A Guide to Winter
Activities in Ottawa

Ice Skating

Who doesn’t like skating? Well, as a winter activity, you can do it soon here in Ottawa. You can go skating—from hockey rinks, on the canal, or on outdoor ice surfaces.

On the canal, you can go skating with your family or friends and enjoy a great time. You can go to stands and get treats like the iconic beaver tails, churros, desserts, and everything in between. Some of my winter memories are with my family and spending time with them on the canal. Fun fact: This ice rink is the most massive canal in the entire world!

You can also go to your local hockey rinks like, for example, Sportsplex, Minto and any hockey rink complex area. They usually offer this during the winter season. And at the sports complexes, you can drop in, pay, and bring your skates and gear. Note: Most of the time you aren’t allowed to bring hockey sticks. Just bring some skates and your winter gear, and you're all set!

Skating indoors or outdoors is a great way to spend time with friends and family and is something great to do throughout the winter season!

Tobogganing

This is a fun activity you can do with anyone, and slide down a slippery slope and have some fun. You can go to parks or even larger places with huge hills and slide your way down. Check out Bruce Hill, Carlington Hill, Conroy Pit, Grasshopper Hill, and many more! From big hills to smaller ones, this is a winter activity that will keep you occupied!

You can go with friends and family to do some racing and have a fun time. Don’t forget about safety and precaution as well! Make sure to wear helmets and all of your snow gear for this fun-filled activity. This is the only time of the year that you can do this activity. So while it’s around, don’t forget to have some fun and get on the slope!

Hiking

This activity can bring family together while spending time outdoors and having some fun. Being outdoors and hiking is great for mental health, spending quality time with others, and feeling happy! This activity can be found anywhere: taking a nice stroll, hiking through parks, or other places you haven't been before. It's a chance to experience and learn more about the world around us and see things you might've never seen. You can go through forests to find beauty in nature and find an appreciation for the beautiful world around you.

Skiing

Skiing is a fun-filled activity you can do with the people around you and enjoy time in the snow! You can go on high peaks and ski your way down at rapid speed with control, or you can take it easy and go on the simpler hills. You’ll be able to get a nice ride in the chairlift until they drop you off, and you can go down some fun trails.

The trails have hidden passageways, and you can take any place that is allowed. Don’t go in off-limit areas that they tell you to specifically not go! This sport is super fun in the snow, and I know you’ll be having a blast.

You can also go to the indoor part, get some food, drinks and stay warm. You can purchase the food and watch the skiers or snowboarders slope down the hill.

If you're looking for somewhere to ski, some options are Calabogie, Camp Fortune, Mount Pakenham (my favourite), and Bytown Ski Club. These areas offer skiing throughout the winter season, and you can sign up for lessons, get some passes or annual year passes and have some fun down the slope.

Christmas Light Show

Do you love the magical season of Christmas? Do you love light shows? Do you love characters and holiday scenes? If yes, you and your family or friends can go to light festivals here in Ottawa! There are some annual ones during and throughout the Christmas season. You can even go to well-known Parliament Hill. Light shows at Parliament Hill run from December to January 7th. Throughout this time, the only times throughout the day that you can attend are through 6-11 PM. If you're interested, make sure to buy some tickets and watch these awesome events!

If not Parliament Hill, you can attend Magic of Lights, which will be held at Wesley Clover Parks. There’ll be character and holiday scenes at this magical event which is occurring from this week (11.26.21) to January 8th. And if that isn’t great enough already, the tickets will help out young and hopeful kids at CHEO.

Parades

Do you love parades? If you say yes, here’s a great opportunity! You can attend some throughout the holiday season like this one: The Help Santa Toy Parade. This parade is great because it features firefighters helping out the kids who may not have a lot and giving them joy for this holiday season! You can even donate to them as well, helping many kids out this Christmas! You can find this parade in the Ottawa Carleton area if you’d like to attend.

Why just one parade option, when there can be two? Here’s another one. There will be a Santa Christmas parade this year in Carleton as well. So if you miss The Help Santa Toy Parade, this is one to attend! The parade is at Carleton Place High School, and it’ll keep going to new destinations such as Lake Avenue and Bridge Street.

Visit Windsor Park

If you love nature, here’s another option! You can hike around Windsor Park, take a stroll and see what it has to offer. You can walk around, see new things that you’ve never seen before in Ottawa and take a few hours and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Animals at Parc Omega

If you love seeing animals in the winter, this’ll be a great opportunity and option for you! Parc Omega has animals outside that you can see through your car windows and meet some furry friends! It’ll be very beautiful in the wintertime. Seeing all the trees, animals, and snow; it’ll be a lot of fun! Fun fact: You can also stay at a cabin called Cozy Wolf Cabin and stay near Parc Omega! Parc Omega is open all year round. In the summer you’ll have the chance to see different animals than in the winter.

Hogs Back Park

Again, if you love hiking and snow, you won’t want to miss this opportunity! Not only is this place stunning, but there are also falls! You can walk around, see the beauty and take some photos near the waterfalls, and enjoy a peaceful morning, night or afternoon. Take some friends, take some walks, and truly enjoy what the world has to offer. Not every place is like this. So if you have the chance, you should come. This hiking spot is showstopping, and to be in that environment is truly amazing. There’ll be snow everywhere with everything, and it’ll take your breath away!