Seasonal Activities
Winter
Visit the Animal Barns at the Canadian Agriculture Museum
Admission by donation from December 1 until February 28th
Skating on City of Ottawa Outdoor Rinks
Public Skating at City of Ottawa Arenas
Visit Fulton's Sugar Bush - Packenham
Opens for the season in mid-February
| Name: | Visit the Animal Barns at the Canada Agriculture Museum |
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| Description: |
Admission to the animal barns and the play structure at the Canada Agriculture Museum is by donation from December 1 until February 28. The barns are open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Note that the barns are closed on December 25. Thanks to Danielle for submitting this activity! |
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| Website: | http://www.agriculture.technomuses.ca/english |
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| Activity number: | 30013 |
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| Name: | Skating on the Rideau Canal |
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| Location: | From Hartwell's Locks to Dow's Lake, from Dow's Lake to NAC |
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| Dates: | Late December to March, weather permitting |
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| Description: | For ice conditions call 613-239-5234 (updated daily) |
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| Website: | www.canadascapital.gc.ca |
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| Activity number: | 30006 | |||
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| Name: | Public Skating at Rideau Hall |
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| Description: |
The skating rink at Rideau Hall is open from January 6 to March 11, 2012. Public leisure skating: Saturdays and Sundays from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. |
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| Website: | www.gg.ca |
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| Activity number: | 30015 |
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| Name: | Skating at City of Ottawa Outdoor Rinks |
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| Description: |
At last count, there were 246 outdoor rinks in the City of Ottawa! Too many for me to list here, but the two websites listed below can help you find a rink close by. |
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| Website: | The City of Ottawa's Outdoor Skating page can be found at www.ottawa.ca/rinks A great website by Chris Taggart which maps out all of the rinks on one map can be found at http://www.christaggart.com/labs/ottawa-outdoor-skating-rinks/ This website lists outdoor rink conditions, and is updated by rink users and by rink operators: www.ottawarinkconditions.ca |
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| Activity number: | 30014 |
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| Name: | Public Skating at City of Ottawa arenas |
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| Description: |
City arenas offer public skating, family skating sessions, adult skating sessions, 50+ skating sessions and pick up hockey for adults. Schedules vary by arena. All arenas offer skating from October 1 to March 31; some arenas offer skating year-round. See website for details. Check individual arena listings prior to going as schedules are subject to change. Public skating fees are $6.75/family. |
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| Website: | List of City of Ottawa Arenas: http://ottawa.ca/residents/parks_recreation/skating/index_en.html Search Public Skating Schedules: http://ottawa.ca/residents/parks_recreation/skating/index_en.html |
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| Activity number: | 30008 |
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| Name: | Cross-Country Skiing |
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| Description: |
There are a number of free and frugal cross-country trails in and around Ottawa. Obviously there is an initial cost in buying or renting cross-country skis, but once you have the equipment you can enjoy many winter hours in the great outdoors at little or no cost. Cross-County ski trails in and around Ottawa: The City of Ottawa runs the Mooney's Bay Ski Centre, which is located at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility at Mooney's Bay Park, 2960 Riverside Drive (telephone: 613-247-4883). This facility offers 5km of classic ski trails and charges $2.65/person per day (children under 12 ski for free). OK, so $2.65 x 4 is actually $10.60 and therefore $0.60 over my frugal limit - please forgive me!There are urban cross-country ski trails at the Richelieu-Vanier Community Centre, 300 avenue des Pères-Blancs. Access to these trails is free and there is free parking on site. (For more info call 613-580-2424 ext. 28464). Note that these trails are multi-use trails. Several more cross-country ski trails are located around the City and can be found using the NCC Greenbelt map (pdf); (page 1 shows trails in the City's west end and page 2 shows trails in the City's east end). Larose Forest offers good cross-country ski trails for beginners and is located less than an hour outside of Ottawa. The trails are located in dense woods, which makes for a nice outing but does mean that the trail conditions can be a bit sketchy if there hasn't been a recent heavy snowfall. Parking is available near the trailhead. Donations are encouraged through donation boxes on site. (Thanks to Lisa for this info!) Several area cross-country ski trails are described on the Ontario Trails Council website. To find the location of a trail, click on the trail name, then click on "GPS", found under the Location heading on the right-hand side of the page. Of course, some of the most notable cross-country ski trails in the area are in Gatineau Park (which charges a daily rate that is not frugal by my standards - see the Gatineau Park website for more info). |
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| Website: | An excellent website by Michael McGoldrick about cross-country skiing in the National Capital Region can be found at http://mcgoldrick.ca/xc-skiing/ xcottawa.ca now offers trail reports to let you know what the trail conditions are like. |
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| Activity number: | 30011
Mention Frugal Fun Ottawa and get 10% off your |
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| Name: | Snowshoeing |
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| Description: |
Snowshoeing is a great winter activity for the whole family. There are 55 kilometers of dedicated snowshoeing trails in Gatineau Park, including two beginners' trails accessible right from the Visitor's Centre. Access to all the snowshoeing trails is free, as is parking.
