Food and farm adventures across South Eastern Ontario. An art fair in Maberly and a stroll through sunflowers in Ashton. Hotel deals in the Outaouais and Kingston. Demolition derbies and hot air balloons. Reading with goats in Luskville. And the chance to win a trip to Puerto Vallarta or Martinique! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Art fair, food festival, reading with goats

From a food festival in Vankleek Hill and a sunflower field in Ashton to hot air balloons in Gatineau and an art fair in Maberly, this week’s calendar of events has lots of ideas for making the most of your long weekend. Find out where you can shop for garlic, admire horses, dance to Latin music or thrill to a demolition derby. I’ll even tell you where you can read with goats!

What can I do this week?

This week’s featured contests

The prize in this contest is a trip for two to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Not open to Quebec residents. Enter by September 3, 2026.

Take me to the Puerto Vallarta contest!

This contest is open only to Quebec residents, and the prize is a one-week trip for two to Martinique. Enter by September 30, 2026.

Take me to the Martinique contest!

Heads Up: Hotel deals, Come From Away, OC Transpo

This week’s Heads Up post has lots of timely tips for road trips near and far, whether you’d like to see Come From Away in Ottawa, attend a fancy culinary event at a farm near Kemptville, get a hotel deal in Kingston or the Outaouais, join a fundraising motorcycle ride through the Rideau Valley, sign up for a yoga marathon in Kanata, or enjoy a fall drive in the Kawarthas. I have news about a nature reserve near Gananoque and OC Transpo’s new fall schedule, too.

I'd like the latest news

Discover fun farms and great tastes in South East Ontario

SPONSORED: If you’re looking for great food and rural adventures on your next road trip, don’t miss my post about the new Farm to Flavours Guides! These guides highlight places across South Eastern Ontario—farms, roadside stands, restaurants and more—where you can discover, taste and buy local foods. You’ll also find out where you can do goat yoga, cuddle lambs or pet donkeys. You’ll be amazed what’s out there! Photo courtesy of South Eastern Ontario.

Take me to the farms, fun and flavours!

The perks of membership

This weekly newsletter will always be free, as will the website articles you’re used to seeing here.

But if you’re looking for more—or if you’d just like to support my work—you’re in luck! A paid subscription gives you extra perks.

To learn more about becoming a paid subscriber (if you aren’t one already), please click the button below. Big thanks to all the readers who have already paid for a subscription.❤️

Upgrade your subscription below!

Subscribe now

And before I sign off this week

In my apparent quest to gain 10 pounds that I definitely do not need, here I am noshing on dulce de leche-filled churros at the Salvadoran Festival of the Pupusa last Saturday. I also dug into pierogi at the Capital Ukrainian Festival on Sunday. All in the name of research, dear readers! (P.S.: Everything was delicious.)

Here are a few Ottawa Road Trips posts from the past, in case you missed them:

• 10 things you need to do before summer ends

• The complete guide to local cycling

• Find the best autumn colours with these fall foliage trackers

Also: Did you know that if you’re planning to book accommodations or a car rental anywhere in the world, you can click on the map below to do so? I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting this newsletter!

Trying to find something from an earlier newsletter? You can read previous issues on the Ottawa Road Trips Substack page.

That’s it from me for now. I’ll be back in your in-box next week with more ideas. Until then, happy road tripping!

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.

Antiquing in Merrickville and a Laurentians hotel deal. Donuts in Nepean and whitewater paddling in Maniwaki. A new literary festival in Smiths Falls and a new hotel in Carleton Place. A checklist for late-summer fun. Ten things you didn’t know about Perth. And the chance to win a posh trip for four to Quebec City! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Honey, antiques and a Ukrainian festival

Among this week’s road trip options, you can see a movie under the stars, check out a honey festival in Alexandria, paddle through whitewater in Maniwaki, eat Salvadoran pupusas in Old Ottawa South, go to a soccer match, celebrate Ukraine, browse for antiques in Merrickville, cheer for leaping dogs in Brockville or join a scenic bike ride in Eganville. See this week’s calendar of events for details on all these happenings and many more.

What can I do this week?

This week’s featured contest

Wow, check out the prize in this week’s contest: a trip for four to Quebec City, including flights, six nights at Fairmont Le Château Frontenac hotel, $2,000 to spend on meals, and tickets to the Canada Games! All told, the prize package is worth about $12,000. The contest is open to Canadian residents of legal age, with some restrictions. Enter by August 31, 2026.

