Get Out This Weekend, Ottawa
Ottawa and its neighbouring communities are serving up a stellar mix of culture, suds, and scenery this weekend — and honestly, there's no excuse to stay on the couch.
Whether you're a bookworm, a craft beer enthusiast, or someone who's been meaning to finally take that Pontiac road trip, this roundup from Ottawa Road Trips has something for you.
Authors Festival
Literature lovers, this one's for you. An authors festival is on the docket, giving book fans a chance to hear directly from writers, attend readings, and maybe snag a signed copy or two.
Ottawa has always punched above its weight when it comes to literary culture — we've got a strong bilingual writing community and no shortage of independent bookshops to back it up. An authors festival fits right into that tradition and is exactly the kind of low-key, high-reward outing that makes a Saturday feel worthwhile.
Check local listings for exact times, venues, and featured authors so you can plan your visit accordingly.
Craft Beer Scene
If hops are more your thing, the local craft beer scene continues to deliver. Ottawa's brewery landscape has grown considerably over the past decade, with spots across Hintonburg, the ByWard Market area, and beyond offering everything from session IPAs to barrel-aged stouts.
Whether there's a tap takeover, a new seasonal release, or just a good excuse to sit on a patio and try something local, the craft beer calendar is worth checking this weekend. Pair it with some food, bring a friend, and call it an afternoon well spent.
Pontiac Road Trip
For those looking to stretch the legs a little further, the Pontiac region just across the Ottawa River in Quebec is a perennial favourite for a reason. Rolling hills, farm markets, riverside views, and a slower pace of life — it's everything Ottawa proper sometimes isn't.
A Pontiac day trip is the kind of thing that takes maybe 45 minutes from downtown Ottawa and pays off in a big way. Grab some local cheese, stop at a roadside market, and take the scenic route home along the river. It's low effort and high reward.
Ottawa Road Trips regularly highlights these kinds of accessible getaways, and they're a great resource if you want more specific route suggestions or stops along the way.
Plan Your Weekend
The best part about all three of these options? None of them require elaborate planning. Whether you're keeping it local with a book reading and a beer, or venturing out to the Pontiac for fresh air and farm country, it's the kind of weekend Ottawa was built for.
Check Ottawa Road Trips for the full write-up, directions, and timing details before you head out.
Source: Ottawa Road Trips via Google News Ottawa
