This week’s Heads Up has news from all over the region, including a new bus connecting Kingston to Pearson International Airport, a month of dog-friendly fun in Carleton Place, discounts on brewery tours and historic sites, and a new(ish) campground near Maniwaki. If you just want to find an Ottawa dock where you can launch your kayak or canoe, I have a tip for you, too. And make sure you’re aware of the Ottawa road closures for this weekend’s big Ironman event!
Upper Canada Village and Fort Henry now discounted
The Canada Strong Pass—the summer-long discount program launched by the federal government earlier this year—has been expanded to include Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg and Fort Henry in Kingston. Until September 2, 2025, children and youth aged 17 and under will be admitted free, and young adults aged 18 to 24 will get a 50 per cent discount. Despite the name, you don’t need to buy or acquire an actual pass to take advantage of the discounts; they will be applied automatically. (Thanks to The Ottawan for this tip!)
Brew Donkey is offering discounts, too
Also from The Ottawan (honestly, it’s a goldmine of great info—and it’s free) comes the news that Brew Donkey is heavily discounting its craft brewery bus tours during its 12th anniversary weekend on October 3, 4 and 5. Some of them are already close to selling out, so jump on this quickly if you’re interested.
There’s a new(ish) campground near Maniwaki
I’m a bit late with this news, but I just learned about it! The Chasse-Galerie Base plein-air, a 275-site campground, opened in the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau region in 2024. Named for the Quebec fable of the flying canoe, the campground in Déléage, Quebec (not far from Maniwaki) gives campers access to the Gatineau and Désert rivers for paddling. River swimming isn’t recommended, but the campground does have a swimming pool, as well as pickleball courts and a community hall.
Buses will soon link Kingston to Pearson Airport
Air Canada has announced twice-daily bus service between Norman Rogers Airport in Kingston and Lester B. Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Air Canada passengers will check in for their flights in Kingston, and receive their boarding passes and baggage tags there. Buses will leave Kingston at 4am (ouch!) and 2pm; they’ll depart from Pearson at 8:10am and 7:10pm. The service will begin on September 23.
Carleton Place is celebrating dogs in August
Carleton Place is celebrating all things canine with the Dog Days of Summer throughout August. The fun begins this weekend with an animal actors show at Centennial Park (August 3) and continues with events such as a doggy fashion show at the Carleton Place Farmers Market (August 9), a free puppy training class (August 11) and a Bad to the Bone dog-friendly walking tour (August 15). Plus, you can get 20 per cent off dog toys all month long at Natural Pet Foods in Carleton Place!
I have tips on day tripping in New Edinburgh and Rockcliffe
You don’t have to leave town to have a great day trip. In my latest day tripping column for the Ottawa Business Journal, I explain how you can spend a whole day having fun in Rockcliffe, Lindenlea and New Edinburgh. You can swim in a very cool pool in the morning, enjoy some retail therapy and still have energy for a nice dinner!
You can hit the dock all over Ottawa
Did you know that the City of Ottawa has a list of all of its public municipal docks on its website? Well, now you do. It’s very handy if you’re looking for a place to launch your kayak or canoe.
Amateur archaeologists can dig up something old at Lac Leamy
Did you know that August is Archaeology Month? To mark the occasion, the National Capital Commission is inviting everyone to take part in free, public archaeological digs at Leamy Lake Park between August 7 and August 28. It’s a great chance to learn about the history of our region before the arrival of Europeans. NCC archaeolgists Monica Maika and Bob Clarke will lead the digs, which are aimed at people aged 10 and up.
The park is home to the largest pre-contact archaeological site complex in the Outaouais, containing artifacts dating back to the period between 1,000 and 2,000 years ago when Anishinabe Algonquin people used and lived on this particular site.
To participate, you must register in advance. These 3.5-hour digs (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) are limited to 50 people each and are very popular; all the weekend ones are already full. Some weekday slots are still available.
The Ironman will lead to some road closures this weekend
Ottawa is hosting its first-ever Ironman competition on Sunday, August 3. This is a SERIOUS athletic event; competitors will start with a 3.8-kilometre swim at Britannia Beach at 6am, then cycle 180 kilometres through various Ottawa neighbourhoods. And THEN they’ll run a full 42.2-kilometre marathon around Parliament Hill! (Yikes, I feel tired just writing that.) As a result, there will be a lot of road closures around Ottawa this weekend, some starting as early as Friday and some extending as late as Monday. See this City of Ottawa guide to the closures for detailed information.
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.
