Had my first zip lining experience here this past weekend. It was amazing!…read more Most of our group had never gone zip lining before and some of us were really scared. With a sense of humor the guides were quick to calm nerves. They were knowlegable and helpful. We will definitely be going back!

This was my first time at Parc Laflèche and I was so excited as were my children, unfortunately due…read moreto a terrible experience with one of the guides our experience was ruined. As we were starting our adventure within 5 minutes of being on the course, this particular guide began yelling at me in front of the entire group that I was not using the hooks properly and if I did it again I would be asked to leave the course, she then proceeded to yell at my son and tell him"it would have been really nice if you would have listened to what I was saying in the beginning" ( he's 5 and was having a hard time opening the hooks and attaching them to the cable) She said it again and again and blamed us for holding back the group. While we were frantically trying to get through the course because apparently we were holding the entire group back, we overheard her saying " what is wrong with these people and it's their fault that we are behind!" We never said a word because we were really trying to enjoy the course and not let this women ruin it. All of a sudden she tells us to get down because our time is up ( we were supposed to have 2 1/2 hours to finish this course and we still had an hour left) so we went up to her and said " we don't understand why we can't finish?" She proceeded to tell us that we were cutting into her break time and our time was done! She then looked at her watch and said " oh I have the time wrong" okay you can finish. We finished with lots of time left over, and never got an apology from her. She was plain and simple picking on us the entire time. It is a beautiful course and would have loved every minute of it if we were treated decently.

Great layout, good size, but dirty weights…read more I've been to the Ruddy Y (orleans), Taggart Y (downtown), and Carling wood (west end)...I would rank it 3rd among them. Pros: 1. Sectioned off nicely. Cardio machines are on the left side of the room. In the middle are the weight machines. On the right side are the squat racks, benches, and dumb bells. 2. The fitness room has soft flooring. Great if you want to skip in bare feet or hit some pads with a friend. 3. Has an area to do Olympics lifts. It's small but away from other machines. Cons: 1. The weights are pretty dirty. 2. No swimming pool. I usually went there in the morning. The racks and weights were free for the most part. I waited a couple of times for the machines. Lots of older people work out in the morning.

What a lovely spot for the family to spend time here.. I love the idea of having a restaurant along…read moreside of entertainment for the kids. Wish there were more of these in Ottawa area. We had kids ranging from 13-1.5 , all 9 of them had a blast.. food was ok nothing special, but we really enjoyed the relaxed vibes and kids were going around from one play space to another freely while having a great time

New mini-golf on the east side of Gatineau Park (as of May 2009). Bottom line - most definitely…read morethe best mini-golf in the Ottawa area however does not offer a lot of re-playability for mini-golfers who want to be consistently challenged. What I liked: + As a new course, everything is ... new. The carpets, brick, walkways between holes. Unlike many older mini-putt courses, wood isn't used here so the course will better stand the test of time. + Lots of water rushing around the course in man-made creeks, stones, a pretty mini-golf course + There are flagsticks you can take out of the holes! + Huge patio area + Lots of undulations and tiering in the greens, many holes had "rough" - longer artificial grass + Most holes have at least one moderately challenging putt + Good washrooms at the golf course clubhouse + Detailed website What I didn't like - The course doesn't take long enough to play... interestingly there is no "par" designation for each hole however I'd say most holes' par would be 2... its probably about a par 42. That makes it a fun course to play once, but as someone who seeks challenging mini-golf, not one I come to play again and again. - They could have a little post after each hole where you could rest your card to mark your score. - Close to highway though not a lot of noise from the cars

Great place for children's intertainement and fun in Ottawa!…read moreBel endroit pour l'amusement des enfants à Ottawa

