Sun, Shore, and Everything in Between: Top 15 Hottest Summer Dates in Ottawa
Summer has got to be the best season for dates! Although we believe that every day can be a day for romantic dates, a lot of things happen in Ottawa every summer – beach trips, concerts, festivals, and just about every outdoor activity there is!
Looking for summer date ideas in Ottawa? Whether you want to experience vibrant city life or the scenic outdoors, there’s an activity for you.
From museums and galleries to festivals and restaurants, there’s something for every culture lover. If you prefer nature, you can bike, hike or stroll in the many parks and farms around the city.
We have a long list of summer date ideas but we have chosen 15 of the best. Check them out below:
1. Bike Tour with Escape Tours & Rentals
Location: 65 Sparks
Contact Number: 613-608-7407
Website: https://escapebicycletours.ca/
Bike dates are a great way to exercise and enjoy the views. There are some surprising discoveries like charming cafes and pretty gardens, and sharing this with your partner can be a special moment.
Escape Bicycle Tours and Rentals offers a variety of options to suit your preferences, whether you want to rent a bike and explore on your own or join a guided tour.
Some of the places you will see on the tour are the Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill, and the Byward Market, which are all stunning and romantic spots to enjoy with your date. I like biking as a way to bond with my date and admire the beauty of Ottawa.
2. Picnic at Major’s Hill Park
Location: Laurier Ave E & ON-48
Website: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/majors-hill-park
Major’s Hill Park is the perfect place to enjoy some quality time. This park is located right in the center of Ottawa, and it offers a breathtaking view of the Rideau Canal and the Ottawa River.
Whether you go there during the day or at night, you will be amazed by its beauty and peacefulness. And if you need to get some food and drinks for your picnic, you can easily walk downtown or to the Byward Market, where there are tasty options.
3. Rideau Canal Cruise with Ottawa Boat Cruise
Location: 895 Jacques-Cartier St
Contact Number: 819 246-3855
Website: www.ottawaboatcruise.com
A Rideau Canal cruise with Ottawa Boat Cruise is a wonderful way to discover Ottawa from a different perspective and learn more about the history and culture of this amazing city.
You can board a boat and sail along the Rideau Canal, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will see some of the most beautiful and historic landmarks of Ottawa, such as the Parliament Buildings, the Chateau Laurier, and the National Arts Centre.
A Rideau Canal cruise is a perfect way to enjoy the summer weather and spend quality time with your date. You will love the scenery, the atmosphere, and the experience of cruising on one of the oldest operating canals in North America.
4. Summer Sports League with Ottawa Sport and Social Club
Location: 85 Hinton Avenue North
Contact Number: +1 613-853-7495
Website: https://ossc.ca/league-of-legends
Ottawa Sport & Social Club (OSSC) offers fun and exciting summer dates with some physical activity and friendly competition.OSSC is the largest co-ed, adult sports league in Ottawa, offering a variety of sports and activities for all skill levels and interests.
Whether you want to play soccer, volleyball, dodgeball, or even ultimate frisbee, OSSC has something for everyone. You can sign up as a team or as an individual.
Sports are a great way to bond with your partner and have some fun in the sun. You can challenge each other, support each other, and celebrate your victories together.
Moreover, you can also make new friends and socialize with other couples who enjoy sports.
5. Swim Trip on Public Beaches
Ottawa has four public beaches on the shores of the Ottawa and Rideau rivers. They are beautiful spots for swimming, barbecuing, picnicking or simply relaxing on a summer day.
All of these beaches are easily accessible by car or bike, feature washrooms, and other facilities, and have daytime lifeguards during peak season (generally, June to August).
Britannia Beach
Location: 2805 Carling Ave
One of the best ways to spend a day in Ottawa’s west end is to visit the waterfront, where you can enjoy the BBQ pits and picnic tables. This popular destination is perfect for dates.
The waterfront is clean and well-equipped, with washrooms and free water fountains. You can also rent a volleyball net for some fun, or treat yourself to some ice cream from The Beachconers, a hidden gem of a shop.
Westboro Beach
Location: 745 Ottawa River Parkway
A breathtaking natural scenery greets you as you arrive at this area, along with delicious treats at the Westbrook Beach Yacht Club café. The cafe is a hot spot on the shore, and sometimes features live music.
You can also enjoy a bike ride on the beach’s trail through the main cycling route called Sir John A MacDonald. The beach is accessible all year, but only has lifeguards from 12 PM to 7 PM from early June to late August.
Mooney’s Bay Beach
Location: 2926 Riverside Dr
If you love sports and nature, you will enjoy this place in the south of Ottawa. It has a beach volleyball court and a tennis court, all you need to do is bring your own equipment if you want to play.
