Your COVID safe Ottawa summer bucket list! 

Are you sticking around the city this summer? Thinking of making Ottawa your permanent home? Or at least your home for now? There is so much to explore and do in this city in every season! So, grab your mask, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, reusable water bottle and get out and enjoy all that Ottawa has to offer.

How many of these can you check off this Summer?

Explore the city on your bike

Ottawa is home to so many stellar trails and if you like cycling, it is a great way to see the city! Why not make it a whole day adventure? Bike between different parts of the city, grab some tasty treats along the way, and maybe take a break to look at the historic buildings, neat outdoor art, or gardens along your way.

Check out some cycling tour ideas over at Ottawa Tourism.

Check out the awesome urban arts scene!

Ottawa is a city full of stunning urban art to explore, from full building murals, to sculptures, and even miniatures. There is so much to see and a little something for everyone. Check out these highlights from Ottawa Tourism, and then open up the comprehensive google map compiled by House of PainT and plan your next art walk!

Tour some beautiful gardens

Take a stroll through some of the gorgeous public gardens that Ottawa has to showcase. Visit garden promenade for a full listing of beautiful outdoor spaces to check out and even self-guided tours through different parts of Ottawa that include a variety of beautifully curated gardens. There is so much creativity to see and they also make a great backdrop for your next Instagram post.

 

Stop by your local a Farmers’ Market

Ottawa is home to four Farmers’ Markets, Orleans (Thursdays), Barrhaven (Sundays), Westboro (Saturdays), and Lansdowne (Sundays, Year-Round)! Making access to local produce, crafted items, or just local farmers and vendors so much easier. Check out their website for full details and locations.

Fun Note: On top of the local Farmers’ Markets, Ottawa is also home to two permanent markets that are open daily, the Parkdale Market & Byward Market.

Have a picnic in one of Ottawa’s great green spaces

Picnics are so much fun and make for a great way to hang out with friends in a safe and physically distanced manner! Grab some fun treats from home or a local restaurant, a blanket or lawn chairs, and head out to one of Ottawa’s beautiful green spaces. Want some alone time? Bring snacks, a blanket, and your relaxing item of choice (book, crafting project, sketchbook, podcast, music).

Fun Note: There are fun lawn games that you can play while maintaining social distance! Try out bocci ball, you can usually find a set at your local dollar store and it can make for a very fun afternoon!

Get out on the water for a paddle

Whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced paddler, there are some lovely opportunities to get out on the water in Ottawa. With river, canal, and lake access all within the city there are plenty of opportunities to use your own canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddle board, as well as several companies situated around the city that offer a wide variety of rentals.

Visit Andrew Haydon Park

Ottawa has several great water adjacent green spaces to check out! If you have a chance head over and check out Andrew Haydon Park. This park, located on Carling Avenue in Nepean, has ample green space for picnics, has a bandstand and gazebo for gatherings and music, offers countless trails to run, bike, or just wander down, and as an added bonus is right next to the Nepean Sailing Club so you can spend an afternoon just watching the boats if you’d like.

Fun note! The Ottawa Area Model Yacht Club members can often be found here sailing their mini sailboats which is a true delight to watch.

Cool off with a swim

We are lucky enough to have access to four public beaches in the city: Petrie Island Beach, Britannia Beach, Mooney’s Bay Beach, and Westboro Beach, in addition to countless wading pools and splash pads to help you cool down on those extra hot days. Find a spot near you.

What’s summer without ice cream?!?

And lucky for you, Paige (me!) is a connoisseur of ice cream and Queen of finding good ice cream, no matter the place or season. In Ottawa we’re actually very lucky and there are some absolutely stellar options! Gelato, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Sorbet, Soft Serve, or just straight up Vanilla Ice Cream – you can find it all in Ottawa. Try out The Merry Dairy, Stella Luna, Moo Shu, or one of these other great spots found around the city.

 

Please make sure to practice physical distancing, wear your mask when appropriate, wash your hands, and stay safe! Follow Ottawa Public Health Guidelines for gathering regulations and more.