Diefenbunker Museum: Canada’s Cold War Museum

Despite living nearby, I had never brought my daughter to the Diefenbunker Museum until this summer. It had been on our to-do list for a long time, and I am so glad we finally got to visit. Not only were we looking for an escape from the summer heat, I wanted her to see for herself why this underground museum is so unique.

The Diefenbunker, located in Carp, Ontario, is a massive four-story underground bunker, built between 1959 and 1961. During the Cold War, top officials were to take shelter here in the event of a nuclear war. It was active as Canadian Forces Station Carp until 1994. Today, it operates as a not-for-profit, charitable museum.

Visiting the Diefenbunker is not only an engaging way to teach older kids about the Cold War, but a place preserved in time that will show kids and adults alike what it was like to live in the 1960s and what it’s like to live in an underground military station (especially with there replica Canex canteen from 1977). Adult visitors will love seeing telephones and computers from their youth and, if you’re with kids, they may enjoy teasing you about it (something my daughter really enjoyed). 

There are many ways to tour the Diefenbunker Museum. You can book a guided tour, explore on your own or you can download their audio guide from their website.

The museum is well organized, clean and every exhibit has a written explanation of what you’re looking at (and the description is just the right length that you have enough time to read it before your kids move on to the next exhibit). 

If your kids are really young, this probably isn’t the museum for you. They don’t want children running around and the exhibits are not as hands on as in other museums, but there is a lot to see, do and learn. If you have a child who is into history, learning about the military or wars, or is into learning about technology then they will love this museum. My daughter enjoyed seeing how far technology has come over the years as well as how some of the technology used forty years ago is still in use today.

She also loved learning about the construction of the Diefenbunker and seeing the rooms of where the Prime Minister would have stayed and worked. She also loved seeing how the CBC Radio had its own space in the Diefenbunker, learning who would be allowed into the bunker and who would not be allowed, and touring a huge bank vault that once housed a lot of gold. 

A few years ago Lara brought her children, who at the time were 5 and 8 years old to the museum, and she shared her experience here. Needless to say, they had fun!

If you’re looking for a different kind of museum that takes you underground and transports you to a completely different time, then the Diefenbunker Museum is a great way to spend an afternoon.

At the time of writing this blog post, the Museum was open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Parking is free and admission was: Adults: $17.50, seniors: $16.50, students: $13.00 , youth: $11.00, family rate: $48.50, and children 5 and under are free.

You can buy tickets online or in person. The museum is underground and the entrance to the museum consists of three (3) ground barriers at each doorway. For more information on museum accessibility, please click here. There are bathrooms onsite, a gift shop, and although there was no food available onsite at the time of our visit, Carp offers some great restaurants including Alice’s Village Café, Ridge Rock and The Carp Custom Creamery.

A family night out at the Wesley Clover Parks Drive-In Theatre

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, when there isn’t a pandemic, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival.  During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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I have not been to a drive-in movie since 1990. At the time, I was eighteen years old. We were seven teenagers stuffed into a car that fit four (a few may have been crammed in the trunk!).

Fast forward thirty years, drive-ins are making a comeback during this time of social distancing. Our family learned there was a drive-in taking place at Wesley Clover Parks in Ottawa’s west end and couldn’t wait to see what our son thought of this unique experience! 

This time, our family of three, easily fit in our vehicle which comfortably seats five. There was no need to hide anyone under car seats or next to the spare tire. 

I have to admit, I was somewhat nervous to go to the drive-in. Like most Ottawa families, for the past three months, our family excursions consisted of taking a walk or bike ride through our local park. 

Once we arrived on-site my fears were quickly allayed. All staff were wearing face masks and social distancing was maintained at all times. There was plenty of space between vehicles and people could even order concessions online via their smartphone. 

We had a few minutes to spare before the movie started so our son, David, and I walked around the site while maintaining our social distance from others. It felt like people were coming out of their cocoons. Hatchbacks and truck flatbeds were turned into viewing areas. We even saw one family bring a mattress for the young ones in case their dozy eyes could not last for the entire movie. 

