1.8K
Wondering where to go on your next road trip in or around Ottawa? Whether you’d like to climb aboard a tall ship in Brockville, thrill to fireworks in Gatineau, walk above the trees in the Adirondacks or go indoor skydiving in Laval, read on for day trip and weekend getaway suggestions for every day of August 2019! (For additional ideas, please sign up for my free weekly e-newsletter or follow me on Facebook.)
Cooke’s gourmet food store in Kingston.
- August 1: Take a food-oriented walking tour of downtown Kingston (available Wednesdays through Sundays).
- August 2: Gather some friends and test your puzzle-solving skills at the Apex Escape Rooms in Vankleek Hill.
- August 3: Tap your toe to fiddle music and cheer for caber tossers at the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville (August 2 and 3), or join the crowds at the huge Osheaga music festival in Montreal (August 2 to 4).
- August 4: Head to Merrickville for Canal Fest, a family-friendly celebration of the Rideau Canal (August 3 and 4), or ogle beautifully preserved watercraft at the Antique Boat Show and Auction in Clayton, New York (August 2 to 4).
The Mackenzie King Estate in Gatineau Park, Quebec.
- August 5: Do outdoor yoga, learn about beekeeping or listen to a classical music concert during Estate in Bloom at the Mackenzie King Estate (August 3 to 5).
- August 6: See the Bard’s Bus Tour’s production of A (Musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream in Kingston (one of many Eastern Ontario stops between August 3 and 9).
- August 7: Enjoy afternoon tea (along with tea breads and lemonade) on the lawn at the Mill of Kintail in Almonte (Wednesday and Saturday afternoons throughout August).
- August 8: Rock on at a concert marking the 50th anniversary of Woodstock (featuring tunes made famous by Santana, Janis Joplin and others) at the Brockville Arts Centre.
- August 9: Have a foot-stompin’ time at the Festival Country Gatineau (August 7 to 11); on August 9, the slate of concerts starts at 1pm with Johanne Caroll and wraps up with a 10pm show by Stéphanie St-Jean.
- August 10: Take a free medicinal herb walk at the Ferguson Forest Centre in Kemptville (August 10 only) or learn pioneer skills during Settler’s Fest at Petawawa Heritage Village (August 10 and 11).
- August 11: Drive yourself along one of the Eastern Ontario Wine Producers Association’s new wine route. (If you’d rather not drive, you can also take a bus tour to multiple local wineries with La Vida Local on many weekends.)
- August 12: See Ottawa from a bike saddle on an outing with Escape Bicycle Tours.
- August 13: Walk above the Adirondack forest canopy on the Wild Walk at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, New York.
- August 14: Watch Italy’s entry in this year’s Casino Lac-Leamy Sound of Light fireworks festival (different shows each Wednesday and Saturday from August 10 to 24).
Cupcakes at the Bonnechere Bakery and Bistro in Renfrew.
- August 15: Treat yourself to some goodies from the Bonnechere Bakery and Bistro in Renfrew, then check out the local history exhibits at the McDougall Mill Museum.
- August 16: See Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues at the new Live at the Falls music festival in Smiths Falls (the festival runs August 16 and 17).
- August 17: Head to Cornwall for the Cornwall Food Fest (August 17 only) and the chance to go behind the scenes at 19 intriguing buildings during Doors Open Cornwall (August 17 and 18).
- August 18: Dig into a jazz brunch in Picton as part of the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival (the festival itself runs from August 13 to 18).
- August 19: Take a pedal boat through a watery maze at Eco-Odyssée in La Pêche (Wakefield).
Photo courtesy of Totally Legit Productions.
- August 20: See a new Ottawa staging of Canada’s longest-running dinner musical, Oh Canada Eh?, at the RA Centre (nightly except Mondays, from June 28 to September 14).
- August 21: For more dinner theatre, catch the opening night of Happily Ever After: A Wedding Comedy at Coronation Hall Cider Mills in Bristol, Quebec (August 21 to 24).
Photo courtesy of 1000 Islands Helicopters.
- August 22: Get a bird’s-eye view of the 1000 Islands with 1000 Islands Helicopters. (For a splurge, book the Air-Land-Water UNESCO Tour with Rideau Tours, which includes a helicopter ride from Gananoque to Chaffey’s Lock, plus biking, paddling and a fancy picnic.)
- August 23: Find out everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the trendy fermented beverage called kombucha at Boochfest (AKA the International Kombucha Festival) in Montreal (August 23 to 25).
- August 24: Check out antique locomotives and cabooses during TrainFest at the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario in Smiths Falls (August 24 and 25). Tip: Book far in advance if you want to take one of the popular rides on a vintage train.
- August 25: Learn about sumac juice, wild shiitake mushrooms and other forest foods on a foraging walk leaving from Fairbairn House in Wakefield.
- August 26: Check out some of the 13 public and private gardens and garden supply centres along the 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal Garden Trail.
Skydive without a plane! Photo courtesy of SkyVenture Montreal.
- August 27: Test your nerves by going “skydiving” indoors at SkyVenture Montreal in Laval.
- August 28: Nibble your way through some of the more than 30 stops on the new Lanark County Sip and Savour Trail.
- August 29: Sign up for an e-scooter adventure in Montebello with Géo-Explora. The Montebello adventure is for level 1 riders; to find out about a slightly harder adventure that’s still accessible to beginners, read my story about the company’s adventures in Chelsea.
- August 30: Go on group rides, see mountain biking demonstrations, camp, and enjoy local food and music at the Wilmington Mountain Bike Festival in the Adirondacks (August 30 to September 1).
- August 31: Tour tall ships in Brockville during the Tall Ships Festival (August 30 to September 1; deck tours on Saturday and Sunday only).
Looking for more tips like these? Then please subscribe to my free e-newsletter! I’ll never spam you—promise.