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The Relax Itinerary

The Relax itinerary is all about chilling-out in Ottawa’s friendly, relaxed urban atmosphere – with side trips to the countryside and casino!

Day 1

10:30 am:

Take a guided tour with Gray Line Bus Tours or Lady Dive Amphibus to see the highlights of the city.

12:30 pm:

The Billings Estate Museum is one of Ottawa’s oldest homes, nestled on nine acres of parkland. Learn about the Billings family’s history that spans two centuries and five generations. Tours are available for groups and arrangements can be made for lunch, which is served under a striped marquee in the summer months.

4:00pm:

The ByWard Market is the perfect place to start the day. Wander past the market stalls filled with fresh produce or check out the one-of-a-kind crafts available in the shops. Try one of Ottawa’s sweetest traditions and a purely Canadian treat—a BeaverTail pastry.

5:00pm:

You’ll love the relaxed atmosphere at Vineyards Wine Bar & Bistro in the ByWard Market, with its extensive selection of wines, single malt scotch and imported beers and live jazz three times weekly.

Youth/family-friendly option: The Lone Star Texas Grill (St. Laurent) has a fun atmosphere and offers some of Ottawa’s favourite Tex Mex food.

7:00pm:

Head out to the OLG Slots at Rideau Carleton Raceway, with over 1250 machines in a travel-themed gaming area.

Youth/family-friendly option: Travelling with kids or teens? Then the Midway Family Fun Park is the place for you with indoor golf, bumper cars and a climbing wall.

Day 2

9:00 am:

Enjoy a hike, snowshoe or ski in the breathtaking beauty of Gatineau Park, a nature reserve with hundreds of kilometres of trails, just 15 minutes from Ottawa. Or, May through October you can enjoy a half-day excursion (10am to 3pm) through the Gatineau Hills on board a vintage steam train, with a stop in Wakefield, Quebec, on the Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Steam Train.

12:00 pm:

Try some delicious Asian-fusion at the Santé Restaurant & Art Gallery. You’ll want a light meal before your afternoon activity.

Youth/family-friendly option: The ByWard Market offers a variety of casual food and shopping options. Stop in at ByWard Market Square for an ad-hoc visit to their food and shopping outlets.

1:30 pm:

Take an afternoon to pamper yourself with any of the services at the Holtz Spa including facials, massages or body treatments. Finish the afternoon with some great shopping right across the street at the Rideau Centre.

Youth/family-friendly option: The National Gallery of Canada is only steps from the ByWard Market and admission to the permanent collection is immensely affordable: only $4 for youth aged 12-19 and free for kids under age 12.

6:30 pm:

Grab a bite to eat at the Honest Lawyer Restaurantainment. There’s something to eat—and do—for everyone.

8:30 pm:

The ByWard Market is a great place for people watching or partaking in the nightlife offered at pubs, bars and bistros such as Foundation.

Youth/family-friendly option: Stick around and play the arcade games or watch NHL hockey on the big screens at the Honest Lawyer.

Day 3

9:00 am:

Find your way to the end of one of the award-winning mazes at Saunders Farm. This all-season attraction is great for large groups and teambuilding as well as for kids. The farm offers wagon rides and lawn games as well as seasonal events around Halloween and Christmas.

12:30 pm:

Take a trip to Ottawa’s own Chinatown and have some dim sum at the Yangtze Restaurant. This is a good place for a large group to sit and enjoy the buzz. Alternately Mekong Restaurant has been serving Asian cuisine to Ottawa residents for over 20 years, specializing in Cantonese, Szechwan, Vietnamese and Thai foods.

2:00 pm:

You can design your own hands-on cooking adventure at the Urban Element — perfect as a team-building exercise, or do it for just plain fun. The best part? You can eat what you prepared in your afternoon class.

Youth/family-friendly option: Blow off some steam at LaserQuest, an interactive adventure game for ages 5 to 85. Unbeatable fun on your own or for social or group outings, student trips, sports teams, and more.

8:00pm:

You can always count on the shows at the Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy to be entertaining. Afterwards, try the slot machines or gaming tables in the exhilarating atmosphere of the casino.