Horseback Riding at Captiva Farms

KITC would like to welcome back guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During a non-pandemic winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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I have always wanted to be a cowboy. Perhaps it was growing up in Saskatchewan or watching a lot of John Wayne movies as a kid. I ended up working at a library. I love my job, but it still isn’t a cowboy. 

Luckily, I was able to explore my inner cowboy at Captiva Farms. The farm is about a thirty-five-minute drive north of Ottawa near Wakefield. The farm offers horseback riding for all different levels. Our family certainly fell into the beginner category. 

When we arrived on-site, we were greeted by three employees wearing cowboy hats and blue jeans. Looked like we were at the right place. After filling out all the waivers and forms, we were presented with our horses and led them to a training area. David’s horse was Santana, Sandy had Zoe and I was riding Cleo. 

We met Karine who gave us instructions on how to advance and stop the horses. We also learned how to turn the horses to the right and left. 

Now, it was showtime. Karine taught us how to mount the horses and with some assistance, David and Sandy were able to do so with ease. I would argue that Cleo was the largest of the three horses thus I needed a small set of stairs to mount Cleo. 

After some practice, we mastered stopping, turning and advancing. It was now time to hit the trail. Karine led in the front while Laura was behind us. Both guides were very outgoing and friendly. The scenery was stunning. We were treated to a pastoral landscape with jagged mountains providing a scenic backdrop. 

Karine shared that the plan was to leave the land undeveloped so people would have a beautiful view while doing their trail rides. 

Cleo was a pleasure to work with. She actually made me feel like I knew what I was doing. She did try to stop and eat grass but who could blame a horse for trying to get a free meal. David and Sandy also had a great experience with their horses. 

We travelled through varied terrain including tall grass and forest. My favourite was going through the forest. We went up several challenging uphills and descents. Nothing too extreme, just enough to get the adrenaline going. 

The guides provided plenty of assistance when we passed through muddy spots on the trail or close to trees. 

Soon enough, it was time to head back to Captiva Farms. I was frankly sad to leave Cleo. I totally get the bond that develops between a rider and their horse. I know Sandy and David felt the same. 

There is a good chance my inner cowboy will get a workout in the future at Captiva Farms. 

For more information about trail rides and everything offered at Captiva Farms visit, www.captivafarms.com.

Stephen and his family were provided with the experience for free but all views are his own.

35 things to do in Ottawa during a pandemic summer

This summer is different than others summers, but can we all agree it’s better than last summer!? Usually our 50 things to do in Ottawa post is getting tens of thousands of hits and many of us are out exploring and visiting places. This summer is different and you may fall into one of the following categories, or maybe you fall into all of them depending on the day.

• You’re going to stay close to home.

• You’re going to go out and about, but only on solo adventures.

• You’re ready to start testing the waters at attractions again or getting together with friends.

We’ve been reaching out to attractions in the area, talking to parents, and we’re getting ready to go and try out as many things as possible! We can give you a sense for what to expect, so that you can decide if the activity is right for you and your family.

We’ll be updating this post as we get more information, but here are 25 ideas and things to do during a pandemic summer in Ottawa (keep checking in for updates!).

Staying close to home

Camping in the back yard - stay home and set up a tent in the backyard or even in the living room (using your personal judgement on what is safe for your children at their age)

Have fun with a splash at home (without a pool) - we’ve put together some ideas for games and ways to stay cool in the backyard this summer.

Reading in a hammock

Visit the National Gallery from home - the Gallery has a virtual tour that you can do from the comfort of your home (though they’re also opening up soon too!)

Create cards and art for seniors in isolation - we have 3 local businesses accepting drop offs and you can create some art while brightening up someone’s day!

Read all the books! The Ottawa Public Library is open again (with some restrictions) and they are participating in the TD Summer Reading Club and running a summer reading draw.

Experiment with making new drinks - we found some fun things to try in the archives (like making your own gingerale or watermelon juice) but you can also just Google or Pinterest ideas and experiment with fun and interesting drinks that you made yourselves.

Take an online class or online camp - there are lots around the city including folks who are running small workshops (like learning German through art run by a local artist) and camps on their own, to bigger organizations like Outschool that run hundreds of classes every week.

