water world
You can get wet and wild in the capital .
Three rivers — the Ottawa , Rideau and Gatineau — converge on the capital , and the Rideau Canal is an obvious magnet for boaters and paddlers . Throw in the nearby pristine lakes of Gatineau Park and you ’ ve got a water world .
Ottawa may not be on the coast , but it ’ s a bona fide beach town . Mooney ’ s Bay is a popular sandy summer hotspot , and also hosts two major events that combine pitch perfect live music with healthy athletic competition : HOPE Volleyball Summerfest ( July ), the world ’ s largest one-day beach volleyball tournament , and the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival ( June ). The siren song of Westboro Beach is bolstered by a thriving strip of shops and eateries only a few blocks away ( p . 39 ). Petrie Island Beach is an ecological preserve , so work up some sweat on the island ’ s sevenkm of nature trails before your swim . At the west-end gem , Britannia Beach , come for the picnic tables and mature trees , and stay to watch the windsurfing .
The Rideau Canal , at 202km ( 126 mi ) long , stretches from Ottawa to Kingston . Navigate its local waters by renting canoes or kayaks at the Dows Lake Pavilion . Prescott-Russell ’ s scenic Ottawa River route is accessible by small boat
top : Fishing on the Ottawa River left : White water rafting on the Ottawa River above : Dows Lake Pavilion
via a system of portages , or by biking along the scenic shore . The river is also tantalizing bait for fishing enthusiasts — literally swimming with musky and pike . Cast a fishing line at nearby Jessup ’ s Falls near Plantagenet or the docks in Lefaivre , Treadwell or L ’ Orignal . The region is also a paradisiac place to dip your oar or paddle ( stand-up paddle boards and canoes can be rented at the Rideau Canoe Club on Mooney ’ s Bay ). The Ottawa River makes waves with some of the best whitewater rafting in the country . An hour and a half drive west of the city , adventure awaits with RiverRun Rafting , OWL Rafting , and Wilderness Tours . Ottawa City Rafting also offers original , unforgettable urban tours within view of the Parliament Buildings .
For a man-made water haven , head to Calypso , Canada ’ s largest theme waterpark — the place to catch a wave , or slip and slide . Or take in the Magnificence of Chaudière Falls ( fall 2017 ), an ambient lighting display accompanied by a rich soundscape inspired by Indigenous culture .
p h o t o s : d o w s l a k e pav i l i o n ( j a m e s p e lt z e r )
28 www . ottawatourism . ca