Christmas Lights Tour
December 10, 2021
Skating in Ottawa
January 28, 2022
Winter Getaways Near Ottawa
Winter is here for the next 3 months! That means it’s time for tobogganing, skiing, snowshoeing, skating, dog-sledding and any other fun and frosty outdoor activities! Eastern Ontario is the perfect place to live and enjoy this time of year. Ottawa has so many exciting things to experience! You can enjoy skating on the Rideau Cancel, snowshoeing at Wesley Clover Parks or cross country skiing at Mooney’s Bay Ski Centre. Or, you can enjoy all of the festivities of Winterlude from February 4 to 21st!
If you are looking to up your winter activity game, why not try out a little weekend vacation somewhere in the area? We have compiled a list of the best winter getaways near Ottawa so you and your families can enjoy this season to the fullest! Our list includes both Ontario and Quebec towns to visit along with fun activities and restaurants you won’t want to miss! So grab your coat and get ready to embark on one of these great winter getaways near Ottawa!
Wakefield
Distance from Ottawa: 30 minutes
Wakefield is a beautiful year-round destination for people of all ages! With gorgeous scenery everywhere you look, it’s no wonder it’s so popular. This quaint village offers lots of great things to see and do in the winter. Check out some of the fun activities, places to fuel up, along with where to stay below!
Activities: Snow-shoeing or cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park. Ice skating through the forest at Patinage en foret in Lac-des-Loups. Ice skating through a maze at Parc Nature Eco-Odyssée. Hiking through the Wakefield hiking trails. Downhill skiing at Ski Vorlage. Checking out the Wakefield Covered Bridge. Or indulging at a local sugar bush.
Key Restaurants: Kaffe 1870, Nikosi Bistro Pub, Ixim Cafe + Bistro, Pâtisserie La Toque, Cafe Le Hibou and The Village House.
Almonte
Distance from Ottawa: 50 Minutes
Almonte is well known as “the friendly town” offering a neighbourly community of kind and caring people. The town offers stunning vistas of the Mississippi River, great places to eat and stay and tons of activities too! For this reason, it is a wonderful place to enjoy a winter getaway!
Activities: Downhill skiing at Mount Pakenham, cross country skiing at Murphys Point Provincial Park, snowmobiling, public skating at outdoor rinks, antique shopping downtown Almonte.
Key Restaurants: Mill Street Crepe Company, The Barley Mow, Superior Restaurant, Pêches et Poivre, Joe’s Italian Kitchen and Loom Bistro.
Montebello
Distance from Ottawa: 1 hour
Montebello features all kinds of wintery fun, making it the perfect winter getaway for your family! This historic community offers a picturesque downtown with views of the Ottawa River. Moreover, you will love the unique activities and accommodations in Montebello, read on!
Activities: Watch the animals at Parc Omega, dog sledding, snowshoeing, ice climbing, ice fishing, cross country skiing and ice skating.
Key Restaurants: Restaurant Le Bistro Montebello, Resto Pub Le Zouk, Le Café Entre Amis, Les Brasseurs de Montebello, Restaurant Le Napoléon.
Calabogie
Distance from Ottawa: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Calabogie is the perfect winter getaway located a little over an hour away from Ottawa. This snowy playground offers so much to see and do despite it being such a small town. From hitting the slopes at Calabogie Peaks to snowmobiling across the lake. Even just enjoying some locally brewed beer at Calabogie Brewing Company. You are indeed going to love this colourful winter vacation destination!
Activities: Downhill skiing at Calabogie Peaks. Snowmobiling tours through Calabogie Highlands with Tom Irwin Adventure Tours. Ice skating on the Calabogie Community Rink or on Calabogie Lake at Barnet Park. Hiking at Eagle’s Nest,
Key Restaurants: On The Rocks, Oh-el-la, Redneck Bistro, Calabogie Brewing Co., Canthooks,
Brockville
Distance from Ottawa: 1 Hour, 20 minutes
Brockville is a great getaway destination at basically any time of the year! But did you know that there are many winter activities you can enjoy? This charming town offers beautiful views of the Saint Lawrence River and the historic buildings downtown. You are going to love your winter getaway in Brockville!
Activities: Skating at Rotary Park Rink, hiking through Mac Johnson Wildlife Area, cross-country skiing at Triangle Cross Country Ski Club, snowshoeing through Jones Creek Trails.
