This week’s post points you to beaches where you can escape the heat wave (at least briefly), discounts on whitewater rafting and scenic boat cruises, websites where you can learn about Indigenous travel destinations, and a colony of rare flowers in Lanark County. And if you’re feeling generous, the Canada Day celebrations in Osgoode could use a few more volunteers!
You can beat the heat at these nearby beaches
In this heat wave, it’s more important than ever to stay cool. I’ve just updated my post highlighting 40+ beaches in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais to help you find a place for a refreshing swim. Urban beaches, Gatineau Park beaches, provincial park beaches, village beaches—if it has a bit of sand or a rocky shore where you can unfold a beach chair, along with swimmable water, I’ve tried to include it.
Volunteers needed for Canada Day in Osgoode
The Osgoode Village Community Association is keenly seeking volunteers for its Canada Day celebrations. Some of the planned fun may be cut back if they can’t find enough community-minded folks to run the bouncy castles, scavenger hunt and other attractions. All volunteers get a free lunch, and teen volunteers will be entered into a draw for a $100 gift card. Contact the association via the Facebook page above if you can help.
If you want to see showy lady’s slippers, you’d better hurry
Hands up, any of you who knew that Lanark County is home to the biggest colony of showy lady’s slipper plants in the country. Yes, it’s true. You can find these rare orchids at the Purdon Conservation Area in Lanark Highlands, about half an hour northwest of Perth. Parking and and admission are free, and there’s a boardwalk that gets you close to the flowers. But according to CTV News, you’d better hurry—the flowers are almost done blooming for the year.
Carleton Place and Ottawa Art Gallery unveil outdoor art
On Thursday, June 20, the Carleton Place Gallery and Carleton Place BIA will officially unveil the Art Expedition, a series of banners on lamp standards along Bridge Street downtown. Each banner features a reproduction of an artwork by a regional artist.
Also on June 20, the Ottawa Art Gallery will officially launch Chaos Bloom—Tidal Wave, an outdoor mural by digital artist EEPMON. The mural of swirling flowers will be on display until June 2026.
These sites can help you learn about Indigenous travel
National Indigenous Peoples Day is coming up on Friday, June 21. If you’d like to mark the occasion by planning a road trip to learn more about Indigenous peoples, here are some useful resources:
- Destination Indigenous, which showcases sites and events across Canada
- Mādahòkì Farm, an Indigenous site in Ottawa that offers visitors festivals, a marketplace, a herd of Ojibwe Spirit Horses and more, including this weekend’s Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival
- the South Eastern Ontario tourism organization’s links to local Indigenous experiences
- Indigenous Tourism Quebec, which connects you to the province’s Indigenous communities, events and attractions
- the Government of Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Day website, which includes links to June 21 events
Site offers discounts on boat cruises and whitewater rafting
Attractions Ontario has a big list of discounts and deals on tourist sites all over the province. Here in Eastern Ontario, you can save 10% per person on whitewater trips with Ottawa City Rafting, OWL Rafting and Wilderness Tours. You can also save money on 1000 Islands cruises from Rockport, Gananoque or Brockville. (Note that there seems to be a glitch on the site regarding savings on cruises from Kingston; the link takes you to a boat company in Parry Sound!)
New bridge across the Rideau River is finally open
For ages, the new pedestrian/cyclist bridge across the Rideau River between Carleton University and Vincent Massey Park has been almost finished. Honestly, it has looked completely finished to me for at least a year, but what do I know? I’m no engineer. Anyway, the new bridge finally officially opened on Saturday, June 15. The blog Hans on the Bike has a full report on the new bridge, with lots of photos.
Heat waves could be the “new normal” in the Adirondacks
Modern tourism in the northern Adirondacks of New York state can be traced partly to the region’s reputation for cool, fresh air in summer. In the 1800s, rich but sweltering urbanites from New York City headed north for respite. However, sultry summers could become the norm in the Adirondacks over the next few decades, according to this NPR report.
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.