Fun Things to Do in Ottawa in Fall with Kids

Fall in Ottawa is particularly pretty and full of fun activities for kids. Ottawa, Ontario is where your family will find historic attractions, the impressive Rideau Canal and, of course, our Parliament where the Prime Minister and elected officials get down to business. Here’s a look at seven fun things to do in Ottawa in fall.

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1. Go leaf peeping at Gatineau Park.

Ottawa bursts with color in fall. Plus, three weekends of special activities typically take place in early October in Gatineau Park. Located less than a 20-minute drive from downtown, this park’s nearly 90,000 acres are laced with picturesque hiking trails. The Sugar Bush Trail makes an easy, 45-minute stroller-friendly jaunt. Besides hiking, you can taste farm-fresh products, watch animal demonstrations, or enjoy a picnic in the great outdoors in this park. If your kids have ever wondered why leaves change in the fall, then they can learn from on-site nature interpreters.

2. Warm up with afternoon tea.

When the weather turns chilly in fall in Ottawa, there’s nothing quite as cozy as a warm cuppa. For a memorable experience, book afternoon tea at Zoe’s Lounge at Fairmont Chateau Laurier. As the tea trolley rolls over to your table, you’ll realize this is no ordinary service. Guests pick their favorite blend. After it’s poured, your family will be showered with scones, petit fours and delightful tiny sandwiches. Kids are treated like royalty when tucking into the Little Prince and Princess Tea, filling themselves with hot chocolate, kid sandwiches, cupcakes and other sweets.

After your tea experience, soak up the grand ambiance of this legendary property. Famed portrait photographer Yousuf Karsh once lived at the hotel. Parents will enjoy viewing many of his famous portraits in the Reading Lounge.

3. Taste the bounty of fall harvest at ByWard Market.

There can be no better place to experience the bounty of harvest than at one of Canada’s largest farmers markets, ByWard Market. Kids will love to watch the street performers, who are in abundance here on weekends. There’s much to sample at the stalls, too, like maple syrup tapped from trees just outside the city.

Kid-friendly restaurants such as The Grand Pizzeria and Zak’s Diner also lie within this district. It’s just as much fun to grab a snack from one of the 250 market vendors. If you’ve got little foodies on your hands, then take a tour of this historic neighborhood with C’est Bon. 

4. Experience the Haunting Season at Saunders Farm.

Get this, there are over 1,100 farms within Ottawa’s city limits! Saunders Farm is an amusement farm that delivers on all counts, especially in fall in Ottawa. From late September through October’s end, special attractions range from hedge mazes and live shows to carnival-style games. Too much stimulation? Chill out in the pumpkin patch or the fairy gardens. For mild frights, choose the Haunted Hayride. If traveling with tweens or teens who like a scare, then brave the Barn of Terror together (kids must be age 6+ for this attraction). 

5. Spend the night Ottawa in spooky style.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier is rumored to have some ghostly visitors from time to time. Most notably, this grand castle of a hotel is rumored to be haunted by its founder, Charles Melville Hays, who died aboard the Titanic days before the hotel’s completion. Book the Charles Melville Hays Suite, if you dare.

For families seeking a scarily affordable stay, the HI Ottawa Jail Hostel (formerly the Carleton County Gaol) is the site of the last working gallows in Canada. You can spend the night and get a complimentary tour of the jail the next morning.

6. Take a haunted tour of Ottawa in fall.

Fall is a frightfully fun time of year and Ottawa is reputed to be one of Canada’s most haunted cities. For a sampling of all things spooky in Ottawa, book the Haunted Walk of Ottawa Tour. Your tour guide will share Ottawa ghost stories and lead you by lantern light to some supposedly haunted spots, including the Bytown Museum, the Fairmont Château Laurier and Ottawa’s haunted high school. 

7. Go trick-or-treating at the Prime Minister’s house.

In years past, kids could go trick-or-treating at 24 Sussex Drive. What’s that? It’s only the Prime Minister’s Official Residence! The Prime Minister, his staff and family handed out candy to visitors. Betcha can’t do that at the White House! 

For years, however, 24 Sussex Drive has been undergoing renovations. Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau and his family have been living at Rideau Cottage since he became Prime Minister in 2015. That’s where trick-or-treaters have headed for Halloween treats instead.

Why Visit Ottawa in Fall

With so many attractions and museums in Ottawa, this city makes a pleasant destination any time of year. Fall, though, is probably my favorite. There are less crowds, the weather is pleasantly cool but not too cold, and the fall foliage is so pretty. American visitors are sure to be impressed with how far their dollar stretches, too.

Explore More of Canada

Take a look at the top 10 things to do in Ottawa with kids all year round.

Canada’s most popular theme park, Canada’s Wonderland near Toronto, is typically open from late spring through summer, and then on weekends during the fall. Read our tips for visiting Canada’s Wonderland.

Niagara Falls is also located within the province of Ontario. Discover what to do at Niagara Falls with kids and teens.

For all sorts of fun things to do in Canada with kids, check out my book, 25 Places in Canada Every Family Should Visit!

Save these Fall in Ottawa Travel Tips

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Would you like to experience fall in Ottawa? Let us know in the comments below!

A Note from the Saucy Travel Mama: Thank you Ottawa Tourism for hosting my Ottawa fall visit. As always, all opinions are my own.

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