Take me to this week's contest!

Heads Up: Mochi donuts, new literary fest, new Carleton Place hotel

In this week’s Heads Up post, you’ll learn about a new Carleton Place hotel inside a 150-year-old mill, a scenic bike ride near Napanee, mochi donuts in Nepean, a cool-looking bakery in Hull, a weekend-long art retreat in Newboro, a new literary festival in Smiths Falls, a family deal on a Laurentians hotel, upcoming culinary competitions in Ottawa, and lots more. I’ll even tell you why “JOMO” is the new buzzy acronym in the tourism industry. Enjoy!

I'd like the latest news

Your end-of-summer checklist

Some say summer ends on Labour Day. Others say it lasts until the fall equinox on September 22. (I’m in the latter camp.) If summer has felt much too short for you this year, don’t miss my list of 10 great summer activities you still have time to do—with tips for each! Whether you want to eat on a patio, paddle a kayak, swim outdoors, take a hike or indulge in some ice cream, check it out—and check a few more items off your summer fun list. Graphic created with Claude AI.

Help me make the most of summer!

The perks of membership

This weekly newsletter will always be free, as will the website articles you’re used to seeing here.

But if you’re looking for more—or if you’d just like to support my work—you’re in luck! A paid subscription gives you extra perks.

To learn more about becoming a paid subscriber (if you aren’t one already), please click the button below. Big thanks to all the readers who have already paid for a subscription.❤️

Upgrade your subscription below!

Subscribe now

And before I sign off this week

A new selfie, taken at the Indian Food Festival of Ottawa in Barrhaven last weekend. I really need to up my selfie-taking game. Sheesh, the hat hair and the awkward smile! (At least you know this isn’t an AI photo. 🤣)

Here are a few Ottawa Road Trips posts from the past, in case you missed them:

• 10 things you didn’t know about Perth

• Fall foliage trackers help you find the best leaf-peeping times

• Where to buy local products in Ottawa, the Outaouais and beyond

Also: Did you know that if you’re planning to book accommodations or a car rental anywhere in the world, you can click on the map below to do so? I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting this newsletter.

Trying to find something from an earlier newsletter? You can read previous issues on the Ottawa Road Trips Substack page.

That’s it from me for now. I’ll be back in your in-box next week with more ideas. Until then, happy road tripping!

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.

Needlecraft workshops and wine tastings. A Tragically Hip weekend and a concert at a cave. Indian food and two big book sales. Indigenous travel and great picnic spots. My big guide to shopping locally. A Guinness World Record attempt. And the chance to win a $500 Resorts of Ontario gift card! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: India…

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A dog festival in Pembroke and a thrifting event in Smiths Falls. A sunflower maze near Wakefield and a night market in Orléans. The Lock and Paddle event at Ottawa’s Hartwell Locks. Great Kingston restaurants, And the chance to win a posh train trip through the Canadian Rockies! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Dog festival, thrifting, Lock and Paddle

From thrifting in Smiths Falls and a night market in Orléans to music in Thurso, a fair in Vankleek Hill, a garlic festival in Carp, and busker and dog festivals in Pembroke, this week’s calendar of events features something for everyone. You can even bring your canoe or kayak to Hartwells Locks near Carleton University to go through the locks with hundreds of others during the Lock and Paddle event!

What can I do this week?

This week's featured contest

Wow, the prize in this week’s contest is a doozy: a luxury train trip for two through the Canadian Rockies, including roundtrip transportation to British Columbia. The whole package has an estimated value of $16,000! The contest is open to Canadian residents of legal age, with some restrictions. Enter by December 31, 2026.

Take me to this week's contest!

Heads Up: Cycling, a sunflower maze and a trendy motel

I have lots of timely tips in this week’s Heads Up post! For instance, this week will be the best time to see the Perseid meteor shower, and it will also be prime time for visiting a sunflower maze near Wakefield. This post also has the scoop on a music festival cancellation, Cornwall cycling, a new peace museum, Outaouais paddling, a trendy PEC motel, a chance to get your colours done and Ottawa’s upcoming 200th birthday celebrations.

