It’s that time of year…sugar bush season is upon us! The weather will start to warm (hopefully) and the snow will start to melt (eventually) and that maple tree sap will start to flow. Where the sap flows, the syrup will follow and that means pancakes! I am a huge fan of pancakes…we make them A LOT in our house.

Before we moved out to Ottawa, I had never actually visited a sugar bush, so I love taking advantage of this delicious piece of Canadiana. I’ve visited a number of different sugar bushes over the past two years, so I hope to give you some insight into my experiences so far. As for the ones I haven’t made it to yet, I’m going to do my best to make it to them all soon!

A few tips before heading out to any sugar bush

• it’s a good idea to get there early if possible. Some of the more popular sugar shacks can get really busy on the weekends and it’s not much fun waiting in a line up for a table and food with hungry little kids.
• Dress appropriately! If the snow is melting, that often means mud, lots of mud. So put your kids in their boots and proper gear to deal with either the snow or mud (I’ve learned this one the hard way).
• Bring some cash. Sometimes there are add on things to buy, such as the maple taffy and often they only accept cash.

Proulx Maple & Berry Farm

1865 O’Toole Road, Ottawa

Dates and Hours:

Opening day is Sunday, February 26th, and runs until Monday, April 17th.
Sat. & Sunday: Farm and sugar bush, 9-5
Weekend Brunch 9-3, last seating 2 pm. No reservations accepted.
Weekdays, by reservation only.
March Break  9-4, no reservations needed.
Easter 4-day weekend, 9-3, brunch reservation recommended.

Details:

In addition to the yummy brunch, there is a maple tour including a visit to the production shack, maple taffy stand, a farm with animals, a playground, and a horse drawn hay ride (open on weekends).

If you are coming for brunch, you will also need to purchase admission to access the grounds and sugar bush tour.

My Impression:

I visited Proulx Sugar Bush last year and overall we had a good experience. We got there early, right after opening and it was a good thing we did. Proulx is popular. We didn’t have to wait to get food and be seated, but by the time we were done breakfast there was a long line up out the door. I wouldn’t have wanted to wait in that line with my two little kids.

The food was good, but I didn’t love the seating. It was pretty crowded, they really jam in a lot of seats. It is also one of the more expensive meals ($23 for adults, kids cost anywhere from $10.50-18.60 depending on age, 2 yrs and under are free). It also costs to do other things around the sugar bush, for example $5 admission to the farm and hay ride. So it can add up cost wise for your family. But, it is a well run operation. My kids enjoyed petting the animals, taking the horse drawn wagon ride and riding down the long slides.

It was a nice sunny day when we visited, and it was REALLY MUDDY. Boots and full waterproof rain suits or snowsuits are highly recommended.

For more details visit Proulx Berry Farm Website

Fulton’s Pancake House & Sugar Bush

399 Sugar Bush Road, Pakenham

Dates and Hours:

The sugar bush season at Fulton’s runs from February 18-April 23

Open everyday from 9am to 4pm

Details:

120 seat restaurant with a yummy cafeteria style breakfast offered.

After breakfast you can enjoy the nordic and walking trails. Bring your cross country skis and snowshoes. Or you can also rent snowshoes there.

You can visit the sugar camp and learn to make maple syrup. There are children’s games like eye spy and Fulton’s ultimate challenge available for the family to play every day of the week . There is a also a toboggan hill, bring your own sled or borrow one of theirs.

On weekends and holidays there are some extra special activities like  face painting, maple taffy, maple cotton candy, horse drawn sleigh and wagon ride, and you can cook bannock or make a cedar spoon (all available at a price).

My Impression:

I haven’t been to Fulton’s during the sugar bush season, but I did go in the fall with my kids and we really loved it. I would go back there in a heartbeat. The drive is not very far, as Fulton’s is nestled between the communities of Almonte and Pakenham. There is a ton for kids to do there, and admission to the grounds, playground, toboggan hill and trails is all free. The food we had was very tasty, and reasonably priced. The restaurant isn’t huge though, so if you go on a busy weekend prepare to wait for a seat.

For more details visit Fulton’s Pancake House and Sugar Bush

 

The Log Farm

670 Cedarview Road, Nepean

Dates and Hours:

The Log Farm is open weekends 9:00 am to 4:00 pm from March 4th. until mid April along with the week of March 13th to 17th for March break.

Details:

The Log Farm is a historical farm site, where you can see how the Bradley family lived in the 1860’s. The house and all the out buildings are set up to depict what life for a family would have been like during this period. It is a working farm where you can see all kinds of animals on the farm. There is maple taffy on the snow, and a bonfire where you can warm up while waiting for the wagon ride that will take you out to the sugar bush.

The traditional sugar shack breakfast includes pancakes, sausages, baked goods, coffee and juice.

There is a $5.50 admission to the farm and sugar bush. All children 2 and under are free. The breakfast ranges from $4 to $10

Impression:

I visited the Log Farm two years ago, it was actually the first sugar bush I ever visited! I loved how close it is to Ottawa, and the historical nature of the farm. When I was there it was gloriously uncrowded, and provided a delicious breakfast. I also love how it is one of the less expensive breakfasts.

But it is important to note The Log Farm has changed owners since I was there last. Last year this sugar bush was closed while the new owners took possession. The new owners look to be conserving all the great parts of the historical farm, while providing some upgrades (such as the wagon ride…before you had no choice but to walk out to the sugar bush). I will certainly be returning this season to check it out!

