Father’s Day is the perfect excuse to treat the father figure in your life to memorable experiences in the Ottawa region! Whether you’ll be spending quality time together or offering him thoughtful gifts, there are many options for dads who love sports, beer, activities, adventures and events. Consider these special ways to show dad you care around Father’s Day (June 19), or at any other time in Ottawa. He deserves it!
Pro sports
If dad likes attending live professional sports, take your pick! Locals particularly love football, so plan ahead to get tickets to the Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The city’s soccer team, Atlético Ottawa of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) is another great outdoor stadium option. And the Ottawa BlackJacks of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) provide entertaining indoor court action. All of these teams play at TD Place Stadium at Lansdowne, located in the Glebe neighbourhood south of downtown.
You can also catch professional baseball action at Ottawa Stadium, just east of downtown, where the Ottawa Titans Baseball Club play in the Eastern Conference of the Frontier League.
Beer
Beer is many a father’s favourite beverage, and Ottawa certainly delivers on tasty suds. The ultimate way to experience the local craft beer scene is on a Brew Donkey tour. These adult field trips include transportation on the Brew Donkey bus, tours of various breweries, and lots of beer samples. Some tours even include visits to distilleries (vodka, gin and more), fun activities (such as axe-throwing), and even special events (such as wrestling).
Prefer to plan your own outings? Tap into some of Ottawa’s breweries, events and brewpubs.
Golf
With dozens of public golf courses within the city and throughout the countryside, you’ll easily find the right fit for dad. If golfing is a passion, consider a getaway just west of downtown in the suburb of Kanata at Brookstreet Hotel and its Marshes Golf Club, whose courses were designed by duo Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and Sr. After a game, you can relax at the on-site spa, restaurant, bar, or even mini-putt on site.
Other golfing highlights throughout the region include Manderley on the Green (27 holes of golf), Thunderbird Sports Centre (illuminated night golf), Pine View Golf Course (closest course to downtown), plus indoor options which are great options when the weather is not ideal.
Adventure
If your father figure appreciates fresh air and adrenaline, you’ll want to join him on an adventurous outing in Canada’s capital region. Try Canada’s highest bungee jump at Great Canadian Bungee; cross over the Ottawa River between Ontario and Québec on the world’s only interprovincial zipline, Interzip; experience some of the best whitewater adventures in the world just west of the city; go mountain biking, hiking or mountain luging at Camp Fortune; do some ziplining, caving, and more at nature centres such as Arbraska Laflèche; or fly in an authentic WWII-era WACO UPF-7 open cockpit biplane circa 1939 with Ottawa Aviation Adventures (formerly Ottawa Biplane Adventures).
Events
Consider some of the upcoming events in Ottawa that dad would like. Some examples include major concerts or a monster truck spectacular at the Canadian Tire Centre; theatre, music and other performances at the National Arts Centre and other venues; festivals celebrating international cultures, arts, food, drink, and music; comedy shows; special museum exhibits; and much more.