This place is amazing on so many levels. If like me, you haven't jumped on a trampoline in about 14…read moreyears, friends, you are missing out! What an amazing workout, and a ton of fun. I came here on a Saturday around 7:30pm with a group of about 15 friends to play trampoline dodgeball. Sounds intense right? Add in the fact that the majority of the participants were MMA fighters, and it gets even more hardcore! When you come into to this fairly obscurely located building, you're asked to sign a waiver at the kiosk.They ask for your drivers license number, but if you don't have one they said it's fine to just put in your initials. It is a bit pricey when you're paying for more than one person. For two adults and an hour and a half of jumping, it cost us just over $50. That includes the mandatory jumping socks which they charge you $2 for. I hung on to mine in case I go back, and they also seemed like they would be great for yoga! The space itself is huge! There's a locker room (see my tip below about that), a small snack bar, a little party room for kids, washrooms, and the trampoline area! There's a large area that has dozens of trampolines all connected in a giant one, so you can jump around (and even on the sides!). I was a bit timid at first, and it takes awhile to get comfortable, but it's awesome once you get into it! There's also two smaller jumping areas for dodgeball games (they have a staff member for each game for safety). This was super fun, but I got so exhausted quickly! You have to have great cardio, or be under the age of 12, ha! There's also two fun areas: a giant foam pit where you van practice sweet jumps and flips, and a dunk zone where you can pretend to be an awesome NBA superstar. This place was crawling with kids when we got there, but they do have an adult only night on Saturdays after 10pm. I think that would be super fun! ANDREA'S ADVICE: + Bring you own lock. The lockers are free, but I've heard rumblings of theft, so if you're bringing valuables, be sure to bring a lock. +Start off with one hour. It may be tempting to go for an hour an a half or two, but unless you've had 20 espresso shots, an hour should be plenty. + Parents keep a serious eye on your kids! There were so many little ones wondering around, and we saw at least two sprained ankles. Be safe!

The Rideau Canal wasn't frozen yet in early January, but fear not! There is the Rink of Dreams -…read morean outdoor ice skating rink located in front of the City Hall, set with picnic tables, and a structure where you may change into your skates in the relative comfort of thawed fingers (open daily from 8 am to 11 pm). Ice skate rental and sharpening is available during certain hours. Admission is free. A BeaverTails Pastry shop hawks freshly made fried dough with an option of toppings (I highly recommend the maple spread for $5.75), and a short menu of beverages. They are closed Mondays & Tuesdays, open 4pm-10pm Wed - Fri, and noon - 10pm on weekends. Cash only. The ice is not the best (even after a run through by the zamboni), but it is a good sized rink, it is free, and the surroundings is pleasant enough. When it gets dark, they even light up the rink in pretty changing colors. Totally makes for a fun wintertime activity. My only warning is that I found it a bit dangerous making my way down to the rink from the changing structure with my skate shod feet - the ground wasn't level so I kept finding myself slipping on the snow crusted surface. I tried walking sideways, perpendicular to gravity as they teach you for skiing, and it kind of worked... though not completely. Need a bathroom? The City Hall is available with its facilities and you can warm up inside a bit while checking out their small art galleries - but no skates (on feet) allowed! Hours: open daily from 6 am to 11 pm, November to March, weather-permitting

As we enter gelid January, consider visiting the city's newest downtown attraction: the Rink of…read moreDreams. This is the rink's second season, and while it will never rival the Rockefeller Center rink, it's a very picturesque setting in the unique urban backdrop of City Hall's sparkling lights. Optimum vistas are omnipresent when the sun has set: - Parliament Hill is lit up with thousands of Christmas lights. The Peace Tower and the towers blaze with coloured spotlights. - Confederation Park, where nearly every tree is lit up. - Brillant blue lights around the National War Monument. - Chateau Laurier - Convention Centre - Lord Elgin Hotel The 5-year old in me, delights in the LED lit boards. A first-class move that goes great with the festive lighting on the City Hall grounds. The Rink of Dreams is for all people - young and old, and best of all it's completely gratuit!