You can walk along the beach with your family and admire the scenery. The water is safe for swimming and they have lifeguards from June to August, from noon to 7 PM.
You can also rent paddleboards and volleyball nets and balls by the hour.
Petrie Island Beach
Location: 795 Trim Rd
For an exciting day of sun and surf, join a tour program and discover the amazing animals that live in the area and how you and your loved ones can protect them.
Enjoy a delicious meal at the Bananas Caribbean Grill and Take Out, a well-known restaurant nearby, with 40 picnic tables to choose from, as well as kayaking and volleyball rentals on the weekends. Parking is only $5.
You can also fish in designated spots away from the swimming zones. Or explore the Petrie islands by hiking along the 7 km trail that connects them.
6. Museum Date at the National Gallery of Canada
Location: 380 Sussex Drive
Contact Number: 613-990-1985
Website: www.gallery.ca
If you love art and would like to explore art and culture with your date, you will enjoy visiting the National Gallery of Canada. The museum houses the national art heritage of Canada and has more than 93,000 artworks in its collection.
You can join guided tours for adults that will take you on a one-hour journey through the collection and the current exhibitions. Some of the artworks in the collection include contemporary, European, Canadian, and Indigenous Art.
7. Hike at Ottawa’s Best Trails
I love hiking because it’s a nice way to spend time together while enjoying the outdoors, getting some exercise, and admiring the beautiful scenery. Luckily, there are many hiking trails in Ottawa that you and your date can enjoy.
Some of the popular hiking trails include:
Gatineau Park
Location: 33 Scott Road
Website: http://www.gatineaupark.gc.ca/
This park is located just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa and has over 165 kilometers of hiking trails with beautiful views of the surrounding area.
Gatineau Park offers trails for different skill levels, from easy to challenging. You and your date don’t need hiking experience to be able to enjoy the trail.
Mer Bleue Bog
Location: Ridge Rd
Website: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/mer-bleue
This is a hiking trail that is 1.2 kilometers long with fascinating scenery. It’s a great place to see wildlife and learn about the bog ecosystem.
It’s an easy hike that anyone can do. In fact, it’s a popular trail because of the accessible boardwalk where you and your date can take to admire the wetlands and the wildlife in it.
Although this trail is a bit crowded, there are quieter and more secluded hikes you can explore at Trails 50 and 51.
Stony Swamp
Location: 4897 Old Richmond Rd, Nepean
Website: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/stony-swamp
If you and your partner love nature and wildlife, you will enjoy the variety of hikes at Stony Swamp. It’s another trail that will take you through forests, wetlands, and fields and offer beautiful views of the surrounding area.
The two main trails at Stony Swam are Sarsaparilla Trail and the Jack Pine Trail. The former offers a walk on a dock to a beaver pond, and the latter is a great option for birdwatching.
8. Food Tour at the ByWard Market
Location: ByWard Market Square, Ottawa
Website: https://www.byward-market.com/
ByWard Market is a historic neighborhood in Ottawa that is bursting with unique boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and bars.
It is one of the most frequently visited spots in the city and is perfect for a date night. You can unwind and sip cocktails after work or take a stroll through the market.
There are many romantic restaurants in the area that you can visit with your date. Some of the popular restaurants include The Courtyard Restaurant, Play Food & Wine, and The Grand Pizzeria & Bar.
If you want to take photos, the area also has some stunning street art.
9. Festival Fun at Summer Fests
There are many summer festivals in Ottawa that you can bring your partner to for a romantic date. Here are some ideas:
Canadian Tulip Festival
Location: Various locations
Website: https://tulipfestival.ca/
The Canadian Tulip Festival is a popular annual event that celebrates the seasonal flower’s beauty and its historic ties to Canada’s capital. It runs for 11 days each May and coincides with the blooming of the tulips.
The festival features massive tulip displays. You can stroll the lit garden beds at night and see tulips in a different light or watch movies in the park.
Ottawa International Jazz Festival
Location: Various locations
Website: https://ottawajazzfestival.com/
The Ottawa International Jazz Festival is a summer festival that draws a crowd of music lovers every year. During the festival, outdoor stages, theaters, galleries, restaurants, and clubs throughout downtown Ottawa buzz with fans enjoying every kind of jazz.
Despite being labeled as a jazz festival, it spans many genres, diverse cultures, traditions, and an array of styles that cover the spectrum from pop and rock to lush harmonies. The festival is perfect for couples who love music.
10. Tour of the Parliament Hill
Location: 111 Wellington St
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/parliament-hill.html
Parliament Hill is a beautiful place to bring your date if you’re looking for a romantic setting. You can admire the sunset, explore the splendor of Parliament Hill, and learn more about the history of Canada and its government.
