PLACES TO VISIT OTTAWA IN THE AUTUMN
Ottawa is one of the most beautiful cities in Canada for fall colors. It’s a great time to visit Ottawa in the fall. You can visit many places in Ottawa to see the changing seasons.
Ottawa is our favorite city in Ontario. We have been able to explore it throughout every season. It is a unique experience to take a fall road trip to Ottawa. These are the top places and things to do in Ottawa and the surrounding area before the snow starts.
Top Places to Visit in Ottawa In Fall
Escape Bicycle Tours offers an e-bike tour.
Spark’s Street o Escape Bicycle Tours will take you on the most memorable bike tour of your life. This is a great way to see Ottawa’s highlights in a relaxed and safe environment. My family was able to join us for the ride. Initially nervous about riding in traffic on the roads, they soon became comfortable. The tour takes you away from the traffic and lets you enjoy Ottawa’s fantastic cycling trails.
This tour will take you from downtown Ottawa to Gatineau, Quebec, onto Sussex Drive, including Rideau Hall. You can ride e-bikes in comfort, and it also helps you climb hills. The iconic photograph of Ottawa’s parliament buildings is available at the Canadian Museum of History. Your expert guide will tell you all about the history of Gatineau, Ottawa, and the surrounding areas. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a beer in the outdoor cafe after you’re done. This is quickly becoming one of Ottawa’s most popular activities. Book your bike tour here.
Helicopter Tours – Fall Colours From Above
Ottawa is surrounded by Canadian beauty and forests. The best way to view the fall colors is to fly above the city. To capture the capital of Canada during its most beautiful season, we took a helicopter tour that was closed to the public.
We met our pilot in the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum, where we flew above the colorful forests of Gatineau and along the Ottawa River. This is a great way to see Ottawa’s Parliament Buildings.
Parc Omega – Sleep with Wolves
Parc Omega is a great place to view Canadian wildlife. Book a lodge for wolves. The night was spent in a log cabin at the heart of the wolf sanctuary, where pack wolves ran, played, and howled in front of our glass observation room.
You can bring wine, snacks, and dinner to this luxury cabin. The private platform allowed us to walk out onto the vast nature reserve and view the wolves, bears, and other wildlife.
Escape Manor
We were excited to take part in the escape room for the first time. We were still determining where to start when we first entered the Asylum Escape Room. However, once we settled in, we began to work on solving each puzzle. We learned one thing: to get help sooner rather than later.
Although we set a goal to ask for two clues, you can request as many as you wish. It’s a great way to bond and have fun together as you work through an obstacle. After you’re done, enjoy a cocktail in the creepy lounge. The hosts are great at telling stories. Escape Manor offers four escape rooms to test your storytelling skills. Enjoy a cocktail in the eerie lounge after you’re done.
Visit Mackenzie King’s Estate
We have been to Ottawa many times but have yet to make it to Mackenzie King Estate. William Lyon Mackenzie served as Canada’s Prime Minister for 21 1/2 years. His estate is stunning in autumn, with the beautiful fall colors of Gatineau Park around his country cottage and the incredible Abbey Ruins.
It was like we were in Europe, not in Ontario. To beat the crowds, go early in the morning. Gatineau Park is bustling with tour buses in autumn. People flock to this park and the trails to witness the fantastic fall colors.
You can hide in a Bunker.
The Diefenbunker is one of the most popular attractions in Ottawa. The Diefenbunker, named after John Diefenbaker (13th Prime Minister of Canada), was built during the Cold War. In the event of a nuclear attack in the 1950s, it was where high-ranking officials could lead.
Although it sounds great to have shelter in the event of nuclear fallout, after seeing this underground bunker, I think it’s a bit much.
To live underground for months, you had to possess certain traits. Even a medical room was available to keep people safe if they lost their underground identity. Crazy! This unique tour is fascinating and one of the best things you can do in Ottawa. Find out more about Canada’s Cold War Museum, The Deifenbunker.
Enjoy a Beer Tour
There is a vibrant microbrew culture in Ottawa. It’s worth booking a beer tour to visit the various breweries. The Brew Donkey Y-East End Express Tour picked us up at the Bier market downtown and took us to four different breweries. These tours are hilarious, informative, and fun. You also get to try a lot of beer. They provide eco-friendly water bottles and pretzels to keep you hydrated while you travel from brewpub to brewpub.
You’ll also get to see Ottawa’s unique scene. Book your Brew Donkey Beer Tour right here.
Flora Hall Brewing
You can go on a beer tour if you’re not up for it, then check out your local brewery. Flora Hall Brewing, a local craft brewery, is in an old garage. You can enjoy a casual atmosphere where people watch you as you eat. There are many options on the menu, including Burrata salad, falafels, and beet-hummus.
You’ll find a wide variety of options for vegetarians and meat lovers. It’s a great spot to enjoy a night of local beer and good company. View the menu and make reservations.
The Rideau Canal
Ottawa’s most famous attraction is the Rideau Canal, which runs through the city. It is ideal for ice skating in winter and for SUP or canal cruises in summer. We recommend renting a bike to cycle along the canal in the fall.
Rent a bike, then ride it on the 6.5-kilometer leisurely route from downtown to Dows Lake Pavilion. (one-way). We took the Le Boat Tourup Rideau Canal to see the fall colors. It was amazing. We will soon share that experience with all of you. For trips and rental options, visit the Le Boat website.
Haunted Walks
You can take one year-round haunted walk in Ottawa, which is why it’s so popular. You will be taken along the Rideau Canal, Byward Museum, and other haunted locations in Ottawa. For more haunted walks, visit Haunted Walks.
Laurier House tours are closed due to COVID, but it is our favorite haunted tour in Ottawa. Our entire group ran screaming from the Haunting at Laurier House when we visited it. It was one of the most haunted walks I’ve ever taken. Laurier House was the home of Sir Wilfred Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s Prime Ministers.
Laurier, who died in the house in 1919, was buried there. King had a particular interest in the spirit realm. There were regular seances.