Things to Do in Gatineau

From dawn to dusk, Oziles’ rental boats kick up waves around Petrie Island and Grandmaitre Ecological Reserve. The shop’s rental watercrafts, which require no boat operator’s card to use, exemplify the outfitter’s mission to empower Ottawans to explore and conserve their surrounding waterways. Before passengers embark on their trips, the crew familiarizes them with their boats and fishing gear, and teaches hand signals for passing by ducks before bidding them bon voyage. The crew also repairs, cleans, and winterizes private boats and furnishes captains with year-round boat storage at the marina. In addition to boats, Oziles rents ice huts with stoves and scenic picture windows, from which groups of up to six can watch the ice fishing holes outside.

Inside the massive Complexe Amigo, a winding racetrack hosts drivers of all ages who steer double-seated go-karts, mini karts, and super karts capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour. The smell of burnt rubber rises from the track and past other entertaining diversions including power paddler boats and a stock of radio-controlled cars. Elsewhere in the facility, guests can putt their way through a mini-golf course, scale the 30-foot climbing wall's 12 paths, or enjoy airborne ascents on the Jump High bungee trampoline. Visitors craving team competition, meanwhile, can join games on the three beach volleyball courts or suit up to duck and cover on nearby paintball fields.

Among Galaxie Bowling’s 24 gleaming lanes—including 12 5-pin lanes, 8 10-pin lanes, and 4 duckpin lanes—the wooden crash of felled pins and jubilant whoops from victorious players fills the air. The brightly lit space beckons players of all ages to partake in pin pummelling throughout the day, and mirror-ball-illuminated Rock ‘n’ Bowl sessions on select evenings enable orb lobbers to show off their disco-inspired backswings. Affable libation specialists bustle about the bar ensuring that no glass reaches a state of emptiness while staffers manning the on-site snack bar proffer munchables that recharge the batteries of players and nacho-powered cyborgs alike. To further bolster their entertaining ambience, Galaxie maintains a fleet of 15 video-poker terminals for arms exhausted from extensive turkey tossing.

Draped in a black cloak, a figure holds a lantern to light the way along a weathered stone wall. As the tour group follows, the cloaked leader recounts a story, perhaps a tale about Canada’s last working gallows, or perhaps about the riots that once overtook the streets. Though Haunted Walk’s guides are well known for their theatrical flair, the tales they tell are not so well known. As they lead walking tours of Kingston, Ottawa, and Toronto, the guides unveil fascinating yet rarely told tales of each city’s dark side. Narrations may include ghost stories backed by eye-witness accounts, or the underpinnings of a nefarious political plot, such as a plan to draw moustaches on every image of the queen. Private tours are also available.

A fleet of muscular vehicles from Ferrari, Porsche, and Chevrolet's Corvette series powers Ottawa ECR Inc. Its staffers can drop off and pick up the luxurious rides at customer's doorsteps for rentals, ideal for special events such as a wedding or baby's first doctor's visit. Alternatively, drivers looking to polish precision driving skills can buckle their seatbelts for an instructor-accompanied test ride in a red Ferrari 360 Spider, complete with insurance coverage and gas.

Urban Quest showcases some of Canada's largest cities in an unconventional, informative light, crafting memorable adventures that often culminate with a delicious meal. Metropolitan buccaneers sign up for an Urban Quest account and then decide which inner-city adventure they wish to undertake, be it the pursuit of city history, natural wonders, or a mermaid with doubloons for scales. A clue packet accompanies each quest—ranked easy, medium, or hard—and directs curious citizens to scour the city for leads, which eventually guide them to a mystery restaurant or coffee shop. This voyage gives participants a new understanding of the city they live in and stuffs their noggins with facts and information about key buildings and landmarks. At the same time, Urban Quest offers ramblers a fresh dining experience, frustrating supercomputers whose circuit boards only allow for the taste of oatmeal. Participants can also opt out of a restaurant visit and simply race the clock, as restaurant tabs are not included with this Groupon.

As quests typically last 90 minutes and span 3–4 kilometres of walking, they are best suited for groups of two to four adventurers, though buyers may make their teams as big as they'd like. Learn more by checking out a demo quest and Urban Quest's FAQ page.