For more details visit The Log Farm

Wheelers Pancake House & Sugar Camp

1001 Highland Line, Lanark Highlands

Dates and Hours:

Wheeler’s is open from 9 am-3pm everyday, but the official maple tapping season kicks off on March 4 with a big party that includes face painting, sleigh rides, and tours.

Details:

There’s of course the pancake breakfast, which ranges from $4,57 for a pancake and one sausage, to $20.75 for 3 pancakes, french toast, 4 sausages and beans.

There is a farm museum and a maple syrup museum, along with an original sugar shack.

There is a small playground with swings, slide and small zipline. There are sheep, alpacas, horses and a miniature horse. There are trails for walking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing (you can rent snowshoes).

Impression:

This sugar shack is a little further outside Ottawa, closer to Perth, so you have to be prepared for a longer drive for this one. The restaurant is in a gorgeous log cabin. It’s quite a civilized place where you order off a menu and have it delivered to your table (different from the cafeteria style at many other places). There are also plenty of high chairs, very family friendly.

This is another sugar bush I haven’t been to during maple season. I visited here in the fall with my family. But we had an absolutely lovely time walking around the trails and checking out all the leaves, animals and museums. The only drawback is just the longer drive, and I’ve heard it can get very busy on the weekends during maple tapping season.

For more details visit Wheelers Maple

 

Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm

2452 Yorks Corners Road, Edwards

Dates and Hours:

Opening day is February, 25th, and will run Saturdays & Sundays 9am-3pm until April 16th
Tuesday March 14th -Friday March 17th 10am-2pm

Details:

You can enjoy a sleigh ride, visit the sugar shack, and watch the sap to syrup process unfold while enjoying taffy on the snow. There is also a petting farm with plenty of animals and a children’s play area.

A pancake brunch is available at the Pancake House, a 350 seat restaurant, all you can eat. The brunch menu is extensive and prices run from $18.00 for adults, to $7.75 for toddlers 2-4 years old.

Impression:

I haven’t been to Stanley’s yet, but I know it has a great reputation as a family owned, well run operation. So, this one is next on my must-visit list. But I’d love to hear your impressions if you’ve been. I certainly am impressed by their menu for the all you can eat brunch!

For more details visit Stanley’s Sugar Bush

Temple’s Sugar Camp Restaurant

1700 Ferguson’s Falls Road, Lanark

Dates and Hours:

The Temple’s Sugar Bush restaurant opens for the season on March 1st, and is open until the end of April. Wednesday – Sunday 9am-3pm.

Details:

This is a lovely spot, both the building and grounds are impeccably kept and it is a popular wedding site. You won’t find many of the sugar bush activities that you do at other destinations, but the menu comes highly recommended (it includes belgian waffles along with pancakes) and you can take a stroll through the sugar bush trails.

Impression:

I’m familiar with their maple syrup as Temple’s has maple taffy stands set up all over Winterlude, but other than that I haven’t yet been to this spot.

For more details visit Temple’s Sugar Bush

 

Sand Road Sugar Camp

17190 Sand Road, Moose Creek, Ontario

Dates and Hours:

Sand Road Sugar Camp opens on February 28, and runs until the end of April.

Details:

There is a maple farm buffet ranging in price from $16.95 for adults, to $7.95 for children under 5.

You can experience the great outdoors through nature trails, horse drawn wagon rides (on the weekends, weather permitting), play structure, and educational tours. There is no admission fee to visit the camp. 

Impression:

This is another one I haven’t hit up yet, but it’s located just 40 minutes east of Ottawa, so I’m sure I will get around to it soon.

For more information visit Sand Road Sugar Camp

Maple Sugar Shack and Festival at Vanier Museopark

300 Peres-Blancs Avenue, Vanier

Dates and Hours:

The sugar shack will be open every weekend from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. between March and April. With a special four day festival from March 30 to April 4 (more info below).

Details:

The sugar shack isn’t big, seating up to 40 guests. Menus range from $4.50 to $20.50.

The activities really take place during the festival – you will find a lumberjack competition, axe-throwing, maple tastings, performances by various local artists, jugglers and face-painters. For families, you can also look forward to visiting live farm animals and sled dogs, playing on inflatable structures, and carnival rides.

Impression:

This isn’t the sugar shack I would choose to visit on a regular day, but it does seem worth it during the festival. There is a lot going on, and it’s right in the city! But it isn’t actually the only maple festival happening in Ottawa this year… see below for more.

The Great Canadian Maple Festival

Festival Plaza, next to Ottawa City Hall

Dates and Hours:

March 3rd to 5th, 2017.

Details:

This festival is happening for the first time ever in celebration of Canada’s 150th Birthday. It’s a free event happening right in the heart of downtown Ottawa.

Festival organizers promise visitors a plaid wearing Canadiana experience complete with its own urban sugar bush serving taffy on a stick, maple pork and beans, delicious maple flavoured hot cocoa and more.

The weekend will start with a big pancake breakfast presented by Enbridge. Followed by anything and everything uniquely maple … maple taffy on a stick, maple cotton candy, maple donuts, poutine, maple bacon & more maple bacon … Even maple craft beer & whisky to enjoy in the beer gardens .

There will also be live music, a kids fun zone, chainsaw challenge, lumberjack competition and a few sweet surprises soon to be announced.

Impression:

MARK THIS ONE IN YOUR CALENDARS!!! YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS IT..PLUS IT’S FREE!