15 Fun Summer Things to do in Ottawa with Kids & Teens: Off the Beaten Track

Ottawa is a fantastic destination for kids and teens! With the city being Canada’s national capital, there are tons of things to do in Ottawa with kids but if you want enjoy this Ottawa summer, try something new and get off the beaten path. Leave the downtown core and explore things to do beyond the most popular Ottawa tourist attractions. We’re going to take you to the suburbs to the west of Ottawa: Barrhaven, Stittsville, Kanata and beyond. It’s here we’ll introduce you to some special places that even the local residents don’t know about!

Where to stay in Ottawa

Nothing is more enjoyable than an Ottawa summer. The weather is hot and sunny and it’s much easier to explore than in the cold winter months. 

There are amazing things to do in Ottawa with kids in the downtown area so it really is a great location to stay. Staying in the downtown core will give you the opportunity to visit the more popular things to do in Ottawa with kids as well as the more off the beaten path activities that can be found outside the downtown area. It’s one of the areas that makes Ottawa one of the best getaways in Ontario.

There are many wonderful places to stay in and around Ottawa and many of the best hotels in Ottawa can be found downtown. There are also many options for Airbnb in Ottawa so if you are visiting Ottawa with kids, you might be more comfortable booking a larger Airbnb rental.

If, however, this isn’t your first visit to Ottawa in summer or you’re looking to avoid the large number of tourists that visit Ottawa in summer months, you should definitely branch out and stay in one of the smaller suburbs. This is also a great option for families looking for a staycation in the Ottawa area!  There are many hotel and Airbnb options available in Barrhaven, Kanata and Stittsville which will place you next to all of our off the beaten path things to do in Ottawa with kids.

How to get to Ottawa & our favourite suburbs of Barrhaven, Stittsville and Kanata

Staying in downtown Ottawa

Ottawa can easily be reached by air, train or car. If you’re planning to stay in Ottawa’s downtown core and visiting outside the area, we recommend renting a car or using your own. It’s a fairly straightforward drive on highway 417 to reach the western parts of Ottawa. We just recommend that you avoid travelling the 417 during rush hour traffic if possible.

While our favourite suburbs to the west can be reached using a combination of the O-train and OC Transpo buses, the service isn’t convenient and reaching most of our off the beaten track things to do in Ottawa would be difficult and time-consuming, if not impossible, using public transit.

Staying outside downtown Ottawa

If you’re visiting Ottawa in summer and staying outside the downtown area, you’re stay will be much more relaxed and you’ll be closer to more off the beaten track things to do in Ottawa with kids.

If arriving by air, Uber or a local taxi will get you to your accommodation in less than 30 minutes.

If you plan to arrive in Ottawa by train, make sure to book your ViaRail train ticket with final destination at Fallowfield-Ottawa. The Fallowfield station is located in the heart of Barrhaven and is the closest train station to any accommodation in Barrhaven, Stittsville or Kanata.

If arriving by car from Montreal, the 417 will bring you straight to the western suburbs. If arriving by car from the 401, highway route 416 runs between Barrhaven to the east and Stittsville and Kanata to the west so you don’t even need to venture into the downtown area unless you want to.

Things to do in Ottawa with kids and teens!

Whether you’re enjoying a weekend getaway in Ontario or visiting from afar, Ottawa is filled with amazing adventures and things to do for adults and kids of all ages. You have Parliament, the National Art Gallery, the Canada Museum of Science and Technology and so much more! But what about the less well-known things to do in Ottawa with kids and teens? Those that have visited Ottawa more than once, local residents and first time travellers looking to visit Ottawa off the beaten path need more options. That’s our goal! We’re going to explore things to do in Ottawa with kids and teens of all ages with a focus on the west end including the suburbs of Barrhaven, Stittsville and Kanata.

1. Karters Korners

Update: Unfortunately Karters Korners has been closed indefinitely

Karters Korners is a great attraction that is definitely worth of being on our list of things to do in Ottawa with kids and teens. It’s a place with fun activities for the whole family.

Teens and adults will love the twisty, turny track and their chance to beat their friends and family members to the finish line. While drivers have to over 54” tall, anyone under 54” may ride as a passenger with a driver over age 16 for no extra charge. Imagine the joy on your little one’s face when they get to experience the joy of karting too!

If racing cars isn’t your style, Karters Korners also has a fantastic 18 hole miniputt course that our teens really enjoyed.