I'd like the latest news

Did you know …

… that you can help support Ottawa Road Trips by using any of the accommodation maps on my website to book a place to stay? If you make a reservation via any of the maps on my site, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. (Thanks!)

How do you do it? Just click on the button below!

That will take you to one of the many accommodations maps that appear on my website. When the map opens, type your destination into the search box in the top left-hand corner of the map (where the black arrow in the screenshot above is pointing to the words “Ottawa, ON, Canada”) to search for accommodations anywhere in the world!

Take me to a map!

The perks of membership

This weekly newsletter will always be free, as will the website articles you’re used to seeing here.

But if you’re looking for more—or if you’d just like to support my work—you’re in luck! A paid subscription gives you extra perks.

To learn more about becoming a paid subscriber (if you aren’t one already), please click the button below. Big thanks to all the readers who have already paid for a subscription.❤️

Subscribe now

And before I sign off this week

Here are a few Ottawa Road Trips posts from the past, in case you missed them:

• Three fun day trips in Lanark County

• A relaxing art class in Newboro

• Every bite tells a story in these Kingston restaurants

Trying to find something from an earlier newsletter? You can read previous issues on the Ottawa Road Trips Substack page.

That's it from me for now. I'll be back in your in-box next week with more ideas. Until then, happy road tripping!

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.

A corn maze in Vankleek Hill and a culinary fundraiser in Ottawa. A scenic observation tower in Blue Sea and free Ottawa fun. The return of the Perth Lions Garlic Festival. Discounts you can get with your PRESTO card. And the chance to win a trip for six to Toronto! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Circus stunts, corn maze, Perth g…

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A tubing festival in Morrisburg and the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville. Hiking near Arnprior and a new waterfront patio at Jones Falls. Psychics, tunics and poutine. A Glebe restaurant promotion. A discount on micro-chalet bookings in the Outaouais. And the chance to win a trip to the Dominican Republic! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar…

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A murder mystery brunch in Cumberland and a Gilded Age tea in Appleton. The Fort Henry Tattoo in Kingston and Bridge Street SummerFest in Carleton Place. A paddleboard tour in the Outaouais. Dog-friendly spots in Lanark County. Day tripping to Kemptville, Merrickville and Brockville. And the chance to win a 1000 Islands trip or a Caribbean cruise! It’s …

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I had no idea when I put it together, but the list hit a real nerve. It even…

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Go ahead, take away my Canadian passport, but I’ll die on this hill. I’ll be over in the corner eating butter tarts and Nanaimo bars, thank you very much. 🤣

Seriously, though, I suspect I’m in the minority when it comes to this gooey, salty, oh-so-Cana…

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Where is Le P’tit Train du Nord?

This 234-kilometre trail runs through the heart of the Laurentians region, from Mont-Laurier in the nor…

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Who writes the Ottawa Road Trips Substack?

My name is Laura Byrne Paquet. I’m a journalist, author, blogger, amateur photographer, wife, mom, tea drinker, trivia fan, language learner, keen walker, lazy cyclist, beginner birder, Britbox binger and laid-back knitter. Plus, I almost always brake for bakeries.

I live in Ottawa, and for more than 30 years, I’ve been writing extensively about Ottawa and its surroundings—three guidebooks, a comprehensive website, and more magazine, newspaper and online articles than I can count.

In the process, I’ve logged tens of thousands of kilometres by car, bus, train and bike, as well as on foot. Along the way, I’ve hiked the trails, slept in the beds, enjoyed the festivals, snuggled the alpacas and eaten the ice cream. (Hey, it’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.)

Along the way, I’ve also developed a deep understanding of what local travellers want. Most importantly, I know that your free time and your budget have limits. My job is to help you make the most of both.

My Substack points you to cool bistros, quiet beaches, quirky shops, exhilarating skate trails, gorgeous inns, sorta-secret ruins and So. Much. More.

What region does Ottawa Road Trips cover?

The region I cover is huge, so there’s never any shortage of material. The shaded area below will help you visualize the places I write about most often.

However, this map doesn’t tell the whole story!

My main focus is places within a two-hour drive of Ottawa—as far as Kingston to the southwest, Deep River to the northwest, Maniwaki to the north, Mont-Tremblant to the northeast and Montreal to the east.

As the shaded area of the map shows, I do occasionally range a bit further than that, to places such as Prince Edward County, Peterborough and Granby.

