Fun Stuff

If golf is your sport of choice then our Ottawa golf courses will be sure to please! There are so many to choose from in and around our great city. We really wish we could find more time to go out and explore them all.

Golf is a very popular past time in Ottawa, which is why there are so many places to play (public and private). It is also a sport that caters to all age groups.

Some of the courses aren’t just fun to play on but are also beautiful to look at. We have had friends visit from other countries and have commented on how incredible our courses are here.  Some clubs host events (i.e weddings) at their clubhouses.

We haven’t played on all of them (yet) but here are a few Ottawa golf courses that either we have played on or our friends and family have played on that we would like to recommend:

Canadian
7842 Highway # 7
613-253-3290

Cedarhill
56 Cedarhill Drive
613-825-2186

Chateau Cartier
1170 Chemin Aylmer
819-777-8870

Eagle Creek
109 Royal Troon Lane
613-832-3400

Edelweiss
465 Chemin Edelweiss
819-459-2331

Emerald Links
6357 Emerald Links Drive
613-822-4653

Gatineau Golf and Country Club
160 rue du Golf, Aylmer
819-557-4411

GlenMar
7967 Fernbank Road
613-257-5181

Greensmere
1717 Bear Hill Road
613-839-7772

Irish Hills
3248 Carp Road
613-839-4653

Kanata Lakes Golf & Country Club
7000 Campeau Drive
613-592-9417

Loch March Golf & Country Club
1755 Old Carp Road
613-839-5401 (Office)
613-839-5885 (Pro Shop)

Marshes, The
320 Terry Fox Drive
613-271-3530

Mont Cascades
Highway 307
819-459-2980

Rideau Glen
Kemptville
613-258-4404

Riverbend
8089 Franktown Road
613-838-3014

Stonebridge Golf & Country Club
68 Hawktree Ridge
613-692-6093

Don’t forget to call in advance to book your tee time.

So, if you are visiting Ottawa make sure to bring your clubs! If you don’t have room to pack them, don’t worry. You can rent your clubs at the majority of the club houses.

For those that live here and haven’t golfed in awhile – dust off those clubs, call up some friends and head out to the courses!

Have a great game & enjoy!

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Whether tumbling, vaulting or bouncing, the Ottawa gymnastics clubs offer exciting classes and will help improve flexibility, coordination, strength, agility, balance, grace and confidence! Please see our extensive list of gymnastics clubs in Ottawa further down the page.

Gymnastics is the oldest sports of the Olympic games, and can be divided into 3 distinct categories: Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Trampoline.

Artistic gymnastics incorporates the use of an apparatus. The men’s competitions involve floor (tumbling, single leg or arm balance, flowing elements and jumps), pommel horse, parallel and horizontal bars, vaulting and rings. The women’s gymnastics routines include vaulting, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise (performed to music, with gymnastic, acrobatic and dance elements).

Rhythmic gymnastics, also known as “modern gymnastics”, is decidedly a women’s only sport. It is performed using to music and incorporates the use of rope, hoops, ball, clubs and ribbon.

Gymnastic Trampoline competitions didn’t become a part of the Olympics until the 2000 Sydney Games. This entertaining and physically demanding sport is the perfect blend of gymnastics, aesthetics and athletics. The athletes must master rotations, twists and shapes with perfect take-off and landings all the while maintaining their balance!

Help improve flexibility, coordination, strength and confidence by signing up today at one of the many gymnastics clubs in Ottawa:

Black Widow Cheer Team
1580 Michael St
613-697-6561

Capital City Storm
11-119 Iber Road
613-599-5053

Club de Gymnastique Les Sittelles
1-2760 Sheffield Road
613-742-5098

Gloucester Community Gymnastics Challengers
5510 Canotek Road, Units 8&9
613-747-4242

Kanata Rhythmic Sportive Gymnastics Club
PO Box 24034 RPO Hazeldean, Kanata
613-867-5774

Mc Nabb Gymnastics Club
180 Percy Street
613-564-1070

Nepean Corona School of Gymnastics
155 Colonnade Road South
613-224-6524

Olympia Gymnastics
44 Iber Road
613-836-9149

Ottawa Gymnastics Centre
294 Elmgrove Avenue
613-722-8698

Ottawa Rhythmic Gymnastics Club
50 Maple Lane
613-741-8808

Pirouette Rhythmic Gymnastics
2610 Watermusic Bay
613-491-0590

Spring Action
5515 Canotek Road
613-761-9620

Starr Gymnastics
1140 Morrison Drive
613-721-4868

Starr Gymnastics
2766 Lancaster Road
613-721-4868

Starr Gymnastics
520 Lacolle Way (Orleans)
613-721-4868

Tumblers Gymnastics
330 Vantage Drive
613-834-4334

Besides classes, a lot of the gymnastics clubs offer camps for March Break or Summer.

