How to Spend the Winter Months in Ottawa

If you’re looking for activities to enjoy in and around Ottawa anytime this winter, we have you covered. We’ve gathered a great list of fun winter activities to enjoy, no matter how old your kids are. 

Winter activities: babies

Your little bundle of joy may not quite be mobile yet, so this is the perfect time to explore Ottawa outside with your baby. Check out the many suggestions and tips from local blogger Meg, who runs the online resource Adventure Report. There you’ll find a listing of trails in and around Ottawa that you can try, using a baby carrier or backpack. Or, perhaps it’s just easier to meet up with a friend and get out for a walk with baby around your neighbourhood.

Another idea this winter, is to register for a baby class online or in a warm, indoor place. We have an entire blog post with suggestions!

Winter activities: toddlers and preschoolers

Get ready for the kids to be delighted at Parc Omega this winter where they can see animals like wolves, foxes, deer and more. This is a drive through experience, but there are spots to stop to feed the tiny deer, get a bite to eat, and sometimes in the winter they’ve had an outdoor skating rink! Bring your own carrots to make it easier.

Another toddler or preschool activity to enjoy over the holidays are indoor play places like My Gym or Starr Gymnastics. It’s a great way to encourage your child to run around even when the weather isn’t cooperating! When our kids were little, we loved going to the Canadian Children’s Museum. This Museum offers a hands-on journey around the world where kids can learn, explore exhibits and immerse themselves into play (this museum is currently closed, but we hope it will reopen again soon!).

Winter activities: school-aged children

With your school-aged child, it’s time to pull out the sleds and saucers and hit the toboggan hills around Ottawa! This is always fun with friends and family too. It’s a great excuse to enjoy some hot chocolate together at a local cafe after, or at home where you are comfy and cozy. 

Looking to go skating? Skate the Rideau Canal when it’s open (and leave time for a timeless and delicious Beavertail!), visit one of the refrigerated rinks like the Brewer Skate Oval (it’s Ottawa’s speed skating oval, but is used for regular skating at certain times as well) or the rink at Lansdowne for a change. If you’re feeling more adventurous, skate through a forest trail like this one near Gatineau Park or the River Oak Skating Trail in Greely.

To stay warm indoors, visit one of the many local museums. The Canadian Museum of Nature has a special live owl exhibit outside, and the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology is always popular! 

TIP: Did you know that the Ottawa Public Library offers museum passes to borrow?

Winter activities: preteens and teens 

Outdoor activities don’t have to end as the kids get older, even if they protest from time to time. Find their favourite activity (maybe it’s skating at one of the many outdoor refrigerated rinks, or perhaps they might enjoy snowshoeing) and bundle up for a new experience. Check out Gatineau Park to find information about snowshoe or x-country ski trails. Another exciting outdoor activity to try with older children is cross country skiing! Mooney’s Bay Ski Centre has 5 km of groomed trails and rentals are available. My kids really enjoyed the skating trails!

TIP: Did you know that the Ottawa Public Library offers ski passes to borrow also?

With older kids, it’s easy to be a little more flexible and last minute in your planning (you don’t have to worry about naps or bedtime!), so you can book movie theatre tickets, or just plan a random shopping trip to the mall. Maybe the winter break is the perfect time to challenge each other to that video game or board game tournament you’ve been wanting to do.

No matter how you spend the holiday break, or plan for winter fun this season, we hope you make fresh memories and find time to rest as well!

Are you ready to #startwithus and #growwithus?

If you’re new to Fitmama Strong Online, try out our 3 class pass for our postnatal classes! Spoiler alert… It doesn’t matter if you’ve just had a baby or your baby was born 10 years ago, we have something for all postnatal people. Already been to a Fitmama Strong Online class and love it? Grab one of our unlimited passes or memberships to keep you moving.

If our live, online schedule doesn’t work, consider our On-Demand Workouts, where you can choose a workout video and complete it at a time that’s best for you.

We also run a series of in-person mom and baby fitness classes (indoor and outdoor, depending on the season!) in Central Ottawa.

We can’t wait for you to #startwithus and #growwithus!