Here are Some Great Things to do with Your Family in the Ottawa Area This Autumn
The fall colours are out, the air is crisp, and there’s so much to do for family fun in Ottawa this season. Get out and see the attractions of autumn, many of which are Halloween themed. And if the weather isn’t great, you can take the kids to an indoor playground in Ottawa for more family fun. The autumn doesn’t last long, and the days are only getting colder, so get out with the family before this beautiful and fun season is over.
Enjoy A Bike Ride Downtown
Tour the Ottawa River pathway by bicycle with the family and take in breathtaking views of the city, landscape, and fall colours. You can bike past Parliament Hill, go to the War Museum, and even bike over one of the bridges to Gatineau for a tour past the Canadian Museum of History and Jacques Cartier Park. If you don’t have your own bicycles, they are available for rent at RentABike, across from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, or at Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals at 65 Sparks Street. Escape Bicycle Tours offers helmets, locks, and a variety of new bicycles to rent for both adults and kids.
Go on A Haunted Walk
If your kids are old enough to hear ghost stories without getting nightmares, consider going on The Haunted Walk of Ottawa. This 90-minute nighttime walking tour is a great way to get out and celebrate the spooky Halloween season. The tour guides dress in black cloaks and carry lanterns while telling stories of Ottawa’s dark past. This walking tour stops at haunted landmarks in downtown Ottawa, including the Rideau Canal and the Jail Hostel, which was once an actual jail and has the reputation of being one of Canada’s most haunted buildings.
Visit Saunders Farm
Saunders Farm hosts many fun fall harvest activities, including haunted ones near Halloween. Take the little ones during the day to enjoy plenty of activities geared for young children. Go on a hayride, walk through mazes, play around, and pick out pumpkins to take home. For older kids, there are plenty of spooky attractions (and monsters around) at night, such as the Haunted Hayride, the Barn of Terror, and the Coven.
Check Out the Pumpkinferno Festival at Upper Canada Village
If your family loves pumpkins, the hour-long drive to Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg, Ontario, is worth it. During the evenings in October, around 7,000 carved pumpkins are lit up around the village. There are pumpkin carvings of animals, mythical characters, story book heroes, and more, making this a stunning sight that the whole family will appreciate.
Embrace the scenic fall foliage, pumpkins, and Halloween-themed activities while you can. Winter will be here soon enough, so make this autumn one to remember with family fun in Ottawa.