The night we visited, Thor: The Dark World was on the bill. I am usually not a superhero fan but enjoyed the escapism of the film. The fact that it was a perfect summer night added to the ambiance. The night went by quickly but was definitely memorable.

Our motto this summer will be to keep it local. The drive-in experience at Wesley Clover Parks was the perfect place to start. 

As one can expect,  there are a few restrictions in place during this time of COVID-19.  People are asked to not bring in any outside food or drink other than sealed bottled water.  It is okay to sit in the hatchback or flatbed of your vehicle. Only one person per vehicle is allowed to go to the bathroom at a time with the exception of young kids who can be accompanied by one adult.  There are outdoor portapotties on-site with very good hand-washing facilities.  

Our family found all the measures to be reasonable and they did not impede our enjoyment of the event.  We understood they were for our safety and the safety of all participants.  

Films are being offered that will appeal to adults and children. Check the bill ahead of time to make sure the film and screening time are age-appropriate. All ticket sales are done online. For more information, visit, www.thedriveinottawa.ca

10 March Break Activities in Ottawa

March Break is just around the corner! If you plan on sticking around the National Capital Region this March Break, then you’re probably wondering what there is to do to keep the kids busy, entertained and happy.

With that in mind, here are 10 March Break Activities in Ottawa:

1)   Visit a Sugar Bush

When was the last time you visited a sugar bush with the family? While some offer delicious breakfasts or brunches, others offer that plus additional activities, such as hiking, wagon rides, and more. Check out our blog post with must-visit sugar bushes in and around Ottawa.

2)   Try Downhill Skiing or Winter Tubing

March break is a prime time to take the kids downhill skiing or enrol them in downhill ski lessons. But if you aren’t skiers, hills such as Mount Pakenham, Edelweiss and Domaine de l’Anne-Gardien offer winter tubing too!

3)   Visit a Museum

Ottawa has many great museums that appeal to a a variety of interests. Whether you want to teach kids about farming and agriculture at the Canadian Agriculture and Food Museum or learn about dinosaurs at the Canadian Museum of Nature, there are plenty of things for kids of all ages to see and do at a local museum.

This year the Canadian Museum of Nature’s special exhibit, Me & My Microbes: The Zoo Inside You runs until March 29th. There are interactive displays, simulation games and even a small area for toddlers and younger children where they can play with stuffy microbes such as bacteria, fungi and viruses.

For younger kids the Children’s Museum at the Museum of History is always a hit! 

From March14th to the 22nd, the Canadian Space and Aviation Museum is offering various interactive activities, hands-on crafts, tours, and more. Kids can make aliens out of plasticine and hear from special guests as they discuss what life might look like on another planet.

The Canadian Science and Technology Museum’s has various activities and programming on throughout the month of March, including “Unboxed Creativity from March 5 to 7th and March 19th to 22nd, where kids will be challenged to fashion cardboard boxes into giant sculptures or create a personalized game inspired by arcades, favourite sports, or rollercoasters.

On March 14th they are also hosting a “Ottawa Jam: Raspberry Pi Microcomputer Event” where participants can discover projects created by local tinkerers with Raspberry Pi microcomputers. You can also make your own digital game using simple coding programs, and increase your digital skills by exploring the full potential of this device.

There is also Brain Awareness Activities scheduled from March 16th to the 19th and Mechanical Sculpture from March 15 to 22nd, where participants can assemble an automata — a mechanical sculpture that moves with a crank.

Exploring a museum is a great way to spend a few hours or an entire day!

4)   Escape Room Junior

If you have children who love to solve a good mystery, you may want to check out Escape Manor Junior. Escape Manor Junior offers various themes of fun and immersive escape games for a younger audience. Themes include Space Invaders and Candy Conspiracy. Work together as a family to escape the room by looking for clues, solving puzzles, and figuring out the codes.