Take an online fitness class - you can support local small businesses that have brought their online classes online, like Salsa Babies and Fitmom Ottawa.

Try learning a new craft - maybe cross stitch which we created a tutorial for!

Solo adventures

Fallingbrook Waterfall

Fallingbrook Waterfall - did you know there is a really cool and accessible waterfall in Orleans?

Go for ice cream - we’ve listed some great east end and west end options to go out for an iced treat this summer.

Go exploring - there are lots of sites to be seen without going into any attractions or interacting with strangers. We’re going to be updating our challenge from last summer soon, but for now, go and check out some ideas for places where you can take fun photos around town!

Go on a hike - we’ve listed 5 family friendly hiking trails in the area on the blog.

Go camping - Ontario provincial parks are open for overnight and day visits. Facilities such as showers, laundry, group camping, picnic shelter rentals and swimming pools will remain closed for the season.

Child in a small sit on kayak

Go kayaking or stand up paddle boarding - there are relatively inexpensive options for child sized kayaks and SUPs and they pick it up really young and easily. You can then take them out onto bodies of the water in the city or find some lakes to visit to explore.

Mer Bleu - there are all kinds of walking paths at Mer Bleu for you to explore. You may even get a chance to feed some sweet winged visitors! (though that may depend on the time of year)

Petrie Island - go for a dip and explore the grounds at Petrie Island. There are times when the beach can get quite crowded so just watch for that when you decide to visit.

Out and about

Arbraska Lafleche is open again for both their caves tours and aerial courses. They have special Covid-19 procedures including needing to reserve ahead of time, smaller group sizes and they aren’t accepting cash. They’re also allowing for cleaning and rest time for equipment and waivers will be signed digitally on your own devices.

Brockville Aquatarium will likely open soon as the lockdown restrictions ease. In the meantime, you can check out their virtual tour. For in-person visits you must book online and it is now more of a guided tour experience than an immersive one. Guests most go through a screening process on arrival and wear a mask.

Check back soon to find out when the Canada Agriculture Museum is opening. They have Covid-19 procedures in place including limited numbers, required use of masks, directional signage, and washing and sanitizing stations.

Check back soon to find out when the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum is opening. They have Covid-19 procedures in place including limited numbers, required use of masks, directional signage, and washing and sanitizing stations.

Chute Coulonges - Chutes Coulonge is open for hiking, ziplining and obstacle courses. They have no Covid-19 information on their web site but we’ve heard that it was quite quiet for those visiting and that distancing wasn’t a concern.

City wading pools - the city has opened their 53 wading pools for the summer with reduced admissions numbers to allow for physical distancing. Check out the city’s site for more information.

Check back soon to find out when the Diefenbunker will open! You can book online or buy tickets in person, however numbers are limited so you may need to wait outside if people are in the museum longer than expected. You must wear a mask while in the museum. Although you cannot touch or engage with any of the exhibits, there is still lots to see and learn about!

Eco-Odyssey - They are open! We heard last summer that they’re signing people in one at a time and staff is behind glass, workers kept their distance and there was lots of hand sanitizer and cleaning products. This helped visitors feel confident that things were being kept clean.

Flying Squirrel - Flying Squirrel is temporarily closed, but should be re-opening this summer as lockdown restrictions ease. Check back soon!

Toddler at a splash pad

kids at the diefenbunker by a sign that says “out of bounds to all male personnel”

Little Ray’s Reptiles - Little Ray’s is open for small group private tours. Everyone wears masks but you may want to state ahead of time how comfortable you are with how close staff get to you and the kids so everyone is on the same page.

Marked - located in Carleton Place Marked has a range of activities including obstacle courses, water guns, axes throwing, batting cages and paintball. They’ve opened with Covid19 protocols including booking in advance, online payments and waivers. Lara are her family recently visited the obstacle course.

Mont Cascades - Mont Cascades is now open and have measures in place, including masks for staff if they can’t be distanced from you, wiping down the handles on tubes between each ride, and having people wait at a distance in lines. They are also letting people know it’s better to arrive changed and avoid the change rooms and that you will have to go wait in your car if there are downpours instead of the club house. (We’re going to be visiting soon and will update with first hand information)

Parc Omega - The park is open! Last summer Misty headed to the park with her kids and found it very safe. You are in your vehicle for much of the trip, and when you’re out walking there’s enough space for social distancing. Strict cleaning measures for the bathrooms were in place.

