Heads Up: New Porter flight, spa and brewery

This week’s Heads Up post is short and sweet because, to be perfectly honest, I spent two days over the past week writing a post I hadn’t planned on—my big guide to shopping local in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais! But here’s what I have for you.

Lots of new attractions are opening in South Eastern Ontario

The South Eastern Ontario tourism organization has just published a big post about new attractions, hotels, restaurants and more in a region south of Ottawa stretching from roughly Cornwall to Picton. They include Ontario’s first lakefront Nordic-style spa (in Prince Edward County), an Asian fusion bar and lounge (Kingston), a B&B in a log home (Lombardy) and a new craft brewery (Kemptville).

Porter has announced non-stop flights from Ottawa to Victoria

If you’re planning on taking your summer vacation in Canada this summer, here’s good news: Porter Airlines has just announced non-stop service between Ottawa and Victoria. The flights to B.C.’s capital will begin on May 15, with round-trip service on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Lots of hot tickets are now available

Remember the Brockville Tall Ships Festival that I mentioned last week? Tickets to it are now available. Other big upcoming events that are already selling tickets are the Ottawa Jazz Festival, the Stratford Festival, the Shaw Festival, Ottawa concerts by Jelly Roll and Gowan, and the Montreal Grand Prix (some sections of the grandstands for that one are already sold out).

Runners can also register now to compete in the Limestone Race Weekend in Kingston, the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend and the St. Lawrence Marathon from Crysler to Cornwall.

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.