Your guide to exploring the best of Ottawa in Autumn!
Whether it’s on your own, with a group of friends, on a date, or even with visiting family, there is so much to experience and enjoy in Ottawa during the Fall. Here is a round up of a wide variety of activities that range in price and proximity but that are all wonderful ways to enjoy this fantastic season!
Get into Spooky Season!
Are you a scaredy-cat and like the more wholesome spooky activities? (Me too) Try out Saunders Farm Haunting Season activities! They have pumpkin patches, hedge mazes, hay rides, whimsical play structures, an open-air spooky trail, and lots more. Want to pair spookiness with a tour of Ottawa? Try out one of the great haunted walking tours of the city. Looking for a fun spooky challenge with friends? Book a spook-tacular Escape Room experience. Want to experience 7000 pumpkins artfully carved and crafted? A little drive out of Ottawa will bring you to Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village, a “mesmerizing installation of artist-inspired, glowing pumpkins”.
Are you a full-on spooky season, give-me-all-the-scariness kind of person? Well then you’re going to love Fright Fest Nights at Saunders Farm! They have had 30 years to hone their terrifying scary scenes, so be ready for lots of scary fun. Want to delve into the paranormal? The Haunted Walk offers two, five ghost rated (that’s very spooky), paranormal public investigation tours. Explore the Mill of Kintail in Almonte, or head to Cornwall to venture into Historic SDG Jail (aka the Cornwall Jail). Closer to home to can get your fill of scary from The Sawmill at Lansdowne, another great haunted experience put on by the folks at Saunders Farm.
Enjoy tastes of the season.
Fall is another phenomenal season for flavours, fresh produce, fun beverages, and of course tasty treats!
Head over to Hintonburg & Wellington Village and experience some of the great local offerings with the Taste of Wellington West, one of the best Ottawa food festivals. This year they are offering both online and in-person events, and have an array of fun resources to point you to your new favourite tasty treat!
Get fully immersed in the season by going on a pick-your-own experience! Ottawa is central to some stellar offerings, there are a variety of places to choose from to go apple picking or to find yourself the perfect pumpkins.
Don’t forget about your local farmer’s market! Ottawa is home to four Farmers’ Markets, Orleans (Thursdays), Barrhaven (Sundays), Westboro (Saturdays), and Lansdowne (Sundays, Year-Round)!
And finally, while the weather is still agreeable, take advantage of the last of patio season! There are so many local spots to try and many of them offer seasonal dishes or spirits for you to enjoy.
Get active!
Walking and biking around Ottawa is a great way to see the sights and get to know the city at any time of the year. If you’re looking for a few extra fun active things you might enjoy doing this season, we have you covered!
Try out some challenging mountain biking and hiking up at Camp Fortune in Gatineau Park. Head out for a hike on one of the many trails through Ottawa, in the Greenbelt, or in Gatineau Park! Go adventuring in caves or try out the zip-line and high-ropes courses at Arbraska, just 30-minutes outside of Ottawa. Or try something completely unique at Eco-Odyssée’s paddle-boat water maze!
Enjoy the Fall Rhapsody!
I’d say Fall Rhapsody is an accurate description for the amazing changing of seasons and the stunning colours and views that can be found while exploring just over the border in Québec. Don’t have access to a car to get out into Gatineau Park? No worries! The NCC is offering a FREE shuttle to some of the most popular Gatineau Park spots.
While you can go hiking or driving through the Gatineau Hills and other spaces over in Québec, these aren’t the only ways to enjoy the fall foliage. In addition to extensive active offerings, Camp Fortune has an exquisitely scenic chairlift that will take you soaring over the colourful leaves this season.
Whatever you get up to this season make sure to follow all public health guide lines for the places you are visiting.