Pirate Life - Pirate Life is limiting 10 people per trip and has zones to keep groups apart (though the groups aren’t always more than 6 feet apart). They require all staff and audience to wear masks. They are also sanitizing commonly touched surfaces between every cruise. (Check out our blog post on our Covid summer visit)

Youth zip lining at arbraska lafleche

Saunders Farm is opening this summer for their Maze Days and Campfires. Book your tickets online!

Splash pads - the city has opened most of their splash pads for the season if you want to get out and cool down.

Wesley Clover Parks Drive In Theatre - take in a movie at the drive in. You can stay safely in your vehicle the entire time or have some interaction with others if you head to the bathrooms. Guest blogger Stephen visited last summer and shared his experience on the blog.

Strawberry Season in Ottawa 2021

Every year my mother-in-law takes my daughter strawberry picking. It's a yearly tradition for them. My mother-in-law loves to pick multiple baskets of fresh, local strawberries and make jam, muffins and strawberry shortcakes with them. She even freezes them by the pound and uses them throughout the winter months for smoothies. Ottawa is lucky to have many nearby strawberry farms to both purchase and pick delicious local strawberries from.

Here is a list of some tried and true Ottawa strawberry farms with details as to whether or not they allow "pick your own" (of course this could change as the crop diminishes, so again, always best to check with the farm). 

Ottawa Strawberry Farms: 

Acorn Creek Garden Farm
928 Acorn Creek Road
Carp, Ontario
613-836-2613
http://www.acorncreek.com
Pick your own? No.

Avanmore Berry Farm
16365 4 Road,
Avomore
613-346-2336
http://www.avonmoreberryfarm.com
Pick your own? Yes!

Beckwith Berries
9961 Cavanagh Road
Carleton Place, Ontario
(613)  253-4171
http://www.beckwithberries.com/
Pick your own? Yes!

Duquette Strawberries
2236 Champlain
Clarence Creek
613-488-3284
http://www.duquettestrawberries.com
Pick your own? Yes!

Orleans Fruit Farm
1399 St. Joseph Blvd.
Orleans, Ontario
http://www.fermedorleans.com/wpferme/
Pick your own? Closed for 2021.

Miller’s Berry Farm
6158 Rideau Valley Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
613-692-2380
http://www.millersfarmandmarket.ca/
Can you pick your own? Yes, but contact them for details.

Proulx Berry Farm
1865 O'Toole Rd. 
Cumberland (Ottawa), ON K4C 1N2
613-833-2417
https://proulxfarm.com/berries-veggies/strawberries/
Can you pick your own: Yes

Purple Cow Strawberry Farm
1439 Sale Barn Road
Greely, Ontario
613-821-1345
Can you pick your own? Best to call to make sure.

Richmond Nursery Strawberry Farm
5740 Old Richmond Road
Richmond, ON
613-838-2282
http://www.richmondnursery.com/
Can you pick your own? Pre-picked only for 2021

Rideau Pines Farm
5714 Fourth Line Rd
North Gower ON
(613) 489-3601
http://www.rideaupinesfarm.com/
Can you pick your own? Best to call ahead.

Shouldice Berry Farm
Three locations in Bells Corners, Barrhaven and Nepean
http://www.shouldicefarm.com/pick-your-own-strawberries.html
Can you pick your own? Yes!

What you need to know about strawberry picking

·      COVID-19 restrictions are in place. Remember to social distance and bring masks!

·      It’s always best to call ahead to make sure they are still open for picking or if they are pick-up only.

·      Dress for the weather! There isn’t a lot of shade at most strawberry patches so don’t forget your hat, sunscreen and a bottle of water.

·       Local strawberries need to be cooled as soon as possible (so try not to leave them in a hot car all day or they may turn to mush) and plan on washing and consuming them within three to four days – maybe less if the weather is hot!

