Ottawa Road Trips 🇨🇦

Here's a sure sign that spring is on its way: sugar shacks in and around #Ottawa and #Gatineau are opening for the season! Bring on the taffy on snow, pea soup, pancakes and sugar pie, please. ottawaroadtrips.com/2025/02/28/o...

34+ fun things to do in and around Ottawa, February 16 to 22 - Ottawa Road Trips Two book fairs, four kilt skates, a talk about the Lost Villages in Cornwall, line dancing in Russell, a culinary contest in Gatineau and a painting class in Chapeau!

Planning your week? Check this post first! It's packed with ideas for fun throughout #Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the #Outaouais--including a couple of events happening TONIGHT (Feb. 17). ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/02/17/3...

I rarely share messages like this one, but this is true info (that I didn't know) and important.

📞9-8-8 is a phone number (in Canada) that helps people get help in a mental health crisis. Similar to 911, this line is dedicated to anyone in need of mental health assistance of any kind.

The sun's shining, the snow's glittering ... are you itching to be cross-country skiing? Then don't miss this great new guest post by Dan Rubinstein about his XC skiing, spa and dining adventures in the Laurentians—two hours from #Ottawa. ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/02/13/t...

Looking for something to do in and around #Ottawa this week? I have more than three dozen ideas, from a free photography class at the Ottawa Art Gallery and a winter carnival in Perth to an electronic music festival in Gatineau and a hockey weekend in Belleville! ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/02/09/4...

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This week's newsletter is out, and it's packed with ideas! If you don't already subscribe to get tips each week for fun in and around #Ottawa, why not sign up? It's free!

Glad to see you here too!

33+ fun things to do in and around Ottawa, February 2 to 8 - Ottawa Road Trips Watch snowmobile racers, sample soups or stews, browse for books or antiques, tackle a ski marathon, take a painting class, make a candle, or enjoy a winter festival!

Planning your week? You might want to make time for a road trip in #Ottawa or beyond—whether you want to see a play, go ice fishing, see snowmobile stunts in the ByWard Market, make a candle, or browse for books, art or antiques. ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/02/02/3...

Heads Up: Art workshops, cooking classes and camping reservations - Ottawa Road Trips Take an art class, learn to make international dishes in Orleans, nab a campsite in a national park or see Degrassi stars in Kingston.

Got a case of the Mondays? Shake it by planning ahead for spring and summer adventures, including cooking classes, painting workshops and camping. (Reservations for Parks Canada campsites in Ontario opened this morning!) #Ottawa ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/02/02/h...

39+ fun things to do in and around Ottawa, January 26 to February 1 - Ottawa Road Trips Ski by moonlight, skate with Kurt Browning, enjoy Winterlude, check out a home reno show, go to a pow wow or taste dishes from top chefs.

Whether you'd like to taste dishes from top chefs, go to a pow wow, enjoy standup comedy, ski by moonlight, skate with Kurt Browning (!), go to Winterlude or see Swan Lake, this week's road trip roundup is packed with ideas for things to do in and around #Ottawa. ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/01/27/3...

Yes, this is one I actually know! I like it a lot.

Heads Up: Hotel deals, pasta workshop, Quebec City tips - Ottawa Road Trips A ski-through art gallery, discounts on hotels and train trips, forest bathing in Frontenac Provincial Park, a pasta-making workshop, afternoon tea and more!

It's a longer than usual Heads Up post this week, with everything from a 20% VIA Rail discount for seniors to a ski-through art trail in Frankville, indoor golf in Arnprior, winter tips for Quebec City, tickets for #Ottawa jazz and theatre, and so much more. ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/01/27/h...

14 excellent road trip destinations within one to two hours of Ottawa - Ottawa Road Trips The 1000 Islands, caves, waterfalls, lakes, ski resorts and so many fun towns of all sorts are all within one to two hours' drive of Ottawa. Road trip!

Cold weather giving you a bit of cabin fever? Why not take a quick road trip? You can reach all of these places within a one- to two-hour drive from #Ottawa. Cafés, murals and ski hills await you! ottawaroadtrips.com/2023/08/13/r...

45+ fun things to do in and around Ottawa, January 19 to 25 - Ottawa Road Trips Robbie Burns celebrations, comedy in Chelsea, a film fest in Cornwall, antiques in Carleton Place, chili in Centretown, modern dance in Deep River and Orleans, and more.

Planning your week? Don't miss my calendar of events, featuring dozens of ideas for road trips in #Ottawa, the Outaouais and Eastern Ontario—everything from Robbie Burns nights to a chocolate tasting, an indie film fest, a Black history event and an antiques sale. ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/01/19/4...

Heads Up: Restaurant deals, Macbeth, Lanark Highlands tiny house - Ottawa Road Trips Restaurant promos in Ottawa and Kingston, restored shelter at Philippe Lake, walk-about production of Macbeth, Lanark Highlands tiny house.

Did you know that not one, but TWO, restaurant promos are coming up in February? Read this week's Heads Up post for details on those, as well as a tiny home you can book in Lanark County, a unique performance of Macbeth coming up this summer and more. ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/01/12/h...

