Whether you want to save money on movie tickets, take a March Break trip with the kids, take a farm tour on Amherst Island, camp in a provincial or national park this summer, eat tacos at Lansdowne Park, see Norah Jones, or even throw a tomahawk like an 18th-century woodsman, the time to start planning is now! Read on for details.
Norah Jones is coming to Ottawa Jazz Fest
For all of you who can’t get enough of Norah Jones’s sultry-yet-soothing interpretations of classic tunes and her own wonderful compositions, I have good news: She’s coming to the Ottawa International Jazz Festival on Saturday, June 29, and day passes are available now.
Sign up now to walk, run, cycle or wheel for soldiers
Early-bird registrations are open now for two Ottawa events that raise money to help soldiers and their families.
The Navy Bike Ride (Saturday, June 15) starts from Dows Lake and, despite the name, you can sign up to cycle, walk or ride. Sign up by March 31 for the deepest discounts.
The Canada Army Run (Sunday, September 22) is open to walkers, runners and wheelchair users of all ages and fitness levels. If you can’t make it to the in-person event, you can register for the virtual version and complete the required kilometres anytime between September 6 and 27. Register by March 3 to get the best early-bird pricing.
Get tips for touring New York’s Lake Champlain region
If you’re planning a trip to Plattsburgh, Ausable Chasm or Ticonderoga this year, check out my travel tips in my post about the Adirondack Coast region for Perceptive Travel.
Celebrate maple syrup at Parc Oméga
Tickets are available now for Sugar Fest, a one-night celebration of maple syrup season at Parc Oméga on Saturday, March 23. The evening will feature maple taffy, traditional tunes, tubing and skating (weather permitting), viewings of the park’s wolves and more.
Marriott Bonvoy has family hotel deals for March and April
Looking for a family getaway in Ontario or Quebec in March and April—perhaps for March Break? Here are some of the deals Marriott Bonvoy is offering at its hotels.
- Winter Savings promotion (multiple hotels): Use the code ZJL when booking at any participating Marriott property to get a Winter Savings discount until May 31, 2024. The full list of participating hotels is on the Winter Savings page.
- Delta Hotels by Marriott Ottawa City Centre: Thinking of a staycation? The Family Fun Getaway package at the Delta in downtown Ottawa includes a children’s welcome gift, a $50 food and beverage credit, and free self-parking for one vehicle. This deal is available until March 31, 2024.
- Le Centre Sheraton Montreal Hotel: With the Your Stay Your Way promotion, you’ll receive a $100 hotel credit if you stay two nights. This offer is good until October 1, 2024.
- Sheraton Centre Hotel Toronto: On select dates, book one room and get the second at 50% off, until March 31, 2024, with the Family Fun Your Way package. (P.S.: Here’s my review of my 2023 stay at the Sheraton Centre Toronto.)
Video offers great tips for Bath and Amherst Island
If your travels take you to Kingston or Napanee, you might want to leave time to visit the cute village of Bath and charming Amherst Island. Check out the video above from Road Trip Ontario (no business relationship to Ottawa Road Trips, but blogger Christopher Rudder does a fabulous job of covering the province). You’ll get tips on visiting sheep, tasting beer and more.
Cineplex has a $5 movie deal in February
Sometimes, a road trip can be as simple as going out to see a movie. Throughout February 2024, Cineplex is offering $5 general admission tickets at all of its theatres, if you buy your ticket in person (fees are higher if you buy online). You can also get a small popcorn for another $5. Read the fine print—for instance, you can only buy four tickets at a time at the reduced rate, and there may be surcharges for some movies and premium cinemas (such as VIP). But, still, it’s a pretty good deal.
Book your park campsite now
If you’re dreaming of summer camping, now is the time to start making those campsite reservations. Here’s where to book:
- Parks Canada (reservations for most sites across Canada are open now)
- Ontario provincial park campsites (reservations are always open, for dates up to five months in advance)
- Gatineau Park campsites (limited availability in 2024 due to construction; reservations open March 15)
- Sépac Quebec parks (hut reservations start February 27; reservations for canoe camping at several parks and cycle camping at Pointe-Taillon open February 28)
Compete like an 18th-century woodsman (or woodslady?) in Lisbon, NY
Here’s something quirky: The Fort La Presentation Association is hosting a Primitive Snowshoe Biathlon on the first weekend in March. Participants can choose to dress up in 18th-century-style clothing and even old-fashioned snowshoes to compete in the timed event, which includes target shooting and tomahawk throwing.
Looking for more tips on things to see and do in and around Ottawa? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100-km Getaway Guide.
As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.