This week’s Heads Up post includes a tip for saving money on overnight stays in the Outaouais, a link to Lanark County cycling routes, info on a new waterfront patio at Jones Falls and a soon-to-open boutique in Kemptville, details on a restaurant promotion in the Glebe and a shopping promotion in the Seeley’s Bay area, and more. For instance, did you know that public transit is available in Prince Edward County, or that you can visit a turtle rescue centre in Peterborough? Read on to learn more!
Events
- Wine & Dine the Glebe is a summer promotion featuring seven restaurants in the central Ottawa neighbourhood. Visit at least five of the seven spots in the Glebe by August 30, have a meal at each and collect stamps along the way, and you’ll be entered in a draw for a $1,000 Glebe dining prize.
- You still have time to participate in Sunday Fun Drive, a summer shopping promotion put together by the Lyndhurst, Seeley’s Bay and District Chamber of Commerce. Visit any of the 14 participating businesses on any day of the week (not just Sunday!), spend at least $10, and collect a stamp. Then you’ll be eligible for weekly prizes and a grand prize gift basket. The promotion runs until September 1.
- A new festival is launching this September in Kingston. The RoadTrip Music Festival (Saturday, September 12) will feature performances from emerging Canadian and international artists, including Peach Pit, Kasador and Gabriel Jacoby.
Discounts and deals
- You can save 15% on overnight stays in micro-chalets, micro-refuges and domes at Air Eau Bois, an outdoor adventure centre in Denholm, Quebec. The catch? The deal is available only for stays on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays. Air Eau Bois is located in the Outaouais, about 70km north of Ottawa, on Lac du Poisson Blanc.
Other news
- Looking for a new-to-you cycling route? Lanark County Tourism has developed a bunch of bike itineraries, ranging from “tiny” (shorter than 20km) to “epic” (213km). Also, if biking’s your thing, don’t miss my huge guide to local cycling.
- A new art, gift and housewares shop is due to open in Kemptville this fall. La Maison d’Envie will be run by Scott Godwin and Luc Vincent, who also own Kemptville’s Bubba & Bugs Coffee Bar.
- The Hotel Kenney (at the Jones Falls lock station on the Rideau Canal) has just opened a new waterfront dining patio called Jeff’s. It looks great from the photos on Facebook.
- Did you know that there is public transit in Prince Edward County? Until October 18, County Transit is offering service between Belleville, Picton, Wellington and Bloomfield. The company also offers year-round service between Belleville and Picton.
- Inside Ottawa Valley has a new guide to Amherst Island, west of Kingston. If the article makes you curious about the island, don’t miss my post about cuddling lambs at Topsy Farms.
- Today I learned that the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre in Peterborough treats wounded turtles brought in from across the province. You can visit its Education Centre to learn more about turtles and the centre’s work.
- The increasingly misnamed website Islands.com recently published a guide to Bancroft. Last time I checked, Bancroft was not on an island. However, the guide has some not-bad tips, although it does say Bancroft is a three-hour drive from Ottawa. (I’ve done the drive many times in 2.5 hours.)
- Planning a long-distance road trip? Condé Nast Traveler has published its list of the world’s 20 most beautiful towns, and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, was the only Canadian community to make the cut.
- I’ll say it again: Don’t be cavalier about ticks! As this CBC story notes, more than 100 people in Ottawa have been diagnosed with Lyme disease this year. (Ticks transmit the illness.) The Canadian Wildlife Federation has lots of good tick bite prevention tips.
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.
