Five free family things to do in Ottawa on a cold winter day

It’s January in Ottawa, and if you don’t get the kids out of the house soon, it’s going to get ugly. Here’s a quick list of five free (I love free!) things you can do to enjoy winter in Ottawa without breaking the bank.

1. Feed the birds. This is a perennial favourite suggestion of mine. Get yourself out to the Bulk Barn and buy 35 cents worth of wild birdseed. Load the family into the car and drive to Hogsback Falls. It’s a short and easy walk down the pathway toward Vincent Massey Park, and about half a kilometer from the Falls is an excellent place to feed the chickadees and nuthatches. Hold out some seed in your hand and stand still — it won’t take long for the birds to perch in your hand and filch the seeds!

2. Go to the library. Another freebie! Did you know you can borrow DVDs, CDs, and even video games from the library? And most of Ottawa’s libraries have nice play areas and excellent programs for the preschool and younger set. The library is one of our favourite Saturday morning family activities.

3. Go tobogganing at the Arboretum. Once you graduate beyond the little hill in your neighbourhood, thrill the bigger kids with a fun slide at the Arboretum. Not much of a hike from the roadside parking, but you’ll get a good workout hauling your sled back up the hill each time! We’ve also had the hill at Mooney’s Bay recommended to us, but haven’t got out there yet. Best part? Completely free.

4. