Peak to Peak Zipline Tour at Camp Fortune

I have always enjoyed all sorts of thrill seeking activities. Bungee jumping, ziplining and roller coasters are all appealing to me. I also love the outdoors and being in nature. Combine the two, and I have the perfect weekend activity. Camp Fortune’s new peak to peak ziplines and mountain coaster fit the bill.

For this excursion, I brought a friend with me. My parents opted to only ride the mountain coaster. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by our guide who took us to the chairlift. There, we went on a five minute scenic ascent to the peak, getting an incredible view of Gatineau park along the way. 

Once we reached the summit of the mountain, our guides took us up the stairs of a short tower. There, we attached ourselves to the ziplines and were ready to go. Because there were two zip lines next to each other, my friend and I were able to go at the same time. 

As soon as the guides let us go, we glided 150 feet above the forest at high speed. My friend had been somewhat nervous at first, but once we got going, he was ecstatic. From the zipline, I was able to see stunning sights all around me while flying through the air. When we arrived at the second tower, we were excited to do it again.

We waited for a few minutes for our guides to return and do the safety checks, and we were once again ready to go. Before going on the second zipline, our guides had told us that it would be a good idea to spin on this one. They were right. I let go of my harness and spun around, learning what it's like to zipline backwards. I made sure to get into my brace position in time.

After the second, we went on the third and final zipline. This one was a bit smaller, but it was still fun. At the end, there was an optional 50 foot free fall. I stood at the edge of the platform, staring straight down before going against my natural instincts and walking off of it. I plummeted for two meters before the cord slowly lowered me to the ground for a not-so-graceful landing. In total, I ziplined the distance of 4,478 feet in about an hour. 

Following lunch, we went back up the relaxing chairlift for one last activity- the mountain coaster. The mountain coaster consisted of one seat that rolled down a winding metal track through the trees. I used the lever to go at the maximum speed of 40 km/h, holding on tight as it made sharp drops and turns. It was a great adrenaline rush.

If you are interested in either of these activities, arrive 30 min ahead of schedule and check in at new customer service, lower level of the main lodge. Remember to dress for the weather, active clothing and running shoes. The ziplines have a minimum weight of 100 lbs and a max weight of 240 lbs. Pricing is $55 for youth 14 and under and $65 for those 15 and older. The coaster is $20 per ride and you have to be 8 years old or older to ride alone.  Safety equipment and instructional sessions are provided. For more information please visit https://campfortune.com. 

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list.

Ottawa area attractions: Mont Cascades

by Amanda Our 2 year old has a new phrase these days. “Water slides. Go! Water Slides?”  We are frequent visitors to Mont Cascade. So frequent that we have purchased season passes again this year and our son recognizes when we get close because he says “Water Slides!!” Mont Cascade is located in Cantley, Quebec, approximately 25 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

Ticket prices are only $15 for adults or $35+tax for a season’s pass (2 and under are free!) making it is a very affordable option for some fun in the sun. The water being heated this year adds to even more enjoyment.  At $35 for a seasons pass we can justify only going for a few hours at a time. Sometimes with smaller children this is needed for those who still nap or just need to head home for some quiet time.

The kids area consists of a 3 smaller slides that end up in the beach like wading pool and 2 larger slides that bring you down to the bottom in their own little area. Check it out here. Our 2 year old loves going down the 3 smaller slides on his own but with the longer walk up to the top for the 2 larger slides, called Lemonade and Tangerine for their colours, he has an adult ride with him.

We have discovered that depending on what kind of bathing suit bottoms you wear will greatly impact your speed, or lack thereof.  My husband has his “water slide shorts” that offer speed! Even going on the slides with our son they catch some great speed and shoot out the bottom.  If you are wearing bathing suit bottoms that are made out of cotton you may find yourself pushing yourself down the slide more.  When we visit during the more busy times one adult generally stays at the top of the slide and the other at the bottom to do the catching as they come into the water. Our son does the small walk back up to the top by himself with us watching him. This is done more for the fact that he doesn’t understand the concept of not letting the older kids jump in front of him and to wait until the child before him is completely out of the way before it is his turn!  There is a height restriction in the childrens area but adult or older children are able to slide with the little ones at all times.

