Year-Round Activities

This section lists activities that span the whole year (or most of the year).

Listings in this section are divided into categories based on activity types or themes, and may include self-guided walking tours and guided walking tours, points of architectural interest around the capital, museums and galleries, and sporting and recreational activities.

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Parks, Nature, Walking Tours

Visit the Stony Swamp Conservation Area and the Wild Bird Care Centre

Explore Gatineau Park trails with the Friends of Gatineau Park self-guide booklet

Walk, cycle and discover Ottawa, with the NCC’s Discover the Heart of the Capital brochure

Explore Parliament Hill with site interpreters and Discover the Hill Self-Guiding Booklet

Enjoy a historical tour of Sparks Street with the Sparks Street Mall walking tour

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  Name:   Visit the Stony Swamp Conservation Area and Wild Bird Care Centre

 
  Description:   The Stony Swamp Conservation Area comprises almost 2000 hectares of woodland, wetland and regenerating old field. Over 700 species of plants are known from Stony Swamp. Stony Swamp Conservation Area also supports a large variety of wildlife such as Canada geese and other waterfowl, beaver, woodland birds and northern flying squirrel. There are several trails running through the Conservation Area and trails can be accessed from several different locations; see the trails information website for detailed information (scroll down to the Stony Swamp information).

The Wild Bird Care Centre is located next to the Stony Swamp Conservation Area parking lot, and is open to visitors from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. Admission to the Centre is free but donations are accepted. Directions to the Wild Bird Care Centre can be found here.

Thanks to Mary for submitting this activity!

 
  Website:   Wild Bird Care Centre: www.wildbirdcarecentre.org

Information on the various Stony Swamp trails: www.canadascapital.gc.ca

General information on the Stony Swamp Conservation Area: www.canadascapital.gc.ca

 
  Activity number:   40036  

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  Name:   Explore Gatineau Park trails with the Friends of Gatineau Park Self-guided Tour Booklet

 
  Description:   There are many trails in Gatineau Park which offer interpretation panels. In addition, Waterfall and Lauriault trails can be explored using the Self-guided Tour booklet published by the Friends of Gatineau Park. The booklet is available at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre for $1.90 plus tax.

 
  Website:   www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp
?cid=16297-16299-10170-49685-49716-49720&lang=1&bhcp=1

 
  Activity number:   40001  

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  Name:   Walk, cycle and discover Ottawa, with the NCC’s Discover the Heart of the Capital brochure

 
  Description:   Pick up the NCC’s Discover the Heart of the Capital brochure, which has three walking tours and one bicycle tour, and which describes over 50 points of interest in the capital. Get the brochure at the InfoCentre across from Parliament Hill, order it from the NCC's publication catalogue, or download a PDF copy.

 
  Website:   NCC publication catalogue:
www.capitaleducanada.gc.ca
?cid=16301-27627-31822&lang=1&start=10


Discover the Heart of the Capital brochure in PDF format:
www.capitaleducanada.gc.ca/nortak/ftp/pdf/1138N_E.pdf

 
  Activity number:   40018  

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  Name:   Explore Parliament Hill with site interpreters and Discover the Hill Self-Guiding Booklet

 
  Description:   Pick up the Discover the Hill Self-Guiding Booklet free of charge in the Info-Tent (summer months) or at the Capital Infocentre across from Parliament Hill (year-round).

Mid-May to September 1, site interpreters are available to help you learn about historical figures and events.

 
  Website:   www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/Visitors/outdoor-e.asp#link5

 
  Activity number:   40019A  
  Related events and activities    

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  Name:   Enjoy a historical tour of Sparks Street with the Sparks Street Mall walking tour

 
  Description:   Download the Sparks Street Mall walking tour, available in HTML and PDF formats.

 
  Website:   www.sparksstreetmall.com/walking_tour1.htm

 
  Activity number:   40020  

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