Whether your idea of a fun road trip involves cycling through pretty scenery, learning about Indigenous culture, going horseback riding or hanging out with Harry Potter characters, this week’s Heads Up post has you covered. You can get the scoop on new Ottawa-to-London non-stop flights and save money on tickets to a gala fundraiser. I’ll even tell you where you can buy your own hotel (if you’re a millionaire).
New FixIt station opens at Carleton Junction
Cyclists who live in Carleton Place or like to ride through it, take note: A new FixIt station has opened in Carleton Junction, a park next to the Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail. The station offers free access to bike repair tools and an air pump, and includes a water bottle filling station and seasonal washrooms.
Tickets for the Discover L&A Ride are going quickly
Speaking of cycling: If you’d like to cycle a scenic 58-kilometre route through Lennox & Addington, a largely rural area just west of Kingston, you can sign up for this year’s Discover L&A Ride on Saturday, September 21. Your $35 ticket includes cookies, coffee, apple cider doughnuts and other treats, as well as musical entertainment at the end of the ride. The ride starts and ends at the Bergeron Estate Winery & Cider Company (9656 Loyalist Parkway, Adolphustown), and it will run rain or shine. When I last checked, 60% of the tickets were already gone. The event sold out last year, so you might want to move quickly on this one.
Air Canada launches non-stop service to London
Back before the pandemic, Ottawans could fly non-stop from Ottawa International Airport to London Heathrow. Here’s good news for Anglophiles: Air Canada has relaunched the service. Beginning on March 31, 2025, Air Canada will offer four flights a week in each direction between the two airports. This CTV News Ottawa story has more info.
Outaouais offers ways to connect with Indigenous culture
Tourisme Outaouais has published a very useful blog post outlining many places in the Outaouais where you can learn about Indigenous culture. The spots include the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Cultural Centre, museums, restaurants, shops, events and more.
Fun abounds in Eastern Ontario for animal lovers
The South Eastern Ontario tourism organization has published a great online guide to animal adventures across a wide swath of Ontario from Belleville to the Quebec border. Find out how you and your family can visit with horses, goats, alpacas, chickens, ducks and all sorts of other critters. (Alpaca fans: Don’t miss my post about my visit to Little Foot Alpacas in Spencerville.)
Early-bird tickets for Habitat gala are available until August 31
Steel Toes and Stilettos is a glam annual fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa. It’s taking place this year at the Shaw Centre on Saturday, November 9, and you can save $50 on individual tickets if you buy by August 31. (After that date, the single-ticket price goes up to $250.)
Families can channel their inner Harry Potter in Smiths Falls
If you have a Hogwarts superfan in your household, mark Saturday, September 21, on your calendar. That’s the day the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario will be transformed into a Harry Potter-themed wonderland for a one-day event called the Hallow’s Express. Visitors can chat with popular Hogwarts characters, brew potions, snap selfies, take a ride on a vintage train and generally immerse themselves in all things Harry Potter. Costumes are encouraged!
Tickets aren’t available yet but will be on sale any day, so keep checking the museum’s website and/or social media for the live link if you’re keen. The tickets usually go very quickly, so I wanted to alert you in case they were all gone before next week’s Heads Up post.
Heritage hotel building is up for sale
Speaking of Smiths Falls: If you have a cool $8 million to spare, you can buy a historic building in downtown Smiths Falls. The 1901 structure, originally built as a hotel, is currently home to popular cafe C’Est Tout on the ground floor and multiple AirBnb units on the upper floors. Here’s the listing, and this Inside Ottawa Valley article has lots more details.
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.