My favourite strawberry recipe

When I think of local strawberries I also think of rhubarb! Every June and July I bake this tried and true Strawberry-Rhubarb Cobbler Cake recipe from Dinner with Julie. It makes a large pan so it’s great for summer BBQs! I guarantee it will become a family favourite! Click here to get the recipe!

Did we miss a great Ottawa strawberry farm? Let us know in the comments below and we'll add it to the list!

Family Board Game: Tsuro

Over the years our family has played a lot of board games, but we’ve also found that while in theory board games are fun, they often end up being more like an opportunity for screaming matches more than fun quality time.

As a result, we’re always looking for games that work easily for out family without too much competitiveness, that don’t last too long and that are simple to understand. Lately the winning board game: Tsuro

What is it?

From the publisher:

A beautiful and beautifully simple game of laying a tile before your own token to continue its path on each turn. The goal is to keep your token on the board longer than anyone else's, but as the board fills up this becomes harder because there are fewer empty spaces left... and another player's tile may also extend your own path in a direction you'd rather not go. Easy to introduce to new players, Tsuro lasts a mere 15 minutes and actually does work for any number from 2 to 8.

My description: You lay down tiles to try to bump everyone else off the board and be the last person left!

Tsuro game board, game pieces and game tiles

Tsuro game board with tiles and game pieces on the board to show how pieces move during the game

Game statistics:

2-8 players (we find it better with more people and avoid playing with 3 or less)

8+ (though we think it could easily work for 6+ depending on the kid)

15-20 minutes (this is key - it doesn’t last long enough for people to get bored, antsy and start sniping at each other)

Where can you get it?

We checked in with local games store Kessel Run and they sell Tsuro!

Have you played Tsuro? What do you think? What other board games do your family play without ending up in screaming matches? :)

Will it grow? Experiments for kids in growing vegetables

I’m not an avid gardener but I’ve been having a lot of fun in the last while learning what I can and can’t grow - part of it is experimentation and getting ideas from the internet so I thought I’d share a few of the things I’ve seen, have tried, and am currently trying to see if it inspires you!

A mini window greenhouse

This idea from Tiktok is a simple activity that’s fun to try out with little kids to see things grow. I haven’t personally tried this one out but it’s one I would have loved to try with my kids when they were younger so wanted to share.

It’s simply a ziplock bag, wet paper towel, seeds and some construction paper!

@unlikelycharming

Mini Greenhouse... #children #lessons #germination #lessons #educating #kids #project #funlessons #seeds #educating #teaching #letstry #garden #🌱

♬ original sound - Unlikelycharming

Regrowing lettuce

I’ve never done this long enough to eat the lettuce, but the watching the lettuce regrow is always fascinating to me (and even my tweens). Based on this article I may try romaine next time! It’s as simple as cutting off the bottom of your store bought lettuce and sitting it in some water. This is about 3 days out for this iceberg lettuce regrowth. As more browns I will peel off what’s dying away and more new green will replace it!

Lettuce bottom held in water by toothpicks with new growth popping in

Planting old onions

Onion that has sprouted

Every time I find a sprouted vegetable in my kitchen I’m now curious if I can replant it! I did a bit of research and have now attempted to regrow onion!

Here’s what I learned.

Step one - find an old onion that has spouted - don’t throw it away!

Sprouted onion partially peeled down to centre

Step two - peel back the onion - all the way down, and you’ll find multiple onions to regrow. I had two, but it sounds like there are often more in an onion. Leave the roots on the onion.

Sprouted onion peeled down to centre, ready to be cut into two

Step three - once you get all the way down, cut apart the onions using a knife.

Pieces of sprouted onion planted about one inch deep.

Step four - plant about an inch deep in soil (I was worried about planting them right into the garden when we might still get below freezing so I planted them in a bucket for now, but it does seem that they are able to withstand up to -5C (20F) so it might be ok to plant them right into your garden now. )

Step five - Keep them well watered wait about 3 months and then you probably (maybe) have onions! They are ready to harvest when the necks are soft and bending over. If they’re still standing up straight leave them to grow a while longer.

Let me know if you found this interesting and you’d like to hear about more of the things we attempt to regrow and how we do it! Our pineapple plant from last year is still doing great and I’m hopeful in a year or two we’ll get a tiny little pineapple from it too!