Your summer bucket list: 75 things to do in the Outaouais this summer!
The fine weather is here at last, and the days are already flying by! This year, we won’t be ending the summer thinking it zipped by too fast—again. Your mission for 2024: make the most of every moment of summer in the Outaouais! And how do you do that? By checking things off our summer bucket list of 75 suggested activities, outings and places to visit in the region!
- Spend an evening at a cottage or campsite and stay toasty warm in your #OutaouaisFun crewneck sweatshirt.
- Try Camp Fortune’s new Peak to Peak ziplines.
- Explore the region and taste local products on one of Aventure Outaouais’ eight all-inclusive guided tours.
- Be dazzled by Les Grands Feux du Casino Lac-Leamy fireworks display.
- Sleep in a suspended tent at Camping Insolite CarpeDiem.
- Visit the new exhibition Bug Adventure at the Canadian Museum of Nature.
- Try Nordik Spa-Nature’s rituals.
- LOL at the Gatineau Comedy Festival.
- Book a guided adventure with Nomades du Parc.
- Enjoy a gourmet salad at Olivia bistro-boutique.
- Savour the Mexican-inspired fare at the new Azta Taqueria.
- Go for a cruise on the Ottawa River.
- Travel back in time at the Manoir Papineau National Historic Site.
- Go camping in Parc régional du Lac 31 Milles.
- Navigate the Gatineau River at the Upper Gatineau Whitewater Festival.
- Learn about Anishinabeg Algonquin culture at the Kitigan Zibi Cultural Centre.
- Party in Aylmer at the L’Outaouais en Fête festival.
- Get back to nature at Terre & Neige.
- Dance your feet off at the Riverside electronic music festival.
- Explore the water maze at Eco-Odyssée Nature Park.
- Sample craft beers at the Gatineau Brewfest.
- Visit the exhibition First royals Europe at the Canadian Museum of History.
- Book a custom package with Experience Outaouais.
- Play a round or two at an Outaouais golf club.
- Enjoy live music and entertainment at the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival.
- Celebrate Canada Day in the National Capital Region.
- Test your climbing skills at Altitude Gym.
- Serve your friends a delicious platter of cheeses from the Fromagerie Montebello and La Trappe à Fromage.
- Rent watersports equipment and try before you buy.
- Go fishing at an Outaouais outfitter.
- Take a road trip on the Chemins d’eau tourist route.
- Get back to nature at the Air-Eau-Bois outdoor centre.
- Organize a cocktail competition with friends, using products from Artist in Residence distillery.
- Shoot the rapids with Rafting Momentum.
- Push your limits on the Via Ferrata at Chutes Coulonge Adventure Park.
- Enjoy a cold one on the patio at one of the region’s microbreweries.
- Discover the world of fibre and textiles at the Twist Fibre Festival.
- Chill out with an ice cream cone from La Cigale.
- Go for a relaxing bike ride on the Cyclopark PPJ trail.
- Tackle the challenging aerial course at Arbraska Laflèche.
- Go for a picnic in a city park.
- Go hiking in the Parc des Montagnes Noires de Ripon.
- Spend an entertaining evening at the Casino du Lac-Leamy.
- Enjoy the peace and quiet of nature on one of the PERO’s trails.
- Soar across the Ottawa River on the Interzip Rogers interprovincial zipline.
- Fill your basket with fresh berries at a pick-your-own farm.
- Enjoy the picnic season with family and friends.
- Hop on your bike and ride the Véloroute des Draveurs.
- Sip an iced latte in good company at Biscotti & cie.
- Beat the summer heat at Mont Cascades Mountain Waterpark.
- Go birdwatching in Plaisance National Park.
- Treat yourself to a night at Fairmont Le Château Montebello.
- Relax with a spa treatment or a massage at Kōena Spa.
- Venture deep underground in the Laflèche Cave.
- Visit the George Bryson Cultural House and learn about this influential Pontiac family.
- Discover new shows presented in an outdoor dome at the Maison de la culture de Gatineau’s Salle Odyssée.
- Take a giant leap at the Great Canadian Bungee Corporation.
- Admire the view from the Champlain Lookout.
- Play board games and enjoy a bistro-style meal at Pärlé – Bistro Ludique.
- Sleep in a dome at Dômes Outaouais or HillHaus Dômes Pontiac.
- Bring out your inner cowhand at the St-André-Avellin Western Festival.
- Shop Canadian at Habitude Design.
- Rent a cosy compact cottage at Chalets Prunella.
- Try axe throwing with Aventure Hélianthe.
- Unwind with a spa day at the Amerispa Spa Nordique Cantley.
- Admire the works in the exhibition Radical Stitch, contemporary Indigenous art, at the National Gallery of Canada.
- Follow downtown Gatineau’s Culture Trail.
- Visit Parc Omega and sleep with bears or wolves.
- Taste local wines at Little Red Wagon Winery.
- Go for a swim at Pont Blanc beach.
- Fall in love with the adorable alpacas at Willow Lane Alpacas and Chelsea Alpacas.
- Go mountain biking on Montebello Mountain Bike’s 20 km of trails.
- Savour a gourmet meal prepared with fresh local ingredients at L’Huile d’Olive restaurant.
- Admire the panoramic view from the top of the observation tower in Mont Morissette Regional Park.
- Stock up on delicious local products at an Outaouais public market.
Now that you’ve got your summer bucket list all lined up and the good weather is here, we challenge you to tick off as many of these activities as you can! And if ever you need more ideas for enjoying the Outaouais this summer, check out our suggested tour routes.