5)   Go Cross Country Skiing

 March Break is usually a good time to check out the groomed cross country ski trails in Gatineau Park or the multi-use Sir John A. MacDonald trail. If you don’t own skis you can usually rent them from places such as Mountain Equipment Co-op and Fresh Air Experience. 

6)   Skate as a family at the Sens Rink of Dreams

Weather-permitting, the Sens Rink of Dreams at Ottawa City Hall is open daily from 6 am to 11 pm and unlike many other public skating rinks there is also a heated changing facility. If you don’t own skates (or you just discovered your kids have outgrown theirs) you can rent skates right on site (during designated times).

7)   Slide or Dive into a City of Ottawa pool

The City of Ottawa offers a wide range of public swimming schedules during the March Break and have locations all over the city that offer everything from standard swimming, to slides to waves! The great news is that it isn’t expensive, in fact kids 2 and under are free!

8)   Sign up for a program at the Ottawa Public Library

Every year the Ottawa Public Library offers free programs for school age children and teens as part of their March Break. Program themes and length vary depending on the library, but past programs have included programs about science, technology, arts and more!

9)   Paint Pottery

If your kids love to be creative bring them to a ceramic painting place in Ottawa. There are several including Pottery Playhouse in Stittsville and The Mud Oven on Bank Street. Kids can paint something as simple as a plate or mug and make it their own – or get a head start on birthday gifts for family and friends. It’s a lot of fun and the mess is left behind!

10)  Try Bowling

If you’re anything like me the last time you went bowling was on the Nintendo Wii. Bowling is great exercise and a fun way to play together as family. Ottawa has a couple of bowling lanes to choose from including the Orleans Bowling Centre and Merivale Bowling Lanes, which also has glow in the dark bowling!

How do you plan on spending your March Break this year? What are some of your favourite family activities? 

Arbraska Lafleche Caves

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 the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.  

Our family has always tried to embrace the idea of exploring your own backyard. We are fortunate to have an abundance of natural and historic attractions in or close to Ottawa. 

Keeping with the idea of local tourism, my son, David and I decided to go check out the cave at Arbraska Lafleche. My wife, Sandy, decided to pass since she found out there are bats that hibernate in the cave. 

Bats hibernating in Arbraska Lafleche Caves

David and I arrived at Arbraska Lafleche and were treated to a nature sighting. We saw a group of wild turkeys eating and then slowly meander across the road. They were not bothered by our vehicle and seemed to be saying they had the right of way.

We entered the main building and were greeted by our guide, Marc Andre Dorval. Marc immediately made us feel welcome and introduced himself as the caveman. The nickname is well-earned as Marc has been exploring caves for the past forty years and started as a young child. 

Marc got us suited up with a helmet and showed us how to turn the headlamp on and off. We entered the cave and spotted a number of little brown bats hibernating. David was fascinated to see the animals in their natural environment and not just on a youtube video or zoo. The bats glistened as it had recently rained and they were wet from the dripping inside the cave.

Marc told us that the bats prefer a temperature of between 4-7 celsius when they are hibernating. We did not linger too long as not to disturb the bats.

For the next part of the cave, we descended a small ladder and entered a larger cavern. We made ourselves comfortable and Marc shared with us how the cave was discovered and the geologic history. The cave had first been discovered by a bear trapper in the 1800’s. Of course, the geologic history of the cave stretches back many more years than just the 1800’s. 

It was time to visit another section of the cave. We climbed a longer ladder to what I called the upstairs floor. After a short walk, I noticed two yoga style mats on the cave floor. I was intrigued but did not say anything. Marc shared more interesting information about the cave. I was listening but frankly could not get my mind off the mats. Was there a special yoga class offered in the cave? Perhaps some mystic had made the cave his/her permanent home? 

It all made sense when Marc asked us to shut off our headlamps. We were enveloped in total darkness. I literally could not see my hand in front of my face. Marc shared that he slept in the cave three nights a week as it was too long a commute from his house to the cave. The only problem he mentioned was that sometimes the bats would disturb him in the summer. He truly is a caveman!

