Ottawa 
Its summer! Schools out and the sun is shining, which means it times to fill your hot summer days creating new family memories! Escape the city life of busy Ottawa to get some special family time in the amazing areas that surround the city! Spend the day in nature, exploring new territories and landscape while staying active and busy. Where will your family choose to explore next?
Fort Henry
Just because school is on break, doesn’t mean you can’t keep learning! Spend the day taking in the history of The Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard which was used during the war of 1812. Now, your family can explore the fort’s ins and outs, watching military interpreters demonstrate the life of a military Brit! You can visit a Victorian school, try shooting a rifle and shop for lovely souvenirs. To end the day, watch the sunset high above the hills. Details
See Outdoor Adventures around Kingston for more Summer Fun.
Crysler Park Marina
The St Lawrence River is a family must do over the summer! The possibilities are endless, including kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, swimming or renting a speed boats. Relax along the river taking in the views and sunshine stopping for an idyllic picnic, dine at a restaurant or check out the shopping! Details
Bon Echo Provincial Parks
Get outside! Bon Echo is a natural paradise with stunning cliffs and natural greenery overlooking the water. You and your loved ones can enjoy a fun filled days of boating, many different canoe routes, fishing, and tons of hiking trails ranging from very easy to very challenging! End the day off in one three natural sand beaches perfect for a refreshing dip. Details
Marked
Regarded as the ultimate family adventure park, it’s the best place to spend the day! Here your family can pick from a variety of awesome activities ranging from paintball, airsoft, laser tag, ultimate sandbox and much more! An adventure park you won’t be disappointed by! Details
Baird Trail
Known as a hidden gem in the area, this area of natural solitude serves as the perfect spot for a quiet and peaceful family nature walk! The boardwalk is serene with educational boards noting the history and explaining the nature of the area as its rich in trees, plants, birds and wildlife! Details
Callaghans rapids
Dreamt of showing your children mystical waterfalls? Take them on the adventure of a lifetime to Callaghans rapids! Explore the two one metre height falls that are about sixty metres across. Its an exciting natural phenomenon you can enjoy after a short nature hike Details
Horsin’ Around Ranch
Are you kids always horsin’ around?! Why not put that energy to good use at Horsin’ Around Ranch where they can keep busy trail riding or having a lesson at this ultimate horsey heaven on the spacious farm land on 140 acres! It’s a wonderful family location far away from city life. Details
Madawaska Rafting
Photo Credit: Madawaska Kanu Centre
Hit the wild turbulent wants on a fun filled 2-hour rafting adventure over 5 kilometres of river fun in a wonderful wilderness setting. A talented guide will introduce you to the ins and outs of river life while you hold on and enjoy the ride! There is even the chance to jump out and go for a swim! The best part, its suitable for anyone ages 2 and up! Fun for the whole family. Details.
South Frontenac Cycling
Get your whole family ready for a day on 2 wheels on South Frontenac, offering beautiful natural terrains. There are many trails for the whole family to enjoy, navigating through greenery and freshwater lakes! Details
Gould Lake Conservation
You and your family will adore this 589 hectares of beautiful wilderness where you can choose from a variety of fun filled outdoor activities including hiking, picnicking, fishing, canoeing, boating, swimming and wild life viewing! It is hard to beat a day outside with the family staying active in the sunshine. Details
Bonnechere Caves
Offering tours for almost 60 years, an adventure at Bonnechere Caves if an exhiliarting trip for the whole family! Explore a fun, safe, educational and stunning experience as the staff takes your family on a fun tour through the natural beautiful trails through caves, waterfalls and fossils!