Key Restaurants: Moose McGuire’s, The Mill Restaurant, Cosies, Finnigan’s Tavern, Shawarma Garden, Island Delight, Peters Oven, The Noshery, Jon’s Restaurant.
Gananoque
Distance from Ottawa: 1 Hour, 45 minutes
Gananoque, the Gateway to the 1000 Islands. This delightful town is internationally recognized as one of Eastern Ontario’s best waterfront communities to visit. This is equally true for both the summer and winter months! During your stay, you will want to check out these great activities below!
Activities: Take a helicopter tour over the St. Lawrence and Thousand Islands. Enjoy some peaceful ice fishing. Go antiquing downtown “Gan”. Enjoy a walk through Sculpture Park. Or hike to the lookout point at Maple Rock Conservation Area.
Key Restaurants: Stonewater Pub, The Purple House Cafe, Riva, Laverne’s Eatery, Sushi Sun, Mavericks, The Old English Pub, Pho Hut, Nappo’s Sports Bar and Pub.
Mont Tremblant
Distance from Ottawa: 1 hour, 50 minutes
In the village of Mont Tremblant, it is so quaint and picturesque. It is the perfect winter-time family destination offering activities to kids and adults of all ages! Don’t know how to ski? No problem! You can take lessons to hit the slopes or enjoy so many other less extreme activities and experiences. There is truly something for everybody at Mont Tremblant!
Activities: There are so many different activities to enjoy at Mont Tremblant. You can enjoy downhill skiing. Cross country skiing. Snowshoeing. Hiking. Dog sledding. Fat biking. Dune buggy tours. Ice climbing. Helicopter tours. Ice fishing. Ice skating. Paintball in the snow. Or enjoy a leisurely gondola ride above the town!
Key Restaurants: Le Refuge du Trappeur, Bullseye – Saloon & Grillades, Fat Mardis, Cheesus, A Mano, Gypsy Restaurant & Bar, La Pizzateria, SoCal Kitchen, La maison de la crêpe and La Savoie.
Montreal
Distance from Ottawa: 2 Hours, 30 minutes
The city of Montreal is vibrant and lively. There is always something to do for everyone at any time of the year. The booming metropolis makes a great winter getaway as well! You can enjoy ice skating on some of the coolest rinks around while additionally keeping warm with some indoor activities too. When it comes to food, you have an abundance of options! Who wouldn’t love a winter getaway in Montreal!
Activities: Ice skating at one of the many outdoor rinks, ice fishing, cross-country skiing at Parc Maisonneuve, take a walk through Old Montreal, enjoy a birds-eye view aboard La Grande Roue de Montréal or go skiing at Ski Saint-Bruno.
Key Restaurants: Jellyfish Montreal, Restaurant Le Speakeasy, Restaurant ZIBO!, Stash Café, Chifa, Brasseur de Montréal and Gourmet Griffintown.
BONUS!
Quebec City
Distance from Ottawa: 4 Hours, 45 minutes
If you are okay with a bit of a longer drive, Quebec City truly is the ultimate winter getaway. This dynamic city offers so many beautiful scenes and things to do all wrapped within a diverse and welcoming culture.
Activities: Enjoy the most unique tobogganing experience at Au 1884, visit the Hotel de Glace (don’t forget to take a ride down the Ice Slide!), experience the Quebec Winter Carnival between February 4th-13th, explore Old Quebec, downhill ski at Mont-Sainte-Anne, or relax at Strøm Spa overlooking the St Lawrence River.
Key Restaurants: Chez Temporel, Beclub Bistro Bar, Chez Boulay-bistro boréal, Chic Shack, Champlain, Restaurant La Buche, Bello Ristorante, Cochon Dingue Champlain and Bistro Sous le Fort.
In conclusion, there are so many unique places with fun activities, things to do and places to eat and sleep all within a 4.5 hour drive of downtown! We hope that you and your family have a fantastic time if you wish to try out one of these destinations.
We would like to make note that many of these getaways are in the province of Quebec, which currently has different COVID-19 rules than Ontario. Be sure to check the provincial rules before embarking on your trip.
Above all, the Susan & Moe Team hopes you have a safe and wonderful winter season. If travelling doesn’t seem safe to you right now, that is no problem! There are lots of great things to do right here in Ottawa as well this winter. Check out this great blog post for more info!
