Your kids are on summer vacation; now what? Figuring out what to do with your children until they return to class in September might seem daunting, but there are plenty of activities around Ottawa to keep them busy. It’s the perfect time to visit local attractions and create lasting memories with the kids, and we have ways you can save some cash while doing so.
Here is a guide of what to do with your kids this summer in Ottawa.
Canadian Museum of Nature
Your dino-loving little ones (or adults) will have so much fun in the Fossil Gallery, where they can learn about the prehistoric period and see over 30 complete skeletons, hundreds of fossils and a lifelike forest scene with full-sized models of dinosaurs. Another not-miss stop is the Bug Adventure exhibit until October 14, 2024, designed by the design team behind The Lord of the Rings and Avatar!
CAA Members enjoy a new 15% discount off single-day tickets and museum memberships at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
Wading and outdoor pools
Cool off from the summer heat and spend the day splashing under the sun. Go swimming for free at various outdoor city pools and wading pools in Ottawa. Find unique amenities at the different pools, such as the shallow kiddie pool with spray features at Bearbrook Pool, a separate wading pool at Crestview Pool and one at Beaverbrook Pool. These are great options for families with children in different age groups. The wading pools are ideal for your young kids.
Pirate Life
Ahoy, mateys! Set sail with Pirate Life Theatre for a swashbuckling good time, perfect for young buccaneers. It’s an interactive pirate show where your family can sail on a ship and hunt for treasure. Character actors will help bring the magic of your little ones’ seabound dreams to life. Sword fights, navigating treasure maps and treacherous tales await while on your adventure at sea.
Ottawa Titans game
For an affordable and fun activity that is sure to be a home run, take the family to cheer on the Ottawa Titans. Sundays are family days full of activities for your little ones. Arrive at the stadium early so your kids can have fun at the bouncy castle and other games. Enjoy classic game-day eats like hot dogs, fries, pizza, popcorn and ice cream. Sundays also mean that kids under 12 years old can run the bases post-game.
You can save up to 30% off baseball tickets for Ottawa Titans home games with a CAA Membership.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Climb into a locomotive cab, wander through a virtual mine, laugh as you try to walk through the Crazy Kitchen, or play DJ on an oversized record – are just a few of the many things you won’t want to miss. Plus, there is the Children’s Innovation Zone for children eight and under, with a play structure, test ramps, and more. Other highlights include the DEMO stage, which hosts live shows like Pyrotechno demonstrations and the Oh Crap Exhibit about human waste from May 10, 20224 to January 5, 2025.
CAA Members save 25% on single admission tickets to the Ingenium Museums, including the Canada Science and Technology Museum. You’ll also get a 10% discount on museum memberships.
Calypso Theme Waterpark
Canada’s biggest theme waterpark is the perfect spot for the family to cool off this summer. With 35 slides, 100 water games, two theme rivers, a gigantic wave pool and a dedicated play area for young children, you can spend the entire day here having fun. Don’t skip the Kongo Exhibition, a river adventure where you’ll float past deserted islands and rushing waterfalls in an inner tube. Relax at Kongo Beach or seek thrills at attractions like the Fast Track slide race or the Aqualoops slide.
Saunders Farm
Summer Maze Days at Saunders Farm are filled with attractions so your kids can play, splash, zip and bounce away the day. Play on unique mazes like winding hedge mazes and playgrounds like Farmer Bill’s Treehouse. Bounce on Jumbo Jumpers and cool off at the splash pad. Enjoy a wagon ride through fields and forests and soar over the landscape on a zipline.
Berry farms
There are multiple farms around Ottawa where you can pick fruit from all seasons, from June strawberries to blueberries in August. At Millers Farm and Market in Manotick, you can pick fresh strawberries from its fields in June and then gather raspberries, gooseberries and currants in July. Take a wagon ride to the fields and fill a basket with sweet fruit.
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
See cute animals at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, including pigs, goats and horses. Children will enjoy interactive exhibits like Farming for the Future, where they can climb on a tractor and digitally drive it to collect crops. There are seasonal demonstrations and daily interpretations, such as cow milking demonstrations in the working dairy barn, creating new recipes in the demonstration kitchen and getting your hands dirty at the Soil Lab.
Book using your CAA Membership and save 25% on single admission tickets and 10% on museum memberships to all Ingenium museums, including the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum.
Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals
Rent bikes for the entire family to embark on your journey, or join a biking tour to discover Ottawa landmarks and learn about their rich history. There are also self-guided scavenger hunt tours where you can uncover hidden gems across the city. Escape Bicycle Tours & Rentals offers three sizes of children’s bike rentals, tag-along bike seats and kids’ bike trailer you can attach to an adult rider, which means little ones of any age can join in on the adventure.
With a CAA Membership, you’ll save 10% on bike rentals and tours at Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals.
