Fun things for kids to do in Ottawa
Written by Travel, Trek & Tour Contributor, February 11, 2020
Every parent knows that some children have a tendency to get bored really easily. They need to constantly be active or mentally engaged, and often it can be difficult as parents to keep up.
Coming up with new things to do with your kids in Ottawa can be challenging, but if you know where to look you can find some really fun activities for them. Here are some ideas that you can use to keep your kids busy, whether for a single trip or for a period of time.
Camps for Kids in Ottawa
Have you considered signing your kids up for a camp in Ottawa? There are a number of different kinds, whether it’s a summer camp, evening and weekend camp, or even an overnight camp.
The city offers March break, winter holiday, youth leadership, and summer camps. Click here to browse through the individual programs. During March break there are cooking, basketball, hockey, swimming, and adventure camps, but sign up has already passed so you’ll have to take a look at other upcoming options.
What about programming and coding camps for kids in Ottawa not offered by the city? If your kid loves computers, coding, and/or video games, this is a perfect opportunity for them. Teaching kids to code offers them a great opportunity to learn something new and prepare them for a future career.
Explore the City
There are lots of things for kids and families to do in Ottawa. If you’re looking to plan a day trip, here are some ideas:
- Go skating at the SENS Rink of Dreams or the Rideau Canal Skateway
- Visit the Canadian Museum of History and its Children’s Museum
- Attend a free activity or do a workshop at the National Gallery of Canada
- If your kids love science, take them to the Canada Science and Technology Museum
- There’s also the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Take a guided tour of the Royal Canadian Mint
- Eat and shop at the ByWard Market
There are also some festivals to keep an eye out for. Winterlude runs this year from January 31 to February 17 and can be attended for free. There your kids can enjoy beautiful ice sculptures, skate, and play at the Snowflake Kingdom. During this time, the Jacques Cartier Park in downtown Gatineau turns into a winter wonderland for kids.
They can enjoy fun activities and performances like:
- Tubing
- Skiing and snowboarding
- A Kiddie Zone for toddlers
- Zip lining
- Indigenous performances
- The Ice Hogs family
There are also three ice-carving competitions: the Winterlude International Ice Carving Challenge, the Winterlude Battle of America’s Ice Carving Challenge, and the Canadian Ice Carvers Society Championship.
In May, there’s the Canadian Tulip Festival which features more than a million blooming tulips throughout the city. And on July 1 the city hosts a patriotic Canada Day party on Parliament Hill which celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation.
Always More to Explore
As long as you know where to look, you’ll never run out of things for your kids to do in Ottawa. Try out a bunch of things and you’re sure to find something they’ll enjoy.