The Baxter Conservation Area, just south of Ottawa, is a great location for snowshoeing and is described in this article in Ottawa Outdoors Magazine. There is a $6/vehicle gate fee at the Baxter Conservation Area. Several area snowshoeing trails are described on the Ontario Trails Council website. To find the location of a trail, click on the trail name, then click on "GPS", found under the Location heading on the right-hand side of the page. |
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| Website: | The Ottawa Rambling Club's website lists useful tips for beginners: http://orc.ncf.ca/snowshoeing.html |
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| Activity number: | 30012 |
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| Name: | Tobogganing |
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| Location: | Various, see Description |
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| Dates: | Whenever there is enough snow! |
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| Description: |
The following hills are City of Ottawa approved sledding hills (the City's sledding website, listed below, also includes notes on each hill and is worth checking out):
There are also tobogganing hills at the following locations:
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| Website: | City of Ottawa approved sledding hills: http://www.ottawa.ca/toboganning/sledding_hills_en.html Tobogganing safety tips: http://www.healthunit.org/injury/winter/tobogsled.html |
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| Activity number: | 30009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Name: | Visit Fulton's Sugar Bush - Packenham |
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| Description: |
Fulton's is open for the sugarbush season from mid-February to late April. It's a bit of a drive from Ottawa, but unlike many other area sugar bushes, it offers free admission and parking, as well as free access to various nature trails, free children's play areas, and horse-drawn sleigh rides for $2.00 per person. |
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| Website: | Fulton's Sugar Bush |
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| Activity number: | 30016 |
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Summer
Public Swimming at Outdoor Wading Pools (for toddlers)
Swimming at Public Beaches in Ottawa
Swimming at Public Beaches in Gatineau Park
Public Swimming at Outdoor Pools
Splash Pads and Splash n'Fun Programs
Changing of the Guard at Parliament Hill
Outdoor Guided Tour: In the Footsteps of Great Canadians
Sound and Light Show at Parliament Hill
Carillon Concerts at Parliament Hill
Alcatel-Lucent Sunday Bikedays
Borrow a Bike from La maison du vélo (The Bike House)
View the Rock Sculptures at Remic Rapids Park
Visit Fulton's Sugar Bush - Packenham Now closed
Skateboarding at McNabb Skatepark
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| Name: | Public swimming at city of Ottawa outdoor wading pools (for toddlers) |
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| Location: | Various, see website. |
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| Dates: | June 24 to August 24, 2011 |
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| Times: | Various, see website. |
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| Description: | Bring the kids to cool off in one of Ottawa's 55 wading pools. The City also holds special events and various wading pools throughout the summer. Check the wading pool special events page for details. |
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| Website: | www.ottawa.ca/wading_pools |
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| Activity number: | 30003A | |||
| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | Swimming at public beaches in Ottawa |
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| Location: | 4 beaches in Ottawa, 3 in Gatineau, see Description. |
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| Dates: | June 18 to August 21, 2011 |
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| Times: | See websites |
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| Description: |
For swimming, picnics, rowing, volleyball, beautiful views and more. See website for details. |
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| Website: | www.ottawa.ca/beaches |
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| Activity number: | 30003D | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | Swimming at public beaches in Gatineau Park |
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| Location: | Five beaches are open to the public; see website for locations within Gatineau Park. |
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| Dates: | Mid-June to Labour Day |
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| Times: | Lifeguards on duty from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. |
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| Description: | The lakes of Gatineau Park await! Five public beaches (serviced) and one beach for campers (Smith Beach) are spread out around Philippe, Meech and La Pêche lakes. Domestic animals are not permitted on beaches.