With many daycamps frequenting the park this summer I suggest trying to go on a Monday or Tuesday. Generally these are days where daycamps do not take day trips off site.  Plan to be there right for opening, 10am, or head later in the day around 3 when many people are leaving for the day to get home for dinner.  That being said we did meet some friends there on a Friday early afternoon and despite the parking lot being full the kid area was not overwhelming.

Bring a cooler and pack your lunch and snacks. There is a canteen available and a Subway restaurant. Prices can start to add up quickly. Just remember not to bring any glass bottles or containers, as they are not permitted.  If you get there early grab a picnic table with some shade and an umbrella.  There are also a few cabana’s to rent if you are going with a group but I do find them very awkwardly placed over by a smaller pool and not close to the children’s area and away from many of the main slides. This could be a draw for those with older children so the parents have a quiet place to sit but those with young children would not have easy access from the kids area to their cabana’s.

For older children there is “Splash Forest” with a few small tube slides, spraying water and buckets of fun.  We have only frequented a few of the “big slides” and have found that the line ups can get quite big in the mid day.  Expect a line up to wait for your tube or mat if they are required for your slide of choice and then a long walk up to the top of the slide. However, it would be a great way to tire out the kids for the drive home!

The lifeguard in me also feels the need to gently remind you to keep your eyes on your child at all times and to stay close.  From what I have seen over the past two years frequenting this water park is that the lifeguards are not always as vigilant as they could be.   Because they are a private waterpark and not a City pool they do not have to follow the same standards and the lifeguard to bather ratio is quite large.  We have noticed there are a few lifeguards who are fantastic with the children, encouraging high fives as they walk back up to the slides, gently reminding children to walk instead of run and responding to questions or needs of park users. Next time you want someplace to cool off why not head to Cascades? We’ll see you there!

Amanda is a mom to a 2 year old boy and 4 month old baby girl.  When she is not out having fun with the kids you can find her getting her yoga on at www.littlelotusyoga.ca

Baby H and The Children's Museum

by Natasha

My husband and I recently took Baby H to The Children’s Museum for the first time.  It was quite a colourful affair.  There was many different exhibits and activities for the children to learn from and explore. Baby H is too young to grasp everything, he’s also not walking yet so the experience is a little different to him than it would be to a more mobile toddler.

There are approximately thirty exhibits showcasing different countries and bits of their cultural representations. Upon entering the Children’s Museum, we were given a passport that gets stamped once we enter each country on site.

We started our journey in India, where Baby H and his dad boarded a bus and pretended to drive off into the sunset.  Baby H was fascinated by all of the flashing lights and colors.

After India we proceeded to the marketplace housing vendors from different countries.  Baby H played with Swiss cheese, then moved onto Dutch clogs and Chinese fruit and veggies. We even made it to Egypt for a camel ride and a short stop at the pyramids.

Each country’s exhibit was set up to better display the cultural and traditional elements, with a small area for children to participate in local arts and crafts. Once again, our little boy was too young to participate - but the children that were in the area seemed to really enjoy themselves.

With the great number of activities and spots to visit in the museum, I would suggest that trips be planned for no less than a whole afternoon just so you can get the most out of your outing.

If you go for a full day, there is a cafeteria in the basement of the museum where you can purchase snacks and sandwiches. They also have a patio with beautiful view of Parliament Buildings and the Ottawa River.

We will definitely be back to the museum.

Natasha is a new mommy to her first born, Baby H. She runs ShopHaven, a blog that reviews products and profiles local businesses and individuals from the Ottawa area. Natasha is also the creative force behind ShopHaven Baskets; a highly customized gift baskets service.