If you like outdoor fun, this week’s Head’s Up post has the scoop on a Kingston obstacle course race, the CN Cycle for CHEO, a sunrise event in the Laurentians and an accessible nature boardwalk on Ottawa’s southern edge. Indoor pursuits more your style? Don’t miss the details of murder mystery fun in Kemptville, a boutique hotel overlooking Meech Lake and a 50% off deal at a Toronto hotel.
Table of contents
- Baxter Conservation Area can finish its accessible boardwalk
- Don't miss your chance for a long bike ride
- Kichesippi Beer Co. has closed its doors
- Meech Lake mansion will reopen as boutique hotel
- Toronto hotel offers March Break deal
- See sunrise from the top of a Laurentians tower
- More eco dyeing and Ukrainian Easter egg painting
- Get early-bird pricing on Cannonball Crush registration
- Nab tickets to a Kemptville murder mystery night
- Eastern Ontario events win awards
Baxter Conservation Area can finish its accessible boardwalk
The Rideau Valley Conservation Area (RCVA) has received $57,935 in funding to complete the last 300 metres of what will be a 710-metre accessible boardwalk at Baxter Conservation Area near Kars. The RCVA will construct the new section in spring and summer 2026.
The boardwalk, along with graded stone-dust trails and an accessible marshland bridge, have been designed to allow as many people as possible to enjoy nature at Baxter Conservation Area. This project is part of the RCVA’s larger Nature for All project, which aims to make Baxter the most accessible wilderness haven in Eastern Ontario.
Don’t miss your chance for a long bike ride
The CN Cycle for CHEO (Sunday, May 3) is a huge fundraising event with courses for just about every age and interest, from a 2km family-friendly walk to 70km and 100km rides aimed at serious cyclists. If you want to join one of the longer rides, now’s the time to sign up, as spaces on those rides are limited. None of the event’s routes are races, so participants go at their own pace, but you probably don’t want to sign up for the longer ones if you’ve never done a long ride before.
Kichesippi Beer Co. has closed its doors
Sad news for craft beer fans: Kichesippi Beer Co. in Bells Corners has closed up shop, as of Friday, March 6.
Meech Lake mansion will reopen as boutique hotel
O’Brien House, overlooking Meech Lake in Gatineau Park, has had an up-and-down history. Built for a local businessman in the 1930s, it came into the National Capital Commission’s possession in 1964. Then it sat empty for more than half a century. (Yes, this does remind me of LeBreton Flats.) It briefly reopened as a boutique hotel in 2018 and 2019 before closing once again. In this latest iteration, Square Old Chelsea—which owns a number of businesses in Chelsea, including Lofts du Village, Distillerie du Square and the Chelsea Pub—has leased the property. It plans to reopen O’Brien House this spring as an 11-room boutique hotel.
Toronto hotel offers March Break deal
Heading to Toronto for March Break? The Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel’s Family Fun package offers a 50% discount off a second room when you’re travelling with kids under 18. The package is available between March 12 and March 24, 2026. If you’re wondering what the hotel is like, see my review.
See sunrise from the top of a Laurentians tower
Sentier des cimes is a tall observation tower in the forests of the Laurentians, a bit south of Tremblant, and the views are great. But have you seen it at dawn? On Saturday, March 21, the tower will open at 6am so that visitors can climb to the top in time to witness sunrise on the Spring Equinox at 6:59am. As an extra reward for getting up so early, you’ll get free coffee and pastries, too.
More eco dyeing and Ukrainian Easter egg painting
Last week, I told you about an eco-dyeing printmaking workshop in Quyon on May 23, being offered in conjunction with La Fab sur Mill. That class has sold out, but a second class has been added on Sunday, May 24.
In my previous Heads Up post, I also mentioned one set of Ukrainian Easter egg painting classes. Turns out lots of other places are offering those in March, including Stone Manor Studios in Newboro (Sunday, March 22) and La Fab sur Mill in Chelsea (Sunday, March 29).
Get early-bird pricing on Cannonball Crush registration
Registration is open now for Cannonball Crush, an annual 5km obstacle course race at Fort Henry in Kingston. This year, it’s happening on Saturday, June 13. And until March 31, adults can register for the early-bird price of $75; the price goes up to $90 on April 1. Teens aged 13 to 17 can also register, but there’s no early-bird pricing on their $30 fee.
Nab tickets to a Kemptville murder mystery night
North Grenville Community Theatre‘s most recent performance of Murder at the Manor—a murder mystery night set in England in 1937—sold out days before the show. So if you’re keen to participate in this interactive production, you might want to get your tickets now for upcoming performances at the Old Firehall in Kemptville (Sunday, April 12) and the Kemptville Masonic Hall (Saturday, April 18). The April 12 show is a fundraiser for a new mosque, and the April 18 show includes dinner.
Eastern Ontario events win awards
Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) has highlighted several Eastern Ontario events in its list of the 2026 Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario. Pumpkinferno and Alight at Night at Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg made the list, as did Fort Fright at Fort Henry National Historic Site in Kingston. Speaking of the Limestone City, Kingstonlicious—a winter restaurant promotion—also got a nod.
A bit further from Ottawa (but still within weekend road tripping distance), many other events made the list, including Brighton Applefest, Buckhorn Festival of the Arts, Hike Haliburton, Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour, Peterborough Musicfest, Port Hope Candlelight Festival, Port Hope Arts Festival, Quinte West Presents: Medieval Madness, and Tweed & Company Theatre.
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.