An entry fee applies to all vehicles - $10/vehicle per day. |
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| Website: | www.canadascapital.gc.ca |
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| Activity number: | 30003E |
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| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | Public swimming at City of Ottawa outdoor swimming pools |
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| Location: | Various, see Description |
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| Dates: | June 25 to August 27, 2011
These dates are approximate; some pools may open earlier. Check individual pool swim schedules. |
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| Times: | See website for complete swim schedules |
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| Description: |
Standard and outdoor pool prices: |
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| Website: | http://ottawa.ca/residents/parks_recreation/swimming/ schedules/index_en.html |
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| Activity number: | 30003C | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | City of Ottawa Splash Pads and Splash n'Fun Programs |
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| Location: | Various, see website. |
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| Dates: | Splash Pads: Mid-June to September Splash n'Fun Programs: July 4 to August 26, 2011 |
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| Description: | Free water play for kids. The City of Ottawa also runs a Splash n'Fun Program for kids aged 4 to 10. See website for weekly themes, times and locations. The Splash n'Fun program will operate even at splash pads affected by the water ban. |
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| Website: | www.ottawa.ca/splashpads |
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| Activity number: | 30003B | |||
Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | City of Ottawa Park-ticipate Programs |
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| Location: | Various, see website. |
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| Dates: | July 4 to August 26, 2011 |
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| Description: | The Park-ticipate program is a free, informal drop-in program offered at various local rural and urban parks throughout the East District. Children aged 4 to 10 are invited to join our highly trained recreation staff in this fun-filled program of sports, crafts and organized games.
Please note that parents/guardians are required to supervise their children while attending the park. See website for weekly themes, times and locations. |
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| Website: | www.ottawa.ca/park-ticipate |
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| Activity number: | 30003F |
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| Name: | Changing of the Guard |
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| Location: | Parliament Hill |
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| Dates: | June 27, 2011 to August 26, 2011 |
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| Times: | 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. |
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| Description: | Weather permitting. See website for more information. |
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| Website: | http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/Visitors/outdoor-e.asp#link3 |
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| Activity number: | 30001A |
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| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | Outdoor Guided Tour: In the Footsteps of Great Canadians |
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| Location: | Parliament Hill |
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| Dates: | Dates to be confirmed; check website |
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| Description: |
Tour start times vary, depending on the number of visitors (tickets available at the Info-Tent on Parliament Hill). |
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| Website: | http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/Visitors/outdoor-e.asp#link2 |
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| Activity number: | 30001C | |||
| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | Sound and Light Show |
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| Location: | Parliament Hill |
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| Dates: | Daily from July 6 to September 5, 2011 |
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| Times: | July - 10 pm August - 9:30 pm September - 9 pm |
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| Description: |
Mosaika - Sound and Light Show is the story of Canada – our story. A powerful narrative set against the spectacular backdrop of Parliament Hill, Mosaika takes the audience on an unforgettable journey of sound and light, as we explore Canada’s physical, historical and cultural landscapes.
Bilingual. Weather permitting. |
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| Website: | www.mosaika-sl.ca |
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| Activity number: | 30001B | |||
| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | Carillon Concerts | |||
| Location: | Parliament Hill | |||
| Dates: | Weekdays in July and August | |||
| Times: | 11 a.m. to Noon | |||
| Description: | Enjoy an hour-long Carillon concert at Parliament Hill. | |||
| Website: | http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/Visitors/outdoor-e.asp#link1 |
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| Activity number: | 30007 | |||
| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | Alcatel-Lucent Sunday Bikedays |
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| Location: | Various, see Description |
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| Dates: | Sundays, from May 22 to September 4, 2011 |
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| Times: | See Description |
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| Description: | Get on your bike or put on your inline skates and enjoy over 50 km of fun!
