This week’s Heads Up post includes the scoop on everything from walking tours in Carleton Place and an all-ages music camp near Wakefield to 1000 Islands cruise discounts, a new Dutch shop in Arnprior and the music lineup for Canada Day on LeBreton Flats. You’ll even find out where you can drive your car on a racetrack, take a zipline across the Ottawa River or board an afternoon tea bus! Read on for details.
Events
The Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum is offering a historical tour called The River Walk this summer. On July 9 and 12, and August 6 and 9, a guide will be leading a 90-minute walk to McArthur Island. Along the way, participants will learn about the history of Carleton Place’s riverfront mills and the families behind them. Tickets are available now.
Now’s the time to register for Rideau Paddlefest, happening in Smiths Falls on Saturday, June 20. This year, solo and tandem paddlers (kayak, canoe or SUP) can participate for the first time. Teams can also sign up to paddle a 12-person voyageur canoe.
If you like standup comedy, you might be interested in these two shows coming to the Hard Rock Casino in Ottawa. First up is American comedian and actor Mike Epps on October 24, followed by German-Italian comic Laura Ramoso on November 6.
If you’ve ever dreamed of playing an instrument (or getting better at the instrument you already play), Jam Camp de l’Outaouais may be for you. From July 2 to 6, campers of all ages and musicians will gather at the Pine & Birch Ranch & Retreat near Wakefield to learn from each other and jam. Most of the accommodations are BYOT (bring your own tent), but some rooms in the Ranch House are available as well. The event is open to adults and kids at all levels of experience. Note that this isn’t the kind of summer camp where you drop off your kids and come pick them up a week later; if they’re going to be camping, you will be, too.
If driving your own car around a racetrack is more your speed, you can sign up for one of two Novice Days (on July 12 and September 13) at Calabogie Motorsports Park.
Discounts and deals
Among the many deals on this week’s VIA Rail Discount Tuesday, you can save 10% on Escape fares on certain trains between Ottawa and Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto…but you must book by midnight tonight (June 9).
Attractions Ontario offers discounts on an array of activities and accommodations across the province, including 1000 Islands and Seaway Cruises in Brockville, City Cruises and the Gananoque Inn in Gananoque, Flying Squirrel trampoline park and Ottawa City Rafting in Ottawa, whitewater rafting with OWL Rafting and Wilderness Tours, and Rockport Cruises in Rockport.
Other news
Photo courtesy of Interzip Rogers.
Arnprior now has a new source of stroopwafel and other Dutch goodies. A shop called The Dutch Nook has opened at 96 John Street North.
For the first time, the grounds of the Ottawa Jazz Festival (June 18 to 28) at Confederation Park will be open to everyone during ticketed shows. You’ll still need a ticket to get into the main concert area, but you can meander through the food stalls and soak up the atmosphere from 5pm each evening.
Here’s the lineup for this year’s Canada Day evening concert at LeBreton Flats in Ottawa: Adam Baldwin, Alessia Cara, Barenaked Ladies, Beatrice Deer, Diane Dufresne, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Gab Bouchard, Isabelle Boulay, MICO, Noeline Hofmann, Paul Langlois, Pierre Lapointe, P’tit Belliveau and Sylvia Cloutier.
Calypso Waterpark in Limoges opens for the season on Saturday, June 13.
Arbraska Laflèche in Val-des-Monts is already open on weekends for ziplining and other outdoor adventures.
Speaking of ziplining: Interzip Rogers, which whisks you over the Ottawa River between Ottawa and Gatineau, is now open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. (Here’s my post about what it is like.)
If your summer travels take you to Toronto, you might be interested in this very cool-looking Afternoon Tea Bus.
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.