2. Valleyview Little Animal Farm

Location: 4750 Fallowfield Rd, between Barrhaven and Stittsville

This wonderful little farm has a great variety of things to do with kids of all ages but I’d say it’s definitely geared more toward kids under age 10.

From the hourly puppet shows to the mini-train around the soy bean and sunflower fields and the small animal barns with goats, sheep, and chickens, little kids especially will have an incredible time. Make sure to visit the rabbit hatch, resident geese and donkeys as you wander the grounds and don’t miss the large creative farm playground at the far end of the grounds.

Plan to spend at least a few hours wandering the farm if you plan to take part in all the activities on offer.

3. Concert: Canadian Tire Centre

Location: 1000 Palladium Dr, Kanata

In the winter, the Canadian Tire Centre is home to the Ottawa Senators, Ottawa’s National Hockey League team. With us being huge hockey fans, that’s definitely our favourite go-to activity at the CTC. In summer,however, the CTC hosts concerts and sporting events that are fun for all ages.

When the kids found out I was writing about summer things to do in Ottawa with kids and teens, they told me I have to include a visit to the CTC. Summer concerts have included rock, country and pop headliners and other recent summer events have included Cirque du Soleil and Monster Truck Spectaculars.

4. Pinhey Sand Dunes

Location: Pineland Ave, Barrhaven

Incredibly we’ve lived in the suburbs of Ottawa for almost 20 years now and I just learned about this amazing place. Located between Slack Road and Pineland Ave., just north of Barrhaven, are beautiful, historic sand dunes. You can’t see them from the road but just inside the trees lining each road is this beautiful, relaxing place. When Sydney and I visited, a young family with a toddler was having a picnic. They had set their blanket on the sand and the little one was, well, toddling around in bare feet having fun in the soft, white sand. I wish I knew about this place when our kids were younger! It would have been a great summer thing to do in Ottawa with kids.

5. Unlocked Ottawa Kanata Escape Room

Location: 329 March Rd Unit 202, Kanata

We’ve tried a few escape rooms though the years and Unlocked Ottawa is our favourite. There are a variety of escape rooms geared towards groups of different sizes from 2 to 8 players and players aged 8 and up. You can book your room in advance to ensure a spot and if you arrive early, there are plenty of board games available to enjoy. We played with two adults and five teens and it took every second to achieve our escape!

6. Watson’s Mill Manotick

Location: 5525 Dickinson St, Manotick

Manotick is located just 15 minutes south of Barrhaven. Watson’s Mill is a beautiful old building nestled on the Rideau River. In the 1800s it was a flour mill. Today, the museum tells the history of Manotick and the Rideau River.

It’s a nice area to wander. The dam is located behind Watson’s Mill and directly across is Millview Park which is a really nice spot to sit and relax or have a picnic.

Next door to Watson’s Mill is the Manotick Remembrance Park. It has a beautiful view of the Rideau River and is a peaceful location paying homage to each branch of the Canadian Forces.

Kids with their parents and teens often fish off the nearby bridge that crosses the Rideau River. 

7. Try a Local Treat!

We spend a lot of time in Kanata and Stittsville but all our favourite go-to place for treats are in Barrhaven. While you’re visiting the west of Ottawa in summer, consider bringing the kids and teens out for lunch or an afternoon treat at one of our favourite locally owned places.

Anabia Cupcakes

Location: 3570 Strandherd Dr. Barrhaven

Anabia Cupcakes has some of the best cupcakes, hot chocolates and coffee drinks in Ottawa. You can take out or enjoy a break in their small European-like bistro.

Burgers & Shakes

Location: 220 Kennevale Rd., Barrhaven

With a location in Barrhaven and Manotick, this locally owned burger joint has amazing food! Their poutine, a Canadian treat for sure, is made with fresh cheese curds and homemade fries. It is definitely some of the best we’ve had. They serve great burgers, chicken and vegetarian meals as well as an incredible milkshake menu with over 25 varieties.

Fat Les’ Chip Stand

Location: 3779 Strandherd Drive, Barrhaven (in the Home Depot parking lot)

Fat Les’ Chip Stand is one of the best food trucks in Barrhaven. While its menu isn’t huge, everything we’ve tried has been awesome … burgers, Coney Island chili dogs, wraps, sandwiches and delicious ice cream! Lucas, our 17 year old, regularly used to bike there from school just to enjoy their poutine. They also have specialty poutines such as bacon double cheeseburger poutine. Even the most picky kid will find something they love here!