What's better on a sunny afternoon than to hit the links. If that's not an option, Mini Golf…read moreGardens must surely be the next best thing! Between the red and the blue course, Mini Golf Gardens has two full 18 holes mini putt courses. The blue has bumpers and is better for beginners or a warm up whereas the red is much more challenging and doesn't have any bumpers to help direct your ball or prevent it from going into the grass, water or sand. That's right, there are water hazards on this course so get your snorkeling gear! I'm not sure if they always have the 2 for 1 deal, but the day we went if you paid for the firsy 18, the 2nd 18 was free. I had a blast playing here. Oh and did I mention I got 3, that's right, three holes-in-one?!!? Yeah, that's right. Wicked place. Would definitely be back when I'm in the area.

A super fun place for a date, office outing, or any kind of social event! The landscaping is…read morephenomenal with lots of greenery, water, and bridges. It looks absolutely stunning as the sun sets. There are two courses and to my understanding the second course is free when you play the first. Each hole ranges in difficulty; some I was able to get a hole in one (probably a miracle) and others had me laughing as my ball rolled down to the bottom of the hill for the fourth time. The staff was very kind. There's a small hut where you pay and they also offer ice cream bars and other snacks there as well. I'll definitely be going back to keep my winning streak up!

I used to love taking my niece here No matter what time of…read moreyear 5 stars would have been reasonably clear But renovations have ruined it now, I fear Where children used to play in the sand Now sawdust and cedar chips cover the land Wanting to modernize, I understand Even the new Jungle Gym was poorly planned It takes up just so much more space And isn't ideal for kids young in age My nephew still small wanted to play But now I can't follow to keep him safe. Used to have a tall, big beautiful slide Replaced with a short one from narrow to wide It looks cool, but not practical if tried With 3 spaces at the end, but still only one at a time? Used to have more open space for kids to run And the water station in the sand pit is questionably dumb We'll hit up another park next time we come They've changed it all up, we just didn't have as much fun. ----------- Installment 26 poetry reviews So, for a nice hike with the dogs (off leash even allowed at points) this park is still an excellent waterview/access place for adults, teens and sports. But the kid's part of this park took a huge turn for the worse. I duno what they were thinking when they redesigned this big #parkFAIL. However, the splash pad area is still a good option for kids on a hot day. I'll give it 2.5 stars, generously rounding to 3, for still being a useful and pretty park in some respects but hafta dock them serious points for ruining the kid's park. Also Stanley Park/New Edinburgh Park ?? Figure out what it's called guys. It can't be both...can it??

This is easily the best off leash park close to downtown. Far away from any traffic, this peninsula…read morestretches into the Rideau River, and provides ample room to chase balls, sticks, and other dogs, who come here in droves. Easily one of the more popular parks in the area, in the summertime it's not uncommon to see 20-30 dogs here at peak times, between 4 and 6pm, later when the summer sun is up late. Lots of regulars, and friendly people/dogs Even though the rules clearly block off the water from dog access, there's a gravel beach where dogs will swim and frolic in the water, seemingly without impunity. It seems to be a tolerated access point, and I've never had anyone have any issues in the 4 years I've used this park. Only issue I have ever had is with sharing the neighbouring bike path with cyclists. Many hardcore riders use this path, and can get upset when they are doing 60kph past the dog area and animals wonder into the lanes. Plenty of on street parking on Stanley Avenue, and also near the children's park at the east end of Stanley. Make sure to leash your dog from this lot and along the access path until you get out in the open.

Clean. Nice gym. Nice library. Friendly staff. Good opening hours. Nice park for children.read more

I used to go to the Greenboro Community Centre everyday as a child. I'd go to their park, which has…read moreswings, climbing structures, and a small wading pool with sprinklers. I also used to take ballet lessons here and attend youth dances. I visited the Centre a couple of weeks ago to see how much it's changed, and the renovations that have been done in recent years is unbelievable. They still have classes and courses for people of all ages, including day-care for preschoolers, dance and fitness classes, cooking classes, recreational sports, and arts and crafts. Construction is also currently happening to create a really large weight room and fitness centre. I was really happy to find that they still have their Friday youth dances in their gym, even after 10 years. They've even extended the community centre to include a library across the hall, which is operated by the City of Ottawa. The whole building has been renovated to become a really great community resource building. I'd definitely recommend it for parents, but also for anyone looking to take some recreational classes or use their fitness facility.