We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.

The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.

Don’t give up the ship.

27+ fun things to do in and around Ottawa, January 12 to 18 - Ottawa Road Trips Snowshoeing by starlight, art classes in Osgoode and Carleton Place, skiing lessons in Gatineau, Ottawa ComicCon, and a mountain film fest in Kingston.

No, that photo wasn't taken in Ottawa! But there IS a mountain film festival coming to Kingston this week. You can also take art classes in Osgoode and Carleton Place, try a cross-country skiing lesson in Gatineau, check out #Ottawa ComicCon and more. ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/01/12/2...

YouTube video by Vinko I Am Canadian

Saw this pop up in my FB feed today. Still makes me smile, 25+ years later. Even if it IS for a terrible beer. (P.S.: I grew up saying "chesterfield" but haven't said it in years. Is that a soon-to-be-extinct Canadianism?) www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-...

20+ fun things to do in and around Ottawa, January 4 to 11 - Ottawa Road Trips Start 2026 with a guided snowshoeing hike, a hoop dancing performance, a cross-country skiing challenge, a vision board workshop and more!

Back to work, back to school ... and back to road trips! Check this week's road trip roundup to find out where you can take a free guided snowshoeing hike, enjoy a winter carnival, have a cool brunch, catch a museum show before it closes and more this week. ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/01/07/2...

Plays in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and beyond—Theatre for every taste! - Ottawa Road Trips If seeing live theatre is one of your favourite outings, check out this regularly updated list of upcoming plays in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and beyond.

When it's blustery outside, it's the perfect weather for seeing a play INSIDE! I've just added a whole bunch of productions to my big list of 2026 plays in #Ottawa and beyond. Check it out and start filling your winter calendar. ottawaroadtrips.com/2024/11/03/p...

The Rideau Canal Skateway’s climate change challenge Science, engineering and consistent cold are all factors in ensuring the world’s largest rink opens to skaters each winter

My story about ways the Rideau Canal Skateway's managers are dealing with climate change just went live on the Canadian Geographic website. This was a fascinating one to research. Did you know that the canal has microclimates? #ottawa canadiangeographic.ca/articles/the...

Don’t miss these upcoming concerts in Ottawa-Gatineau and beyond! - Ottawa Road Trips Concerts in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais and beyond are the subject of this continually updated post. Whether your taste runs to pop, country, hip-hop, jazz, classical or anything in between...

Winter is the perfect time to discover a new-to-you artist at a local concert. I've just added TONS to this list of shows throughout #Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the #Outaouais this winter. ottawaroadtrips.com/2024/09/10/d...

2026 winter festivals in and near Ottawa: Slide, skate and celebrate! - Ottawa Road Trips Winter festivals in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais are a great way to get out in the snow!

Sad that the holidays are over? Don't be, because lots of winter carnivals in and around #Ottawa are heading your way! ottawaroadtrips.com/2026/01/05/2...

pine cones dusted with snow

Music for the peace of #winter ❄️🎄 in shifting times, from Matt & Shannon Heaton Tish Hinojosa Kathy Mattea @caradillonsings.bsky.social &others story at @wanderingeducators.bsky.social #reflection #creativity wanderingeducators.com/best/stories...

2025 New Year’s Eve in Ottawa, the Outaouais and Eastern Ontario - Ottawa Road Trips Wondering how to celebrate New Year's Eve 2025 in Ottawa and nearby? How about these New Year's Eve parties in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais?

Not sure how to celebrate the start of 2026? Here are lots of ideas for #NYE fun in #Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais. And some of them--including fireworks at Lansdowne Park and a big slate of concerts in Brockville--are free! ottawaroadtrips.com/2022/12/05/n...

Hahaha! Kitties, eh?

2025 New Year’s Eve in Ottawa, the Outaouais and Eastern Ontario - Ottawa Road Trips Wondering how to celebrate New Year's Eve 2025 in Ottawa and nearby? How about these New Year's Eve parties in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais?

Amid all the Christmas hubbub, don't forget about New Year's! Now's the time to make your plans, if you haven't already. #ottawa ottawaroadtrips.com/2022/12/05/n...

Buy local in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais! - Ottawa Road Trips Buy local in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais—and avoid tariffs!—at local companies making food, beverages, clothes, soap and much more.

Finishing up your holiday shopping? Why not check out some of these companies for locally (or at least Canadian!) made items? You'll find everything from soap and bedding to crêpe mix and hand-blown glass. #Ottawa #Outaouais ottawaroadtrips.com/2025/02/03/b...

Museum shows in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and beyond - Ottawa Road Trips Find out what exhibitions are on now in Ottawa's museums and galleries—as well as in museums and art galleries in the Outaouais, Eastern Ontario and Montreal.

Local museums and galleries are hosting all sorts of intriguing temporary exhibitions. This post is just my first attempt to catalogue some of the bigger ones. I'll be fleshing the post out soon. But for now, I hope it inspires you to check out a few shows! ottawaroadtrips.com/2025/12/09/m...