Things To Do in Gatineau

National Fitness takes a holistic approach to achieving good health, offering a friendly environment stocked with cardio equipment, weight training, and nutritional advice. The facility has also amassed a full schedule of weekly classes ranging from yoga and Zumba to muscle sculpt, a resistance training class that relies strictly on power movements and the use of a barbell.

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.

At Magic Lantern Theatres, darkened auditoriums with flickering screens draw audiences into magical worlds where fish can talk, motorcycles leap canyons, and love comes even for those who eat crackers in bed. The partnering multiplex theatres and cinemas show recently released blockbuster flicks at 15 locations spread across Canada, each of which retains its own unique personality and honours any historic roots. In Edmonton, the Princess Theatre’s original 1915 auditorium, complete with balcony, golden drapes, and red walls, accommodates moviegoers with babies or pet hyenas inside a soundproof cry room. In Saskatchewan, the circa-1930 Roxy Theatre preserves the ambience of a Spanish courtyard. As guests find their auditoriums at the Ontario locations, they can admire giant murals by local artist Fred Harrison.

He's out there somewhere—the notorious Pirate Pete. Over every sailor's adventure, the shadow of his greed looms. But the crew of Pirate Adventures is ready. On their 50-foot ship, 12 water cannons point toward the sea, guarding the vessel from his villainy while they search Davy Jones's locker for sunken treasure. If Pete should show his face, he'll get a face full of water. If he should happen to board anyway, it'll be the plank for him.

During Pirate Adventures' 75-minute treasure hunts, children and their parents sail into this exciting world of high-seas adventure. Crew members welcome aboard new mateys with face-paint, pirate garb, and a sea-worthy moniker, such as "Black Beard' or "Esmerelda, Princess of the Dolphins." Beneath the Jolly Roger flapping in the breeze, the crews decipher maps, solve puzzles, and sing sea shanties, eventually fishing their sought-after treasure chest from the water's depths. Throughout the hunt, the Pirate Adventures crew keeps their unpatched eyes on safety. Everything is kept up to Transport Canada's code: they have all trained in marine emergency procedures, marine first aid, and safe vessel operation.

With in Proleagues Indoor Athletic Facility’s 5,000-square-foot space, players take to the hardwood courts to practice volleyball, dodgeball, soccer, or ball hockey with provided equipment. An overhead viewing area and surround-sound system makes it a convenient spot for parties. During league tournaments of three-on-three match ups, arena boards send balls back into bounds and a scoreboard system keeps track of goals and points.

As players sink numbered balls at 14 pool tables, competing in games of 8-ball or 9-ball, others choose to keep a classic sport alive. Though largely forgotten elsewhere, snooker thrives at The Orange Monkey, where six tables challenge newcomers with smaller pockets and deeper strategy. Within the 7,000-square-foot facility, marble pillars and vintage bar signs complement the old-fashioned decor, making the tables feel right at home in their green felt zoot suits. At the bar, pool sharks hunt down drafts of beer and snacks such as breakfast sandwiches, nachos, and hamburgers.

Europe's Medieval and Renaissance eras were periods in which knights developed sophisticated systems for swordplay, martial arts, and looking really, really cool. Ottawa Swordplay's founder Craig Shackleton, who holds a degree in classical history, and his fellow instructor John Enzinas teach adults and kids to recreate the swordplay of these eras. They ground their curriculum in the research of Johannes Liechtenauer—who the instructors say unified the fighting arts of his time—and teachings from manuscripts that were compiled as far back as 1325.

After research sessions and discussions on sword theory, the instructors lead their students into a padded practice area for hands-on classes. They teach beginners how to grab hold of longswords—a two-handed weapon—and engage in unarmoured combat. Instructors Shackleton and Enzinas can also teach how to adapt these techniques to more advanced weapons, such as a German rapier, a single-handed weapon knights used while texting.