Parc Omega
Pack up the car and head to Montebello to embark on a Canadian safari route, where you see animals in their natural habitat. The 12-kilometre driving path will guide you past wolves, bears, foxes, bison and more. Bring bunches of carrots so everyone can feed deer from the car window. Don’t forget to stop at Land of the Pioneers to get a closer look at a grey wolf pack from an outdoor observatory. There are also multiple spots to grab lunch and seasonal activities to try.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Do your kids dream about flying? What about going to space? Explore the museum’s main exhibition hall where you’ll find giant aircraft and artefacts from times of early travel, the first world war, the cold war and more. Your little ones will enjoy the vintage airplane displays as they get hands-on with interactive galleries and flight simulators. The Life in Orbit exhibit also has interactive installations, and you’ll feel like you’re stepping onto the International Space Station.
Enjoy a discount of 25% off tickets to all three Ingenium museums, including the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, as well as 10% savings off museum memberships, when you are a CAA Member.
Funhaven
The fun won’t stop at this Ottawa amusement centre where you can play, ride and play games all day and night. Spend time in the indoor arcade enjoying the latest in videos games along with some classics. Chase your family and friends through a multi-level laser tag arena for friendly competition. Ages four and up can ride a roller coaster that zips on the track. Spin around on bumper cars, crack codes to break out of an escape room and kids ages three to 12 can climb to new heights on the jungle gym.
Flying Squirrel
Your kids can bounce out all their energy, even on a rainy day, at a giant trampoline park. They’ll be entertained for hours with attractions for all ages including a battle beam over a foam pit, a bouncy dodgeball court, jumping basketball hoops, freestyle courts, a climbing wall and more. There is also an arcade area and café. Take advantage of toddler time pricing during all operating hours.
Splash pads
For a free activity that can keep your kids cool as they enjoy time outdoors, grab their swimsuits and sunscreen for a day at a splash pad. Splash pad parks are speckled across the city, from Carp to Cumberland so you’re sure to find one relatively close to home. One of the best ones in the city is found at Cumberland Millennium Sports Park. Your kids will enjoy the fairytale pirate theme with water pouring from a dragon’s mouth and a giant tipping pirate’s bucket that is sure to drench them when underneath it.
Eco-Odyssee
Immerse your family in the heart of nature and navigate a unique water labyrinth unlike anywhere else you’ve paddled. Ideal for first-time visitors and those wanting an easy journey, reserve The Wanderer, an excursion through the maze on your boat of choice. Paddle through the maze of channels past marshlands, forests and fields, admiring the rich biodiversity. There are also adventures where you can find hidden maze clues and continue your experience on foot along hiking trails. On Fridays and Saturdays in the summer you can enjoy a quiet twilight paddle as the sun sets.
Ottawa REDBLACKS game
Summer means the beginning of football season so deck out the family in red and black swag to cheer on the home team. Engage with fellow fans as you pick your favourite side of the rivarly, team Northside or Southside, and keep your ears alert for the chainsaw sounds when there is a touchdown.
Grab your tickets to see the Ottawa REDBLACKS online and save 30% on home games with your CAA Membership. Members will also save 10% on merch.
Public beaches
Stock up the cooler with snacks and water, slather on the sunscreen, and pack your pop-up tent for a day at the beach. Soak up the sun and dip your toes in the water on one of the public beaches in the city of Ottawa – Britannia Beach, Mooney’s Bay Beach and Petrie Island Beach (and Westboro Beach when construction is completed). Watch your kids enjoy the play structures near the beach, rent stand-up paddle boards, bring your own kayaks, or join a volleyball game in the sand.
Escape Manor Junior
Introduce your children to a world of mystical clues, themed puzzles and unlocking codes in an Escape Room. Escape Manor Junior offers immersive escape games geared toward kids ages six to 12. They can choose from five unique themes – Candy Conspiracy, Forbidden Forest, Spy Mission, Space Invaders and The Tomb.
Mini golf
Challenge your kids to some friendly competition with a game of miniature golf in Ottawa. Hit some balls at Mini Golf Gardens with its manicured gardens and water features, with access to two courses totalling 36 holes. Enjoy a round of 18 mini putt holes in the east end, that have sand traps and waterfalls at Mer Bleue Golf. Test your skills at the outdoor vintage course off Carling Avenue at 19th Tee Ltd. Keep your swing going even on a rainy day at The Putting Edge, an indoor glow-in-the-dark course. Head to the town of Chelsea to navigate sand traps, admire the enchanting atmosphere at Dunnd’s Village, and stay for lunch.
Camp Fortune Mountain Pipe Coaster
Summer at Camp Fortune means thrilling adventures for the whole family with Peak-to-Peak Ziplines and a mountain coaster. The Mountain Pipe Coaster is a twisting and turning one-kilometre adventure through the trees. It reaches speeds up to 40 km/hour, but the rider has a hand brake to control the speed. Children eight and under ride as a passenger with an adult.
Save on your summer exploring
With discounts on select restaurants, museums, sporting events and more, as a CAA Member you can save on day trips and adventures for the whole family. In addition to the attraction discounts highlighted above, CAA has over 126,000 Rewards partners so you can save all summer.