Summer is still officially a few weeks away, but the summer temperatures have arrived and the warm weather has me looking ahead to everything I want to do with the family over the next few months. There are so many fun places to visit with the family in and around Ottawa during the summer months.

Every year I have a list of “must-dos” for the season, and every year I inevitably fall short of accomplishing everything on my list. However, this year I am DETERMINED to experience everything that is on my summer bucket list. Some of my “must-dos” are excursions I have done before and loved, and others are ones I have always wanted to try. I would love to hear what’s on your summer bucket list, and if you need some ideas…here are mine!

Strawberry Picking

One of my favourite things to do with the kids in early summer is to take them strawberry picking, at least once! Last year I blogged about the best places to go strawberry picking in Ottawa. Strawberry picking season typically kicks off in mid June and runs for a couple of weeks. It’s one of those activities where kids of all ages can have fun filling their bucket (and filling their faces).

Dow’s Lake Canoe Rentals

Every year I see people out paddling in Dow’s Lake on rented canoes, kayaks and peddle boats, and every year I remark on how I would like to try it…but never do. This is the summer I change that. Now, I am personally not a huge fan of peddle boats. So much work for so little movement! But I think a canoe rental would be a lot of fun, and you can fit two adults and two kids in one canoe.

You can rent one of the boats from the Dows Lake Marina from May through September and it’s open every day of the week. For a short trip it’s actually pretty reasonable, and I think a pretty memorable outing for the kids, especially if you pair it with a picnic in the Arboretum.

Life jackets are included in rental costs. For a list of rental options and prices visit HERE.

Morrison’s Quarry

Morrison’s Quarry is one of these stunning places that pops up somewhere on my Instagram feed every summer. Located in Wakefield, Quebec this swimming hole has beautiful clear blue water. The site is apparently normally used for scuba diving training, but in the summer it is open for swimming and BBQing. There is even a slide and a floating deck.

The quarry is not free, it is $5 a person and I believe you have to pay for parking too.

Now, admittedly, in the photos of Morrison’s Quarry I have seen it is always bikini clad beauties enjoying the water, and I have yet to see any photos with little kids around. But, I figure for water that clear and gorgeous it is worth braving the teens and their selfies to see if it’s worth taking the family too. Stay tuned! And if you have visited Morrison’s Quarry before I would love to hear what you thought!

Rockcliffe Pond

I’m always on the lookout for new swimming holes and beaches (Britannia Beach is a favourite of ours), but I haven’t yet tried out the so-called “Pond”. A number of my friends frequent the pond all summer long, so I’ve heard what a nice spot it is, and this summer I’m determined to take the kids.

The Pond is a small swimming hole hidden in Rockcliffe Park. It’s a man-made swimming area which decades ago used to be a sand and gravel pit. To get there head along the Sir George-Etienne parkway and turn onto Hillsdale Road. Keep going down the road until you see the Caldwell-Carver Conservation Area entrance, follow along MacKay Lake, until you see the smaller body of water that’s the Pond.

One thing to note – there are rules to using the Pond. This is a residential area and while there is no supervision or lifeguard, you can’t swim between 2:00pm and 7:00am. So this is a place to hit up for an early morning swim. I’m told there are almost always city workers there to enforce the rule. Also, this is a conservation area, so no dogs or bikes.

Canada Day Festivities

There is something extra special about celebrating Canada Day in Ottawa and there are so many different options of where you can go for July 1st festivities. Last year I chose to forgo the craziness of the 150th celebrations on Parliament Hill and instead took the kids out to the Kanata Canada Day party. It was a great time, and I would certainly hit that celebration up again.

Parliament Hill will undoubtedly be a little less crazy this year (and hopefully less rainy and muddy too), so if you head downtown you can look forward to lots of live entertainment and evening fireworks. Just around the corner at Major’s Hill Park there is always the place to be for kid friendly activities and entertainment.

There are also great Canada Day celebrations being planned for Barrhaven, Carp, Kanata (as I mentioned before, I can personally attest this was a ton of fun last year), Orleans at Petrie Island, Osgoode Village and Stittsville.

There are so many great options!

Lusk Caves

I have been to a lot of awesome spots in Gatineau Park, but I haven’t yet made it to the Lusk Caves. My interest in this spot was initially peaked when my adventurous friend Heather hiked out there with her toddler and waded through the beautiful, flooded, marble caverns.

Lusk Cave is in the Philippe Lake area, about five kilometres from Parent Beach. It is an easy hike on trails that feature interpretation panels along the way. The 10-kilometre round trip takes about four hours. From what I have heard, you must be prepared for this adventure: bring a head lamp or at least flashlights for the cave, bring two pairs of shoes one  for the hike and one for the water, you may want to bring a helmet as parts of the cave are low and rocky, and pack lots of snacks because your kids will get hungry!

This is most likely an outing for slightly older kids, but I really want to try it. I’m considering trying to take my 5 year old along this summer, and maybe wait to bring my 3 year old another time.

Wilson Carbide Mill

The hike to Wilson Carbide Mill in Gatineau Park is a favourite of mine and it made my list of Ottawa’s Best Hiking Trails for Families. I have only ever visited in the early fall when the weather is cooler, so I would love to make it up there this summer when we could dip our feet in the waterfall. It’s a kid friendly hike, and a great destination for a picnic, you just have to keep your eyes on any little kids around the water.

Boldt Castle

How beautiful is Boldt Castle? It is a real castle rivaling those of Europe, built on the St. Lawrence River, in the heart of the 1000 Islands. Visiting this storybook spot is number one on my bucket list for summer 2018 and it’s less than two hours drive from Ottawa, so you can even make a day trip of it!. Boldt Castle is only accessible by water. Visitors may find transportation on either a tour boat or by personal pleasure craft. We Canadians must be ready to provide proper identification.

Upper Canada Village

Upper Canada Village makes for a wonderful day trip from Ottawa. I’ve loved visiting for their annual Christmas light display and the spectacular Pumpkinferno Halloween display, but I have never actually taken the kids to enjoy the summer village attraction. I know there is enough to spend a whole day at the village with the kids – tour the village like the school house and bakery, ride the miniature train, take the wagon ride, play dress up, and enjoy a meal.

It’s also worth checking the village website for weekend events, like a medieval festival, sheep shearing days and more!

Mont Cascades

Ever since we visited Mont Cascades for the first time last summer my son has been asking to go back. I loved the little kid area, and how I was able to ride down the slides with my then two year old daughter when she wasn’t feeling confident about going alone. Calypso Water Park is bigger than Mont Cascades, but the Ticket prices at Mont Cascades are less expensive, and you can even save a few more dollars in you buy tickets online in advance. For my younger kids I will be hitting up Mont Cascades again this summer for sure.