To put that into context: The shaded area of the map is roughly the size of Portugal.

BUT I sometimes write about places outside the shaded area, too—Trois-Rivières, Quebec City, Toronto, Niagara Falls and beyond. Basically, if it’s somewhere that Ottawans are likely to travel by car, bus or train, I try to cover it at least once in a while.

What do you get by subscribing?

Free subscription

If you take out a free subscription, you’ll receive a weekly newsletter. Each week, it’s packed with tips on upcoming events, travel discounts, scenic drives and more.

You’ll also get access to occasional public posts.

The newsletter and the public posts are generally free for a month after publication; then, they go into an archive. Once that happens, they’re only available to paid subscribers.

Paid subscription

A paid subscription—available for as little as $5 a month—gives you the newsletter and the public posts, of course.

It also gives you access to the full archive of everything I’ve published on the Ottawa Road Trips Substack.

You’ll also receive deep dive posts, where I cover a destination or topic in much more detail than in my public posts. If you’re looking for inspiration for a multi-day trip, you won’t want to miss those.

I also offer group video chats for paid subscribers, where you can ask me all your burning road trip questions. 😊

10,000+ people can’t be wrong…

More than 10,000 people are currently subscribed to Ottawa Road Trips. Join them now … and find out what you’ve been missing!

Dragon boat races and lavender festivals. A new swim dock at the Canadian Museum of History and a new shaded plaza in the ByWard Market. Classic car shows and country fairs. Free outdoor movie screenings. Three day trips through Lanark County. And the chance to win a Danube river cruise! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Dragon boat…

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Garden tours and outdoor plays. A new Rideau Canal festival and RBC Bluesfest. Tours of Carleton Place and Akwesasne. Opportunities to meet artists in Wakefield and Merrickville. Rides on vintage trains. Three driving itineraries southeast of Ottawa. And the chance to win a trip to Paris! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Bluesfest,…

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A Celtic festival in Almonte and night markets in Ottawa. Comedy in Gatineau and cycling in Killaloe. Art in the Glebe and free yoga in Hull. Dozens of ways to celebrate Canada Day. More than 100 beaches where you can beat the heat. And the chance to win a trip to the Cayman Islands! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Night markets, …

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The RCMP Musical Ride in Ottawa and a big potluck dinner in Almonte. Authors in Eganville and a waterfall in the Outaouais. Art classes, lavender farms, jazz festivals, hydroplane races and night kayaking. All sorts of fun for kids, including splash pads, life-sized dinosaurs and the Teddy Bears’ Picnic. And the chance to win a $10,000 trip to Prince Ed…

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Alpacas at Parc Omèga and the Sunset Ceremony at Fort Henry. Rural cycling events and free dance lessons. Great reasons to visit Napanee. Overnight stays in a camper at a bird sanctuary. The Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival. And the chance to win a trip to Mexico! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

P.S.: You’ll also find out how a British newspaper m…

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Art in the Park events in the Glebe and Wakefield. Moonlit dancing in Balderson and mandala making in Dunvegan. A walking tour in Carleton Place, a new Dutch shop in Arnprior and a great tapas restaurant near Montreal. And the chance to win a two-night getaway in Eastern Ontario! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Art in the Park, ga…

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My adventures snuggling lambs on Amherst Island. A wine-and-food event near Alexandria and a ribfest at the RA Centre. A motorcycle celebration in Smiths Falls and a mural festival in Montreal. A Kingston event that’s selling out quickly. Discounts on Calypso Waterpark passes. And the chance to win a trip to Martinique! It’s all in this week’s newslette…

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Smiths Falls Porchfest and Zumba on the Hill. Dinner in a Navan vineyard and Shakespeare in Prescott. Places to rent outdoor gear in the Outaouais. Two Asian night markets in Ottawa. A Kingston package for food lovers. Lots of upcoming fairs. And the chance to win a weekend getaway in South Eastern Ontario! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of…

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A bouquet-making workshop in Russell and discounts on eco-cabins near Perth. A garden walk in Vankleek Hill and the Great Glebe Garage Sale. Lilac and circus festivals. Monster trucks and line dancing. A $10 discount on my guidebooks. And the chance to win a trip to Banff or Morocco! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Lilacs, line da…

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