We hope you enjoy your time at one of Ottawa’s local Gymnastics clubs and/or classes!

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If you are looking for an Ottawa martial arts school or class, there are many places to choose from. What style are you interested in? Jiu-Jitsu? Tae Kwon Do? Kung Fu? Ottawa has it all!

Martial arts has become so popular over the years and it is a great way to get in shape, stay healthy and work on your self defense. We have many friends who are quite involved in different types of martial arts and they love it. Hopefully we’ll find the time to get out there and try it for ourselves.

Besides adult classes, they have a lot of classes for children. We haven’t signed up ours yet but we plan to do so in the future. Many friends of ours say that their kids benefited so much from doing martial arts as children. They gained confidence, strength and learned a lot about respect.

Martial Arts schools are also great locations for birthday parties. Our children have been to a few and have had a great time. They get to burn off some energy and learn a bit about the martial art.

Here is a listing of some of the Martial Arts schools in Ottawa:

100% Martial Arts & Fitness
1529 Bank Street
613-248-1616

100% Martial Arts & Fitness
1903 Merivale Road
613-727-0303

100% Martial Arts & Fitness
1222 Place D’Orleans Drive
613-590-0300

100% Martial Arts & Fitness
1025 Notre-Dame Street (Embrun)
613-443-5252

Canadian Martial Arts Academy (CSMA)
59 Iber Road (Stittsville)
613-831-8085

Cooligan Martial Arts and Fitness
12 Cedarow Court (Stittsville/Kanata)
613-831-3622

Douvris Martial Arts & Fitness
1270 Bank Street
613-234-5000

NX Martial Arts
1344 Youville Drive (Orleans)
613-841-4111

Ottawa Academy of Martial Arts
1673 Carling Avenue and 444 Hazeldean Road
613-728-0880

Pro-Style Martial Arts & Fitness
101 Schneider Road
613-599-5959

Takahashi Dojo School of Martial Arts
5 Melrose Avenue
613-725-3451

Therien Jiu-Jitsu & Kickboxing
21 Selkirk Street
613-746-5402

Therien Jiu-Jitsu & Kickboxing
1175 Wellington Street West
613-725-5577

Therien Jiu-Jitsu & Kickboxing
2035 Lanthier Drive (Orleans)
613-834-8805

Therien Jiu-Jitsu & Kickboxing
5536 Ann Street (Manotick)
613-692-2003

Please call in advance as sometimes businesses close down and we aren’t always in the know.  We hope you enjoy your time at one of the Martial Arts schools and/or classes in Ottawa!

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Even though the Ottawa Little Theatre has thousands of members that subscribe each year, we still consider it to be a hidden gem in the city. The shows are unique, the prices can’t be beat and the theatre has so much history.

The theatre has been around since 1913, making it the longest running community theatre in Canada. It faced a terrible fire in 1970 but it was re-built and now has an auditorium that can seat over 450 in an intimate setting. There is also a licensed bar and displays by the Ottawa Art Association.

The plays may not be for everyone because the actors are not professionals but to a lot of people this is what makes the plays so unique. You may see some rising stars or you may see someone who is a complete newcomer with no experience whatsoever.

Here is some useful information about the Theatre:

• Located at 400 King Edward
• Telephone # 613-233-8948
• Ticket prices for individual shows are: Adults – $25 Seniors – $22 Students – $12 anytime
• There are custom ticket packages that are very flexible – call their box office to find out more
• Shows usually begin at 8:00pm and some even have a matinee on a Sunday
• Parking is limited at the theatre but there are parking lots nearby (a short walking distance)
• There are a few different OC Transpo bus routes that go by the theatre
• If you are interested in auditioning for a show, contact their office for more information. Auditions are usually held 2-3 months before the production.

The upcoming season has a good variety of shows including comedies, dramas and romantic plays. This may be just the night out that you are looking for. How about a nice dinner and a nice play featuring local talent in Ottawa?

