Here we go, the school year has come to a close and yet some of us are staying here in Ottawa. Whether it be for summer school (seriously not recommended), work or just cause you actually live here, Ottawa can seem a bit slow paced- especially for those of you originally from Montreal or Toronto. Fret not my friends, for this list is made just for you. Here are the top 6 things you should do if you’re staying in Ottawa this summer.
1- Go to the National Museum of… all of them. Seriously, go to every single museum in Ottawa. No, it’s not lame; it’s actually really cool. Because Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the museums are seriously kick ass. There’s a variety to go to all from Science, to War to Art. They’re a ton of fun, and if your friends are around, take them with you and play a low-key game of hide-and-go-seek. Also, some are free on Thursday afternoons (call ahead and make sure though).
2 – Too warm out? Yeah that happens in the summer, but don’t worry I have a solution! A half hour away from uOttawa campus is Mont Cascades Waterpark and a half hour in the other direction is Calypso Waterpark. They’re both lots of fun and a great friends or family hangout time in the sun. Do yourself a favour though and wear sunscreen, please. I’m 100% serious. SUNSCREEN.
3 – Hit up Sparks Street to see Busker Festival (AKA Buskerfest)! From July 31st to August 4th, buskers from all over the world come to perform their acts on the streets of downtown Ottawa. It’s free, fun, and includes a ton of good local food, face painting, balloon art and much, much more. I can honestly recommend going to every single day.
4 – Got yourself a car? Only about a half hour away from the University of Ottawa, you can go zip lining at Adventure Laflèche. Laflèche offers an aerial obstacle course up in the trees that include zip lines (some traveling over water) of all lengths. Not only is this a killer workout, but it’s also a load of fun and the scenery is truly breathtaking.
5 – Who doesn’t love a concert? Who doesn’t love an outdoor concert? Who doesn’t love an outdoor 10 day long concert?! That’s right. Bluesfest is the way to go if you’re into music. Headliners this year are from all different genres include Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg (or Lion), The Killers, Blake Shelton and many, many more! Tickets are selling fast though, so get cracking! This year’s event is taking place from July 3rd to 13th.
6 – Though I would mainly recommend you see this in the fall when all the trees are changing colours, Gatineau Park is a really great place in the summer too. A vast amount of trees cover a really beautiful trail that’s great for hiking, jogging/running, taking pictures or even going on a date!
And you thought Ottawa was boring…pfft!