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Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre
The Shaw Woods consist of over 200 hectares of wetlands, mixed forest, and old-growth forest. The 14-kilometer network of trails are well-groomed and are a way for visitors of the Outdoor Education Centre to appreciate the uniqueness and value of the undisturbed forest areas. Learn all about the flora and fauna through well-explained guides, which uncovers the natural beauty of distinct points of interest on these walking trails. Details
Middleville & District Museum
Go time travelling! Enjoy a trip through history at this country museum set in a 1861 two story stone school with a museum filled with expansive history to learn about artifacts from the past! It’s filled with ancient secrets, waiting to be learnt! Details
Aquatarium
The Aquatarium is so much more then you can imagine! This 27,000-square foot aquarium and discovery centre is an engaging interactive discover centre aiming to inspire curiosity and learning, through a range of activities! Learn all about the environment and under the sea through activities including learning to dive in an state of the art dive tank! Details
Skywood Eco Adventure Park
A highlight of Ontario, this incredible park offers adventures of a lifetime. Get your heart racing through Ontario’s largest zip lining, tree top adventures, canopy tours, aerial games and much more in the adventure park which features something fun and exciting for all ages and abilities, making it the perfect family outing. Details
1000 Island Helicopter Tours
Surprise your kids with the flight of their lives! Soaring miles above the land, experience the splendour of nature from the bird’s eye of a view. This exhilarating tour will allow your family to learn about the area, relax and build sky high memories together that you won’t soon forget. Details
Speedway
Do you kids love speed and cars?! Head to the Brockville Speedway for their chance to (safetly!) get their first taste behind the wheel of a go – kart that they can whip around the track racing the clock and you! Details
Boiler Room Climbing Room
Escape the summer heat while staying super active at the Boiler Room Climbing Room, Canada’s tallest climbing wall for your next family fun adventure. There are awesome training programs to help get you started and then you’re on your way up the 30 foot vertical wall, getting ready for the climb of your life! Details
Logos Land
The perfect destination for family fun in the sun. At Logo Land you can spend the day using the zip lining course, welcoming you on a high speed adventure, and then head to the waterpark for exhilarating water fun on many different water slides or opt for paddle boarding, swimming or canoeing. Details
Hugli’s Blueberry Farm
“Family fun grows here!” At Hugli’s Blueberry Farm, the whole family can get in on the farm fun from picking fresh delicious blueberries, to getting lost in the maze, to meeting loving farm animals like sheep, peacocks, llamas and more! They also have a fun wagon ride! Details
Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve
Go for an outdoor adventure at the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve. Rich in animal wildlife and vegetation, the Papineau-Labelle Wildlife Reserve is an ideal outdoor family outing that is popular for fishing, kayaking or canoeing, and simply relaxing on the beach or in a lakeside log cabin. See what else you can do in the Gatineau Region.
Silent Lake Provincial Park
Over 19-kilometers of hiking and mountain biking trails lead to an outstanding lookout point over Silent Lake. Each trail exposes the solitude and tranquility of Silent Lake Park, and range in difficulty for the experienced explorer, or the beginner looking for an easier stroll. During the months of July and August, a discovery program allows you to observe plants and animals take the Discovery Ranger Pledge. See what else you can do in the Ottawa Valley this Summer.
Saunders Farm
Create great memories for the whole family while you enjoy barns, mazes, a hayride, a march, and a theatre. They have been planting hedge mazes and labyrinths since 1993, making it the largest collection in the World! Their world famous maze is designed to test your perseverance and problem solving skills. Details
The Rideau King
Learn all about our historic Rideau Canal by going on a day long long cruise on the Rideau King that includes lunch. A fifty foot steel tour boat sails Monday through Thursday every week from its home port of Merrickville. Tour options include trips from Merrickville to Ottawa/Ottawa to Merrickville; Westport to Merrickville/ Merrickville to Westport with transportation available to get you back to starting location. Ottawa Sightseeing Cruises
For more Cruises, see Sightseeing Cruises in Ontario.
Fort Wellington
Spice up your family visit to For Wellington National Historic Site with the new Parks Canada’s Xplorers program. Explore this original and amazing site. Parks Canada’s Xplorers booklet, available at the Visitor Centre, will help your child get the most out of their visit, provide your family with a great experience, and give you the inside track and secrets of the historic fort and the gunboat exhibit. Also this summer,on Tuesdays from July 10th to August 11th, Fort Wellington is abuzz with the sounds of children living history as time travellers to the War of 1812 and 1840 Rebellion periods of the fort’s past. Details
Fo more fun day trips with older kids, see Summer Adventure Day Trips From Ottawa
Very interesting ideas. I will follow up on some. Always looking for something to do. Allan