Besides putting on different theatrical productions, they also rent out their rooms.  If you are looking for a unique place to hold an event (big or small), they have a few spaces available.  You can rent out the Big Stage (462 seats), the Lobby or the Janigan Studio (47 seats).

No matter what your reason, we hope you enjoy the Ottawa Little Theatre.

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One of Ottawa’s best music events is the Ottawa Jazz Festival. With various styles of jazz it draws crowds of all ages.

The 2016 Ottawa International Jazz Festival will be held from June 23 – July 3, 2016. It will be 10 nights of amazing talent right in the heart of Ottawa.

The lineup is always fantastic.  In the past, the festival has included artists such as:

• Willie Nelson and Family
• Boz Scaggs
• The Bad Plus
• Ben Taylor
• Gregory Porter
• They Heavy
• Mike Murley Septet
• Erin Costelo Quartet
• and many more.

There are so many styles of jazz to choose from that you are bound to find something that you really enjoy. Some of the various jazz styles that are at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival are:

• Big Band
• Brazilian
• Funk
• Fusion
• Swing
• Vocal
• World

The Jazz Festival takes place in different venues but they are all within walking distance of each other. They are all located in downtown Ottawa:

• Confederation Park
• Festival Plaza
• Rideau Centre
• Brookstreet Hotel

Here is some additional information that you may find useful about the Jazz Festival:

• parking can be difficult to find so if you can please carpool or take an OC Transpo bus
• you can bring lawnchairs and/or blankets if you want to sit throughout part of the show
• you are not allowed to take photos or videos of the performances
• the performances are rain or shine

There are different ticket packages that you can buy for the event. Some passes allow you to see almost any show or you can buy individual tickets. Tickets can be purchased at the following locations:

• Ticketmaster
• Jazz Festival Office at 61A York Street or by calling 613-241-2633
• CD Warehouse locations (select tickets and passes)
• Compact Music (select tickets and passes)

We hope you find some time to go downtown Ottawa to enjoy at least one of the shows at the Ottawa Jazz Festival. Have a great time and enjoy the show!

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If you are trying to find information on Ottawa Dog Rescues then we are here to assist you. We think these organizations need all of our support as their hard work should not go unrecognized.

Has your family decided that they want to add welcome another family member? Or, are you interested in fostering a pet as it waits for its forever home? Whatever you have decided to do, these organizations are here to help. They can answer questions and guide you through the entire adoption or fostering process.

Here is a listing of some of the rescue organizations in the Ottawa area:

Birch Haven Rescue and Rehabilitation Services
contactbhrr@gmail.com
www.birchhaven.org

Bytown Association for Rescued Kanines (BARK)
smckeil@primus.ca
www.bark-ottawa.com

Genesis Dog Rescue
genesisdogrescue@gmail.com
www.genesisdogrescue.com

Hopeful Hearts
info@hopefulhearts.ca
www.hopefulhearts.ca

Ottawa Dog Rescue
613-882-0629
ottawadogrescue@gmail.com
www.otowndogrescue.com

Westies in Need
613-652-4974
kimmie@westiesinneed.ca
www.westiesinneed.ca

Our page on Ottawa Dog Rescues is one of our newest pages and we will be completing it in the next day or so. Please come back and visit.

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You can play, watch, or coach all different types and all different levels.

Ottawa is home to a couple major sports teams such as Ottawa Senators Hockey and the Ottawa Red Blacks and also some minor sports teams and thousands of recreational teams. There are plenty of places to go golfing, skiing and horseback riding too!

We don’t even know where we should begin – this is one very active city!

How about we start with our Professional Sports Teams?

HOCKEY

There are two teams that draw the most amount of attention:

• The Ottawa Senators are our National Hockey League (NHL) team.
• The Ottawa 67s are our Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team.

Both Ottawa hockey teams have huge followings and play at their own venues. The Sens (nickname for the Senators) play at the Corel Centre Ottawa’s West End. The 67s play at the Civic Centre off of Bank Street in Ottawa. The entertainment value at both is excellent.

FOOTBALL

As of 2014, Ottawa, once again, has a Canadian Football League (CFL) team. They are the Ottawa RedBlacks.

So, those are some of our professional teams but there are a lot of other Ottawa sports teams.