As we neared the end of the tour, Marc shared with us some of the future plans for the cave. We were also able to see a gigantic icicle that had already formed on the cave floor. Marc said by January, the exit would be filled with huge icicles. I can imagine it would be a very popular place for Instagrammers. 

David and I made a vow to return to Arbraska Lafleche in the summer when we can do the zipline course. I’m sure Sandy will join us as well. Just as long as she does not see any bats.

If you go - Arbraska Lafleche is located about forty minutes north of Ottawa along route 366. David and I chose to do the cave discovery tour which is about an hour. There is also a cave explorer tour for the more adventurous. For the explorer tour, you will be crawling through small spaces.

I would recommend the cave tour for slightly older children and those without mobility issues. There are some stairs to climb.

The temperature of the cave is 4-7 C year round so dress appropriately. 

Arbraska Lafleche also offers ziplining, an aerial game trek and hiking. In the winter, they offer a snowman adventure tour that includes a zipline, snowshoeing and the cave discovery tour. 

For more information, visit www.arbraska.com.

Full disclosure, we received free passes for the purposes of this review, but all views are my own.

Ottawa Biplane Adventures at the Canadian Museum of Aviation and Space

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 the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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Riding in a biplane has been on our son, David’s, must-do list for about the past year. He first learned about the experience when we visited the Canadian Museum of Aviation and Space last summer. Towards the back of the museum there is an information desk for Ottawa Biplane Adventures.  David found out they offered biplane tours ranging from 6-8 minute intro flights to a 30-35 minute eco tour which takes you into the back-country of western Quebec.

Of course, David’s next question was, ‘Papa, can we go on a flight.’  I love my son more than anything in the world, but I also have an overwhelming fear of heights. Normal flight is difficult enough for me let alone an open-air seat.

My wife, Sandy, has been open to almost every adventure David has taken. She has gone on zip lines in the jungles of the Dominican Republic to snorkelling in Mexico. For her, however, a biplane ride was where she had reached her threshold.  

Luckily, my close friend, Frederic and his partner, are visiting us this summer.  I knew Frederic enjoyed an adrenaline rush and he quickly agreed to accompany David.

Since I was not on the biplane, I will let David describe the experience.  His words are in italics.

As soon as we got to the museum, I watched a biplane land. I would be next. We entered the museum where I was given goggles, headphones and a leather cap - I looked like a WWII pilot! I was briefed about how to take photos without my camera flying out of the aircraft and a few other important things and then was ready to go. As I entered the airplane, I remembered the reason it was called the vintage flight was because the plane was made in 1940! Me and my dad’s friend, Frederic were seated at the front of the airplane with the pilot right behind us as I waved goodbye. Take off was very calm and soon I was 1500 ft in the air. I took a look outwards and got an incredible view of the Ottawa river. From time to time the airplane would tilt so that we could see better. About 5 minutes in, the highlight of the tour came- we were directly over Parliament hill! Other places that I saw were the Chateau Laurier, the Rideau Canal, the Museum of History, Gatineau park in the distance and a large portion of downtown Ottawa. The majority of the flight was spent flying over the river and I could also see many scenic areas with a few boats. One of the best parts about it was I also got to see all the places the plane flew over on Google Maps. After about 15 minutes, we returned to the Aviation museum.  

I really enjoyed the flight because it makes going on an aircraft far more exciting with the clear view and strong wind. You also feel secure throughout the tour and you get an aerial view of Ottawa and Gatineau better than through a window or a computer screen. I can’t wait to brag to my friends about the experience!

I must admit, I was happy to see Frederic and David land safely.  The staff gave us full confidence from the moment we arrived. The day had extra importance to our family because my grandfather, Jonas,  had trained to be a flight navigator in World War II. He trained in various locations including Ottawa. David has researched our family history and I thought it was a very cool that he could experience what Great Grandpa Jonas had experienced eighty years earlier. 

Ottawa Biplane Adventures

Disclaimer: Stephen and Davis were compensated for this adventure, but all opinions are there own.