Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

7 Amazing Things To Do Around Ottawa This Summer That Will Keep You Cooler Than Your A.C.

Explore caves and race down water slides.

Girl holding a paddle board on a sandy beach. Right: Tunnel in Bonnechere Caves.

Girl holding a paddle board on a sandy beach. Right: Tunnel in Bonnechere Caves.

Staff Writer

If the summer heat has you sweating a little too much, then you’ll want to check out these cool activities around Ottawa. You can spend days floating in blue waters or hiding from the sun.

From beaches that have kayak rentals and inflatable waterparks to caves that you can tour and explore, here are seven ways to keep cool this summer in Ottawa.

Venture into an icy cave

Price: $28 per adult

Address: 255 Rte. Principale, Val-des-Monts, QC

Why You Need To Go: The biggest visited cavern in the Canadian Shield is just across the river at Abraska Laflèche. You can learn about the mysteries of the cave that remains at a constant temperature right around 4 degrees Celcius. Even on the hottest day, you'll need to dress warmly.

Website

Splash around on an obstacle course

Price: $19 for one hour, $31 per day pass (excluding beach admission)

Address: 2020 Chem. d'Oka, Oka, QC

Why You Need To Go: You can spend the day relaxing on a sandy shore and competing with your friends on the Aquazilla inflatable waterpark about two hours from Ottawa.

Website

Race down water slides

Price: $31.99+ per person

Address: 448 Chem. du Mont-des-Cascades, Cantley, QC

Why You Need To Go: You can float the day away in serene pools and race down water slides at Mont Cascades Waterpark.

Website

Enjoy creamy ice cream

Price: 💸

Cuisine: Ice cream

Address: 3763 Carp Rd., Carp, ON

Why You Need To Go: You can cool off with a creamy ice cream cone from Carp Custom Creamery. They have a ton of different flavours and post what they are scooping each day on social media.

Menu

Explore a historic underground cave

Price: $19 per adult

Address: 1247 Fourth Chute Rd., Eganville, ON

Why You Need To Go: You can venture down into the historic Bonnechere Caves and learn some history as you spot fossils and unique rock formations. The caves are even older than the dinosaurs.

Website

Paddle from a beach shore

Price: $23.25 for 1.5 hours, $28.35 for 2 hours

Address: La Pêche Lake & Philippe Lake, Gatineau Park, QC

Why You Need To Go: There are a number of rivers and lakes where you can rent boats around Ottawa, including two beaches in Gatineau Park. You can rent canoes, rowboats and kayaks at both La Pêche Lake and Philippe Lake plus tandem kayaks and SUP boards at Philippe Lake.

Website

Sip bubble tea and play games

Price: 💸

Cuisine: Bubble tea & brick toasts

Address: 839 Somerset St. W., Ottawa, ON

Why You Need To Go: You can cool down indoors with some bubble tea, iced slushie or milkshake at Hangout Ottawa. They have a bunch of board games to play as you sip and enjoy.

Menu

  • Ottawa Staff Writer Megan Johnson was an Ottawa Staff Writer for Narcity Canada. Prior to joining the Narcity team she founded Ottawa River Lifestyle, a blog to promote the Capital Region and small towns along the Ottawa River. In addition to writing about Canadian businesses, local events and outdoor adventures, Megan has created content for Canadian brands and tourism boards. She has her B.Sc. in Honours Biochemistry and has always enjoyed various forms of writing and travel.

8 fun things to do in Toronto this summer for $35 or less

You don't have to break the bank to have fun!

This enchanting small town set on a BC island was named among North America's 'most peaceful'

Sandy beaches, ancient forests and a cozy town — anyone?. 🌲

New data reveals the 'most peaceful' places to live and Canadian towns demolished US ones

Five Canadian towns were named the most serene on the continent. 🍁

This Ontario gem with waterfront towns and beaches is one of Canada's 'best' spots to live

It has "large" homes "priced much lower" than major Canadian cities.