We also have hundreds of other sports teams & leagues in Ottawa that YOU can join or recreational activities you can participate in. Here are just a few:

BIKING

If you love to bike then you will love it in Ottawa. There are so many amazing trails to choose from. We have a lot more information on our Biking in Ottawa page.

GOLF

If golf is your game then check out some of the local Ottawa Golf Courses. We have also included our recommendations. There are so many different courses to choose from.

GYMNASTICS

There are plenty of Ottawa Gymnastics clubs and classes to choose from. Why not sign yourself or your children up so you (or they) can tumble, bounce and roll and have some fun?

EVEN MORE HOCKEY

If hockey is your sport of choice then you may be interested in reading more about the Bell Capital Cup. It is a huge hockey tournament that is held in Ottawa every year.

HORSEBACK RIDING

There are many ranches and stables in Ottawa for you to either take a class, book some lessons or just take go for a leisurely ride. Check our our Horseback Riding in Ottawa page for more information and contact information for local stables & ranches.

MARTIAL ARTS

Another way of staying active is to join one of the many Martial Arts Centres in Ottawa. There are so many to choose from.

RUNNING

If you enjoy running or if you are interested in taking up running then you will be happy to know that there are hundreds of trails to run on and various places that have “Learn to Run” programs. Don’t forget that Ottawa hosts the Race Weekend every year and it is extremely popular. Check out our Running in Ottawa page or information about the upcoming Ottawa Race Weekend.

SKIING

Are you interested in skiing? You can choose between downhill or cross country. You can even try out snowboarding! If so then check out our list of Ottawa Ski Hills & Resorts.

SPORT & SOCIAL CLUB

Are you interested in playing sports in Ottawa and meeting other people that live here? The Ottawa Sports and Social Club (OSSC) is a great way to do it. We joined for one season and chose to play outdoor soccer (yes, they even have indoor soccer). We had a blast. We met some great people, got exercise and participated in as many as the social events that they organized as well. We highly recommend it to anyone who has recently moved to the city or for those that have lived here for awhile and want to expand their social circle.

SPORTS TEAMS & ASSOCIATIONS

Are you looking for other Sports Teams or Associations? There are quite a few other ones to choose from. There are leagues all around the city playing soccer, lacrosse, rugby, basketball, hockey etc.

SWIMMING

Whether you are looking for an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, a beach or a splash pad, our Ottawa swimming section gives you all the details on where to find a great place to cool off or to take a few lessons!

TOBOGGANING

If you love winter sports, then you will love tobogganing in Ottawa. It is an exhilirating sport!

SWIMMING AT THE BEACH

On a hot summer’s day, why not check out one of the many Ottawa beaches. What a great way to cool off!

ULTIMATE

Have you even heard of “ultimate”? If you haven’t yet, you sure will. It is fascinating. The game is high energy, there is a lot of running around and there are no referees. If you are interested in more information then you should contact the Ottawa Carleton Ultimate Association. The OCUA runs the largest ultimate league in the world. If you are only here for a visit you may want to try to catch one of their games – it is a lot of fun to watch.

VOLLEYBALL

If volleyball is your game then you may want to read about the Ottawa Kangaroos Volleyball. They are one of the only clubs in Ontario that offer programs for male and female players.

Like we already mentioned, this is one very active city. There are lots of choices for those who want to sit back and watch a game or for those who want to get up and participate in Ottawa Sports!

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You can spend some time in a large indoor mall or you can stroll outside along a beautiful pedestrian mall. They provide specialty boutiques, souvenir shops and discount outlets.

Besides shopping in a store or mall, online shopping has become very popular and there are many local websites that sell absolutely everything – including the kitchen sink!

You can also save a lot of money on clothing and home furnishings at any of the consignment shops that are all over the city. You can even bring some of your used items and make a bit of money.

Ottawa also has all the popular big box stores like Future Shop, Staples, Best Buy, WalMart and many others. There is also a great selection of toy stores in Ottawa if you are looking for gifts and/or toys for the kids.

You can be certain that you will find what you are looking for in Ottawa.

INDOOR MALLS

Bayshore
100 Bayshore Drive
613-829-7491
Including stores like Old Navy, H&M, Gap, Children’s Place, The Bay, sports stores, and much more.

