16 ideas for fun this week: Ghost tours, scenic drives and birdwatching

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Normally, I start each of these weekly “road trip roundup” posts with a cheery paragraph enticing you to read my latest recommendations for things you can see or do within a few hours of Ottawa. And I’ll get to that in a minute, I promise.

First, however, I want to explain why I’m still writing about road trips at all.

Ottawa has just gone back to Stage 2 COVID-19 restrictions. Gatineau and other areas of the Outaouais are in Quebec’s red zone category. Yet authorities still recognize that we all need to get outdoors for our physical and mental health.

Also, not everyone who reads this site is from Ottawa or Gatineau. I have readers across Eastern Ontario and West Quebec, and I want to serve all of them by recommending things they can see and do near their homes.

As a result, I’ll keep writing about activities across our wide region, while advising you to stay close to your community. You can read more about my rationale in a post about second-wave road trips that I wrote earlier this week.

Also, I’m going to start grouping my recommendations by region, to help you plan your short-but-sweet outings. Let me know what you think of the new format.

OK, enough with the explanations! On to this week’s ideas, which include an outdoor “escape room” in Ottawa, a fall colours chairlift in Calabogie and pumpkin pie cannoli in Kemptville—as well as lots of online fun.

Things to do in Ottawa

Try an escape room at the Billings Estate

Proud of your puzzle-solving skills? The Billings Estate National Historic Site is running an outdoor escape room-style event on Saturday, October 17. A Practice of Deceit is a theatrical presentation by Live History that promises to transport you back in time to 1900. In the afternoon, it’s aimed at families (including children 7 and up), while the evenings are for adults only. Advance ticket purchase required.

Look for ducks in Britannia

As I mentioned in my recent hiking post, Mud Lake at the Britannia Conservation Area is a popular spot for birders. Fall is a great time to train your binoculars on migrating waterfowl; you might spot wood ducks, snow geese, loons and rarer species, such as Harlequin ducks. The Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club has a detailed post full of good guidance on what species to look for and when.

Get a good scare at Wesley Clover Parks or Lansdowne Park

For the next two weeks (October 15 to 31), Wesley Clover Parks will be presenting a drive-through Halloween attraction: the Deadwood Haunted Drive. You’ll drive past six sets, where actors, sound, light and special effects will immerse you in a chilling tale called the Deadwood Massacre. It’s all brought to life (is that the right phrase?) by DNA Live.

The premise of The Sawmill, a spooky new event at Lansdowne Park, is simple: A lost colony of 19th-century lumber workers has been discovered under the south stands of the stadium. Given that this is being organized by Saunders Farm, which runs a hugely popular Halloween attraction on its own site each year, I suspect that creepy hijinks will ensue. If you want to sign up for this, I would do it very soon, as some nights are already sold out. It runs on selected dates from October 16 to 31.

Things to do in the Outaouais

Visit beverage makers in the Pontiac

Craft breweries, wineries and cider makers on both sides of the Ottawa River—from Pembroke to the Pontiac and beyond—are featured on the Tap and Cork Route, a self-driving route that launched last year. Check their website to see which spots are open. If you can’t visit in person, check with the businesses you’re interested in, as some are currently offering delivery.

Support local businesses in the Gatineau Hills

The Low Down to Hull and Back News (which is my favourite newspaper name ever) has compiled a comprehensive list of businesses in Chelsea, Wakefield and beyond. If you’re keen to help an entrepreneur weather this latest wave of COVID-19, check it out. It will point you to everything from kombucha makers and pretzel bakers to physiotherapists and photographers.

Things to do west of Ottawa

As well as the ideas below, don’t forget the Tap and Cork Route mentioned in the Outaouais section above. It includes stops in Pembroke, Calabogie, Cobden, Arnprior and Pakenham. (One other Ontario spot, in Foresters Falls, is always seasonal and is currently closed until spring.)

Take a history-themed drive through Lanark County

Looking for ideas for a history-themed country drive? Lanark County Tourism has developed a detailed list of suggestions, including a 130-kilometre loop through Almonte, Pakenham and Clayton, and a 120-kilometre route through the Tay Valley that starts and ends in Perth.

Admire fall colours from a chairlift at Calabogie Peaks

This is the last weekend of the season to take a fall colours chairlift ride at Calabogie Peaks Resort. Rides cost $15 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis from 10am to 3pm on October 17 and 18 (weather permitting).

Things to do south of Ottawa

Delve into Brockville’s haunted history

The Brockville Museum is running Haunted Histories guided walks of the city on Friday afternoons until October 30, featuring ghosts, graveyards and all things eerie. Limited to 12 participants, the three-kilometre route goes through the oldest parts of downtown. Private tours are also available.

Taste your way around North Grenville

Explore North Grenville recently posted a fun guide to fall food in and around Kemptville, with tips on where to buy apples, wine, caramel lattes, pumpkin-mango tarts and, intriguingly, pumpkin pie cannoli.

Things to do east of Ottawa

Unpack a picnic in Prescott-Russell

Prescott-Russell Tourism has posted a useful list of pretty picnic spots in this region just east of Ottawa. Recommendations include Ile du Chenail in Hawkesbury, L’Artisan Farm in Fournier and Jessups Falls Conservation Area in Plantagenet.

Virtual road trips you can do from anywhere

Enjoy Merrickville’s Jazz Fest

Merrickville’s annual fall jazz festival has gone online this year, so once you buy your tickets, you can tune in from home. Featured artists include Laura Anglade (see video above) and the Prime Rib Short Band.

Check out works by local artists

The West Carleton Arts Society’s 2020 version of its annual show, Expressions of Art Online, continues until October 31. You can shop for pieces by more than 20 local artists.

Watch spooky stories around a virtual campfire

This October, a group of storytellers, tour guides and ghost researchers—including The Haunted Walk of Ottawa—is offering Virtual Haunted Campfires, hosted over Zoom. The first of the four October events is happening this Sunday, October 18. It features ghost stories from places you might not expect, such as a haunted chip shop in the U.K. Other storytelling evenings will take place on October 22, 27 and 29. The price is $10 per family per session, and advance ticket purchase is required.

Read about Canadian cuisine from coast to coast to coast

I was delighted to learn that Chicago-based food website The Takeout is using Thanksgiving as an excuse to run a slew of articles about iconic Canadian dishes—many by Canadian writers. Not all of them are glowing; check out Toronto food writer Renée Suen’s no-holds-barred flaying of Chalet Sauce as just one example. So far, the Canada Week series has covered—among other topics—sugar pie, ice beer and Windsor pizza (who knew there was such a thing?). The series runs until the end of the week and might just inspire you to order some takeout—or to whip up your best imitation at home.

Sign up for an online fitness class

The Canterbury Community Association has just announced some new online fitness classes—yoga, cardio and Zumba—that start on October 23 and run for three weeks. Each series of classes costs $15. Registration is open now and closes on October 22.

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