lot located at 300 Coventry Road. In the west end, screenings are in the RBC Festival Field at Wesley Clover Parks.
Take a Trip to Canada’s Biggest Theme Waterpark
For a fabulous day of fun in the sun with the whole family, take a trip to Calypso Waterpark. Located just 20 minutes east of Ottawa, the park is open from 8:30 am to 8 pm, making it the perfect destination for a day trip. Take advantage of the numerous restaurants and bars on-site or pack a picnic and enjoy the many picnic areas. With Canada’s largest wave pool, over 35 slides, 100 water games and 2 theme rivers, there’s no end to the fun.
Become a Swash Buckler
Take a one-hour adventure aboard a look-alike pirate ship! Pirate Life offers an interactive theatrical journey that lets you experience ‘pirate life’. Cruise in a ‘pirate ship’ where you and your family can become part of the crew! The adventure comes complete with costumes, face painting, tattoos and a new pirate name.
Explore Your Animal Side
Little Ray’s Nature Centre is the largest animal rescue in Canada. They provide programming and exhibits that are designed to educate and encourage the protection of our natural world. Tour the Nature Centre located just east of the city in Cumberland or book a private party and have the animals come to you.
You can also head to The Log Farm for a taste of the farming life. See, feed and touch a variety of farm animals, climb hay structures and explore the kid’s barn. Learn about Ottawa’s history, and see how they lived here over 150 years ago!
Hit the Beach
There’s no better way to spend a sunny summer day than at one of Ottawa’s beautiful beaches. Britannia Park and Beach is a great destination for families. The beach is large and has a shallow corded-off area to keep kids safe. There’s an extensive grassy picnic space and you can enjoy a drink and snack at the Baja Burger Shack.
Westboro Beach is ideal if you live in the neighbourhood. The beach isn’t huge, but it offers lifeguards, changing areas and a tasty café. Petrie Island Beach in the east end offers great swimming and water sports, along with nature trails, fishing, and educational children’s programs.
Ottawa really is a great place for the whole family to enjoy a summer full of fun and engaging adventures. Don’t miss any of these family-friendly summer activities in the Ottawa area.