Billings Bridge Plaza
2323 Riverside Drive
613-733-2982

Carlingwood
Carling Avenue
613-745-6858

Galeries de Hull
320 St. Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau
819-770-7925

Hazeldean
300 Eagleson Road (at Hazeldean)
613-592-3642
Including stores such as Target, a food court, a grocery store and much more.

Herongate
Heron Road
613-526-0666

Merivale Mall
1642 Merivale Road
613-224-7272

Ottawa Train Yards
Located just off Industrial Avenue
Michael’s, Walmart and much more.

Place D’Orleans
110 Place D’Orleans Drive
613-824-9050

240 Sparks
Sparks Street
613-233-8299

Rideau Centre
Rideau Street
613-236-6565

St. Laurent
St. Laurent Boulevard
613-745-6858

Westgate
1309 Carling Avenue
613-722-3433

OUTDOOR MALLS

Besides the indoor malls there are also some other areas in the city that you don’t want to miss if you feel like doing some shopping in Ottawa. The three areas listed below offer hundreds of specialty stores, boutiques, restaurants and cafes in an outdoor setting. Some of the restaurants and cafes have patios in the warmer months. After a day of shopping you may want to stop in at one and enjoy a cold beverage on their patio.

Bank Street stretches from North to South beginning right downtown Ottawa.

The Byward Market covers a lot of the downtown area.

Sparks Street Mall – is Canada’s oldest pedestrian mall. You will also find various festivals that take place along Sparks Street.

Westboro – this shopping district begins where Wellington turns into Richmond Road.

Online Shopping in Ottawa:

Know exactly what you need and don’t want to pay retail for it? Try perusing the “garage sale” type online sites! You can find fabulous purchases at a fraction of the price, and often in great condition. We have personally bought and sold on these sites and have had great success. Just take appropriate precautions when meeting the seller when paying and picking up your items.

Kijiji Ottawa

Used Ottawa

NEW!Pre-Owned Ottawa
Ottawa Classified Site Buy-Sell-Trade
Pre-Owned Ottawa

Enjoy your Ottawa shopping extravaganza! Hopefully you will find something for yourself and for your friends and family.

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Mmmm…Ottawa restaurants! Great food and good times!

There are so many different types of restaurants in Ottawa so it is hard to choose which one to go to. We actually read a statistic awhile ago that said that Ottawa had the greatest number of restaurants per capita then any other city in Canada. That sure is a lot! Lucky us!

What is great about so many Ottawa restaurants is that there is a variety of styles and selections. If you want Indian one day, Mexican the next and Italian the day after that, then you are in luck. That is one of the things that we love about living here. We can try so many different foods and never get bored!

Besides variety, there are places to eat with all different price ranges. Depending on your budget you will be able to find something to suit you.

We promised that we would list some of our favourites so here they are! We recommend the following restaurants in Ottawa…

Chahaya Malaysia
1690 Montreal Road
613-742-0242
Malaysian, Indonesian and Vegetarian cuisine – The food is authentic and delicious! The service staff are friendly and are very knowledgeable. We have had friends tell us that the food is better here than it is in Malaysia or Indonesia. Now that is a compliment!

Ceylonta
403 Somerset West (Location 1)
613-237-7812
2920 Carling Avenue (Location 2)
613-828-7812
Sri Lankan cuisine – very simple decor but their food is very authentic and the service staff can make recommendations for you if you don’t know what to order.

Fresco Bistro Italiano (downtown location)
354 Elgin Street
613-235-7541

Fresco Bistro Italiano (Kanata/Stittsville location)
5547 Hazeldean Road
613-836-3838

Haveli Indian Restaurant
39 Clarence or 194 Robertson
613-241-1700 or 613-820-1700

Johnny Farina
216 Elgin Street
613-565-5155
Great food & great location! Apart from having some of the best food (including wood oven pizza) in Ottawa, they are also located within walking distance to all the sites. It is a great place to go before a show at the NAC or before any of the festivals in Ottawa.

Napoli’s Cafe
1300 Main Street, Stittsville
613-836-7722

Choose from many other Italian Restaurants in Ottawa.

Ottawa also has plenty of other restaurants to choose from like Chinese, Vegetarian, Greek, Caribbean, Lebanese etc. Whatever type of food you are looking for, Ottawa has it.

There really are so many restaurants in this city. Mmm…we are getting hungry just thinking about them!

We hope you have a great time and that you really enjoy your meal at one of the many Ottawa Restaurants. Bon Appetit!

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