8. The Log Farm

Location: 670 Cedarview Rd. near Barrhaven

In the Spring, its busiest season, the Log Farm is filled with visitors seeking everything maple at the Sugar Bush. In summer, the Log Farm is the home of many small animals and a wonderful Saturday market. Each Wednesday the Log Farm hosts Toddler Time where littles aged 0-6yrs can spend time with farm animals, take a walk in the woods, feed the goats and enjoy story time.

9. Jack Pine Trail

Location: Moodie Dr. (near Barrhaven)

Well known by local families, Jack Pine Trail is a little bit of country inside the city. With three circular routes available, the distance ranges from 0.7km to 2.3km in length, part of which is boardwalk.

The walking is easy and enjoyable for kids of all ages. We have seen families with strollers but I’d suggest a carrier instead if your child is too small to walk the distance.

Dogs aren’t permitted due to its conservation status. Because of this, as you wander you’ll enjoy chipmunks, squirrels, birds, frogs and other small creatures that your kids will love. Remember to bring bird seed or, in our case because Sydney has nut allergies, sunflower seeds. Both chipmunks and birds will come right to you and eat out of your hand!

10. Strawberry Picking

Locations: 

Shouldice Farms 2901 Woodroffe Ave. Barrhaven

Richmond Farms 5740 Old Richmond Rd between Barrhaven and Stittsville

While the season is relatively short, picking strawberries has always been one of our family’s favourite things to do in Ottawa with kids. The suburbs to the west of downtown Ottawa have two wonderful U-pick locations that welcome kids with open arms, even if they do try to sneak a few berries from time to time. You can purchase your baskets at the U-Pick or bring your own (they’ll weigh them before you enter and subtract your basket weight from your final total).

11. Saunders Farm

Location: 7893 Bleeks Rd, Munster

While mostly known locally for its Halloween events, Saunders Farm is an amazing place to visit in summer.

There really is something here for kids of all ages. Teens will love the adventure mazes and pedal cars while younger kids will enjoy these activities along with the splash pad, puppet shows, unique play structures and hayrides.

It’s easy to spend an entire summer day here which makes it one of the most fun things to do in Ottawa with kids this summer!

12. Port Elmsley Drive-In Theatre

Location: 33 Port Elmsley Rd., Perth

Port Elmsley Drive-in Theatre is located a little over an hour from Barrhaven in the cute village of Perth. They show two movies per evening and families tune in using their car radio. The snack bar serves delicious movie snacks and families can watch from inside their car or, if they have an SUV or truck, they can back into the space and climb into the back with blankets to watch. There’s no better way to spend a summer evening in Ottawa!!

13. Diefenbunker

Location: 3929 Carp Rd, Carp

During the cold war, the Canadian Government built a massive four-story underground fortress to house the Prime Minister and other key officials if they needed shelter due to nuclear war. It’s such a cool place to explore! Visitors can do a self-guided tour or join one of the daily tours. If you’re not sure if this is something your kids would enjoy, you can always check out the Diefenbunker virtual tours.  We first visited when the kids were very young so it’s definitely something to enjoy with kids of all ages but teens would definitely understand the experience more.

Two Things to do in Ottawa with Kids worth Considering Closer to Downtown Ottawa:

14. Mooney’s Bay Beach

Location: 2960 Riverside Dr

A visit to the beach is one of our favourite summer things to do in Ottawa with kids. While closed in summer 2020 for construction, Britannia Beach would be my top choice for a beach visit during your time in Barrhaven, Kanata or Stittsville. While outside these areas, it’s only about a 20 minute drive and the area is definitely worth the time to get there. The beach is large and clean with a lifeguard on duty. Nearby is a large playground area that younger kids will love.

Since Britannia Beach is not available this summer, if you’re looking for another great beach, consider a visit to Mooney’s Bay. While closer to downtown Ottawa, it’s larger than Britannia Beach and rests on Mooney’s Bay instead of the Ottawa River. It’s a beautiful piece of the Caribbean inside the city.  Bring your swimsuit, towel and sunblock and you’re ready to enjoy!

15. National Arts Centre Play or Orchestra

Location: 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa

A visit to the NAC is different than most of Ottawa’s other downtown attractions. This state of the art facility has varying shows including Broadway musicals, world renowned orchestras and international ballet performances. Check the NAC schedule before your visit and if one of their shows is of interest, purchase tickets and travel downtown for an amazing experience.

Hopefully you’ll find tons of fun things to do in Ottawa this summer. Check out our other posts if you’re planning to explore a little of Canada this summer or even wander the province of Ontario.

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