You can even have a picnic on the grounds. If you get lucky, you can also catch the Northern Lights.
11. Nature Adventure at Gatineau Park
Location: Old Chelsea
Website: https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places/gatineau-park-visitor-centre
Gatineau Park is the National Capital Region’s conservation park and is the largest green space in the region. The park occupies an area of more than 361 square kilometers and is a place of rich and unique biodiversity.
It is a great park to visit with your date if you’re looking for outdoor activities and attractions. You can go biking and hiking with your date, explore the beautiful scenery and enjoy some exercise together.
After hiking, you can also stop by Champlain Lookout, a scenic lookout point in Gatineau Park that offers stunning views of the Ottawa Valley
If you feel like exploring the waters, you can rent a canoe and admire the lakes and rivers.
12. Concert Date at Ottawa’s Outdoor Venues
Outdoor concerts are a great way to enjoy music and spend time with your date. There are several outdoor concerts held in Ottawa throughout the year.
One of the popular outdoor venues is the TD Place Stadium which hosts a wide range of musical acts throughout the year and is a great place to enjoy some live music with your date.
After the concert, you can explore the city and enjoy some of the other attractions that Ottawa has to offer. You can take a walk along the Rideau Canal, visit the National Gallery of Canada, or enjoy some delicious food at one of the city’s many restaurants.
13. Game Night at an Escape Room
Escape rooms can be a fun and exciting date idea. It’s a great way to spend time with your date and work together to solve puzzles and clues. After the escape room, you can grab a bite to eat or explore the city together.
There are several escape rooms in Ottawa that you can visit. Here are some of them.
Jigsaw Escape Rooms
Location: 12 Byward Market Square #2
Phone Number: 613-422-6542
Website: jigsawescape.com
At Jigsaw Escape Rooms, you and your date will solve high-stakes scenarios inside locked rooms for 60 minutes. You must work together to solve a series of fun yet challenging puzzles and complete your mission before time runs out.
This escape room experience offers different themes including heist, pirate adventure, wild west, castle, cabin the woods, and many more.
Escape Manor
Location: 292-A Elgin St.
Phone Number: 613-695-1655
Website: www.escapemanor.com
This is Ottawa’s largest and most immersive room escape adventure. At Escape Manor, you can practice teamwork by solving puzzles, finding clues, and cracking codes.
It offers different rooms with different themes. Aside from the fun games, you will also enjoy the delicious food on the menu.
14. Beer Tasting Tours
Beer-tasting tours are a great way to spend time with your date while enjoying some delicious beer. They offer a unique experience that allows you to try different types of beer and learn about the brewing process and the history of beer.
Tasting the best beers in Ottawa is also a great way to meet new people and socialize with other beer enthusiasts. They offer a relaxed and casual atmosphere that is perfect for a romantic date.
If you are up to tasting some delicious beer while getting to know your date better. Here are some bars that you and your date can visit:
15. Meals at Ottawa’s Best Restaurants
If you want to have a memorable date this summer, why not try a food tour in Ottawa? The capital of Canada has many amazing tours that will let you experience the city’s gastronomic delights and fascinating history.
Here are some of the tours you can check out:
C’est Bon Cooking
Location: 200 Dalhousie St
Website: https://cestbonottawa.ca/
Contact Number: 613 722-86871
You can join walking tours and taste the delicious dishes from different cuisines, or you can learn how to make them yourself in cooking classes. C’est Bon Cooking Gourmet Tours is a perfect activity to learn about the amazing food scene in Ottawa.
If you want to treat your date to something sweet, you will love the Chocolate Lover’s Tour, where you can sample the finest chocolate treats in town.
Secret Food Tours
Website: www.secretfoodtours.com/ottawa/
Ottawa offers a variety of culinary delights and the Secret Food Tours will show you and your date the best of them. You will visit some of the city’s finest restaurants and hidden gems, sample their delicious food and learn about the rich culinary heritage.
One of the highlights of the tour is the chance to sample local specialties. From savory poutine, made with crispy fries, rich gravy, and cheese curds, to BeaverTails, a delicious pastry treat.
You can also visit Ottawa Tourism’s website for more tips on the city’s food scene. There’s a guide to halal restaurants and a selection of patios by neighborhood.
Nothing says romance like a summer date in Ottawa. This city is full of fun and exciting activities that will bring you closer to your partner.
Pick your options from biking along the trails, picnicking in the park, dancing under the stars, to visiting some of the cultural attractions. Ottawa is a city that celebrates love in all its forms, so book your trip today and discover what it has to offer.