Parkway closures: Westbound lanes of the Ottawa River Parkway from the Canadian War Museum to Carling Ave are closed from 9 am to 1 pm; Colonel By Drive from Laurier Bridge to Hogs Back Bridge is closed from 9 am to 1 pm - representatives from the Alcatel-Lucent Switchbacks will also be on hand to offer free bike checks on Colonel By Drive near Pretoria Bridge; Rockcliffe Parkway from Aviation Parkway to St. Joseph Blvd. in Orleans is closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; The Gatineau, Champlain and Fortune parkways in Gatineau Park are closed from 6 am to 11 am. These parkways cover challenging, hilly terrain. One section, to the north of Lac-Meech Road (parking lot P8), is ideal for families with young children and is closed for two additional hours, 6 am to 1 pm. Members of Ottawa Public Health and the Pathway Patrol will also offer instructional sessions on helmet fitting and recreational safety tips for the whole family at the following locations:
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| Website: | www.capitaleducanada.gc.ca |
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| Activity number: | 30002 |
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| Name: | Disc golf at Gardenway Park |
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| Location: | Gardenway Park, Des Conifers Crescent, Orleans (Behind Jeanne Sauvé Public School,1917 Gardenway Drive) |
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| Dates: | Baskets up until fall |
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| Description: |
Try your hand at disc golf, a game similar to golf which uses a Frisbee™ instead of a ball and clubs. The object is to complete the “hole” (and land the Frisbee™ in the elevated metal basket) in the least number of throws. |
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| Website: |
For more information about disc golf, visit
http://www.pdga.com/introduction |
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| Activity number: | 30005A | |||
| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | Disc golf at Mlacak Arena, Kanata |
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| Location: | Mlacak Arena, 2500 Campeau Promanade, Kanata | |||
| Dates: | Baskets up until fall |
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| Description: |
Try your hand at disc golf, a game similar to golf which uses a Frisbee™ instead of a ball and clubs. The object is to complete the “hole” (and land the Frisbee™ in the elevated metal basket) in the least number of throws. The Kanata disc golf site has a billboard which shows the different holes and explains the rules of the game. |
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| Website: |
For more information about disc golf, visit
http://www.pdga.com/introduction |
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| Activity number: | 30005B | |||
| Full list of related activities |
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| Name: | View the Rock Sculptures at Remic Rapids Park |
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| Location: | On the shore of the Ottawa River at Remic Rapids Park, east of the Champlain Bridge |
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| Dates: | From spring until ice and snow knock down the sculptures. | |||
| Description: |
View the spectacular rock sculptures created by local artist John Ceprano. |
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| Website: |
www.jfceprano.com/performanceartistsontherocks |
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| Activity number: | 30010 | |||
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| Name: | Visit Fulton's Sugar Bush - Packenham |
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| Description: |
Fulton's is open for the sugarbush season from mid-February to late April. It's a bit of a drive from Ottawa, but unlike many other area sugar bushes, it offers free admission and parking, as well as free access to various nature trails, free children's play areas, and horse-drawn sleigh rides for $2.00 per person. |
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| Website: | Fulton's Sugar Bush |
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| Activity number: | 30016 |
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| Name: | Skateboarding at McNabb Skatepark |
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| Location: | 180 Percy Street |
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| Dates: | Late May until the end of August |
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| Description: |
McNabb Skatepark is the City's only indoor skatepark.
Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 2 to 7 pm Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 7 pm Cost: $3.10/person per 2-hour session Age: There are no age limits, however participants are expected to have some skateboarding skills. Free Family Nights! Tuesday evenings until August 9th are free family nights at McNabb. Beginners and kids wanting to try skateboarding are welcome to come out; equipment and boards are available to loan out free of charge. |
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| Website: |
mcnabbskatepark.blogspot.com |
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| Activity number: | 30017 | |||
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| Name: | Visit the Spencerville Mill |
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| Location: | Spencerville (see map) |
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| Dates: | Mill: Early July to early September Gardens: April to October |
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| Description: | The Mill is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm during the operating season, and turbine demonstrations are offered on Thursdays and Sundays from 1 to 3 pm. Admission to the Mill is by donation. |
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| Website: | www.spencervillemill.ca |
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| Activity number: | 30019 |
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