Museums built for kids
Canadian Museum of Nature
Dinosaur skeletons, a blue whale, a live insect gallery and the mineral room. The castle-like building on Metcalfe is a full rainy morning for ages 3 and up.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
The Crazy Kitchen (a tilted room that messes with your balance), hands-on science galleries and a hall of full-size steam locomotives. Out on St. Laurent Blvd, with free parking.
Canadian Children's Museum
Inside the Museum of History in Gatineau: a pretend world tour with a bus to climb on, a market, a ship and plenty of dress-up. Best for ages 2 to 8.
Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
On the Central Experimental Farm, with barns of cows, goats and horses. Much of it is under cover, so a light rain doesn't ruin it.
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Real planes in a giant hangar. Great for kids who are into anything that flies.
Burn off energy
- Trampoline parks: Flying Squirrel runs toddler-time sessions on weekday mornings as well as open jump.
- Funhaven: bumper cars, laser tag, arcade games and a climbing structure under one roof.
- Kanata wave pool: the City's wave pool at the Kanata Leisure Centre is a classic rainy-day swim. Check the public swim schedule.
- Indoor playgrounds: several around the city; most charge per child and let adults in free.
Free and cheap
- Ride the O-Train end to end. For train-obsessed preschoolers, it's an outing in itself.
- Ottawa Public Library branches run free story times and have play areas.
- City public swims at indoor pools are low cost.
- Museum free hours: the Science and Technology Museum and others have offered free late-afternoon or evening windows. Confirm current times before you go.
- The ByWard Market building: wander, grab a BeaverTail and call it an adventure.
Quick picks by age
| Age | Best rainy-day pick |
|---|---|
| Toddlers (1–3) | Children's Museum, toddler time at a trampoline park, library story time |
| Preschool (3–5) | Museum of Nature, the farm barns, the O-Train |
| School age (6–11) | Science and Technology Museum, Funhaven, the wave pool |
| Tweens and teens | Escape rooms, climbing gyms, the Diefenbunker |
Museum tips for families
- Go at opening. Galleries are quietest in the first hour, before school groups and the lunch rush.
- Pack snacks. Museum cafés are pricey; most museums have spots where you can eat your own lunch.
- Museum of Nature: start with the dinosaurs and the live insects, then the mineral room. Save the top floors for when the little ones still have energy.
- Science and Technology Museum: do the Crazy Kitchen early, before a line forms, and save the locomotive hall for last.
- Children's Museum: it's inside the Museum of History, and one ticket covers both. Bring a change of clothes for the water play.
- Agriculture and Food Museum: check the daily schedule for milking demonstrations and animal programs.
- Aviation and Space Museum: look for the hands-on and flight-simulator activities, and check what's open before you go.
- Free hours: see free things to do in Ottawa for museum free evenings.
Things to do with toddlers in Ottawa
For under-threes, short and close wins. The Children's Museum, a toddler-time session at a trampoline park, library story time and an indoor playground are all easy to leave when nap time hits. On dry days, add the farm animals at the Experimental Farm and a city splash pad in summer.
Things to do with teens in Ottawa
Teens tend to want a challenge, so try escape rooms, bouldering gyms, axe throwing (check the venue's minimum age), the Diefenbunker's Cold War tour, or a ghost walk. In summer, family whitewater rafting on the Ottawa River is a big hit. See Ottawa tours.
Birthday party places in Ottawa
- Trampoline parks and Funhaven: packaged parties with a host and a party room.
- Museums: several run themed birthday parties; the Diefenbunker even does spy-themed ones.
- Climbing gyms: good for ages 7 and up.
- City pools and community centres: pool and room rentals are the budget option.
Book 4–6 weeks ahead for weekend slots.
March Break activities in Ottawa
Museums run extra programming all week, and day camps fill early (the Diefenbunker's spy camp is a favourite). It's also maple season, so a sugar shack is a great half-day. See sugar shacks near Ottawa. Snow permitting, there's late-season skiing at Camp Fortune. Expect museum crowds midweek, and go early.
FAQ
What can you do in Ottawa with kids when it rains?
The Museum of Nature, the Science and Technology Museum, the Children's Museum in Gatineau, the Agriculture and Food Museum barns, trampoline parks, Funhaven and the Kanata wave pool.
What's the best Ottawa museum for toddlers?
The Canadian Children's Museum inside the Museum of History, and the barns at the Agriculture and Food Museum.
Are there free rainy day activities in Ottawa?
Yes: library story times, riding the O-Train, wandering the ByWard Market building, and museum free-admission hours where offered.
Where can I find the Kanata wave pool schedule?
On the City of Ottawa's recreation site, under the Kanata Leisure Centre's public swim times. Schedules change by season and over school breaks, so check on the day.
What is there to do in Ottawa during March Break?
Museum programming and day camps, sugar shacks during maple season, indoor play centres and, snow permitting, skiing at Camp Fortune.
The weekend, sorted
One short email on Thursdays: what's worth doing in Ottawa and the Gatineau Hills this weekend, and nothing you'll skip.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, hours and seasons change, so confirm with the venue before you go.