It’s going to be a sultry week, with lots of heat and humidity. Whether you’re looking to cool off, soak up some rays or just escape your sweltering house, I have lots of suggestions—including some destinations that have just re-opened, as well as a free online cycling workshop. Enjoy!
Disclosure: In the past, I’ve visited several of the places mentioned for free or at a discount, as a guest of the business or a tourism board. All opinions are my own.
Go online for cycling tips
The Ottawa Public Library has teamed up with EnviroCentre to offer a series of online talks about cycling. The first one, Urban Cycling, is happening in English on Thursday, July 9. It includes bike basics, information on urban infrastructure, and tips on cycling safely. The same session will be given in French on Thursday, July 16, while a third session—Discover Your City by Bike—will be offered on Thursday, July 23. All sessions are free, take place on Zoom and begin at 12:30pm. Advance registration required.
Catch a drive-in movie at Zibi in Gatineau
The much-anticipated drive-in theatre at the Zibi property in the Hull sector of Gatineau opens this weekend. For the next five weeks, from Thursday through Saturday, you can enjoy a big-screen double-feature under the stars (inside your car, that is). The schedule this weekend includes Charlie’s Angels, John Wick and Skyfall. You need to buy tickets online in advance, and you can read more about the drive-in in this Ottawa Citizen article.
See otters in Brockville
Aquatarium Reopening This Saturday from DCE Media productions on Vimeo.
River lovers, rejoice: the Aquatarium is re-opening on Saturday, July 11. The museum in Brockville focuses on the ecology of the St. Lawrence River. You’ll need to buy tickets online in advance, and visitors will explore the museum in socially distanced groups of up to eight people (individuals and groups smaller than that are welcome; they’ll just be assigned with others to a group of eight). The video above explains the new procedures in much more detail (plus includes video of my favourite Aquatarium residents, the otters).
Make like a pirate in Ottawa
While cycling near Hog’s Back Falls last weekend, I spotted what appeared to be Captain Hook’s ship sailing grandly across Mooney’s Bay. Yes, indeed: Pirate Life Ottawa re-opened on July 1. The swashbuckling theatre experience is offered separately in English and French. To permit social distancing, the maximum group size is 10. (You can book the whole ship for a private bubble trip, if you like.) The video above was filmed on the company’s Toronto ship in pre-COVID-19 times, so it’s more crowded than the current trips will be and the backdrop is different, but it gives you some idea of what you can expect. Bring the kids and prepare to say ARRRRGH!
Bid on a decorated chair from Westport—online
This year, the Westport Arts Council has taken its popular Art on the Street festival online. Six local artists have creatively painted six Muskoka chairs, and the arts council will be auctioning them off throughout the summer. Each auction will go live on Facebook on Friday morning and close on Sunday evening; you can bid by leaving a comment under the chair’s photo on the Westport Arts Council’s Facebook page.
Learn about the Cold War in Carp
Everyone’s favourite underground bunker is back in the business of welcoming visitors: The Diefenbunker re-opened on Wednesday, July 8. Like other tourist destinations, there are lots of new social-distancing measures in place, which you can read about on their website. But all the cool Dr. Strangelove-type artifacts are still there to intrigue history buffs, from official-looking vintage telephones to the vault meant to store Canada’s gold in the event of a nuclear war. Currently, the Cold War museum is from Wednesday through Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.
Fly above the 1000 Islands or over Ottawa
A few years ago, I had the chance to take a scenic flight with 1000 Islands Helicopters. Even though it was a drizzly day, the view of the St. Lawrence and some of the 1,864 islands (yep, more than 1,000) was amazing. The company is open this summer and offering tours seven days a week.
If biplanes are more your style, you could also take a tour over Ottawa in a vintage biplane from the Rockcliffe Flying Club. (I am determined that this will be the summer I finally try this!)
Commune with ghosts in Almonte
There are only a few tickets left for a series of ghost tours this weekend in Almonte. Spirit of the Wind: The Mill of Kintail Paranormal Investigation is a three-hour, socially distanced tour of all things ghostly and creepy in the building, known for its connections with basketball inventor James Naismith, artist R. Tait McKenzie and—something I just learned—former prime minister and noted spiritualist Mackenzie King. The tours, run by Phantoms of Yore, are fundraisers for the mill. If you can’t snag tickets this weekend, more tours are coming up on the August long weekend (July 31 to August 2).
Visit the Ottawa Art Gallery
The Ottawa Art Gallery re-opens to the general public today, and admission remains free. You do need to reserve a timed ticket, though; details are on the link above. The gallery is open from Wednesday through Sunday, from 10am to 6pm; for the first two hours of each day, priority will be given to seniors and immunocompromised visitors. Jackson Café is open, too, for light refreshments. Current exhibitions include a show featuring playful multimedia works by Canadian artist Russell Yuristy, and an exhibition showcasing key Group of Seven pieces from the Firestone Collection of Canadian Art.
Save money in lots of places
Discounts on several things mentioned in this post—including the helicopter and biplane tours, the Diefenbunker, and the gift shop at the Ottawa Art Gallery—are available with the free #MyOttawa Pass, which you can download from the Ottawa Tourism website.
Keen to take a day trip but wondering whether you’ll be able to find a restroom along the way? Check out my new post about open public washrooms in Eastern Ontario and West Quebec.
Looking for more day trip ideas? I have lots in 25 great Eastern Ontario road trips you can take right now.
And if you want to keep current on things to see and do in our region, don’t forget to subscribe to my free weekly newsletter.
2 comments
HI Laura. Thanks again for all the great info you provide each week – much appreciated, including where to “go”! I love the idea of a drive-in movie since I haven’t been in decades. Last year a few of us were going to go to Port Elmsley but it never worked out, between movie selection and schedules. Now my thing is, we can’t get out of our cars due to COVID (or mosquitos) and most nights it’s waaaay too hot to sit in a car without the AC on. I can’t imagine the pollution and waste of gas required to run my car for the duration of 1 movie, let alone 2. Would love to hear from others about how they did or would handle this dliemma.
That’s a really good point! I’ve been assuming people would have their car windows down and engine off, but maybe not. Anyone out there: what have you been doing at the drive-in?
I agree–running the car for the length of a movie would be an environmental and financial disaster!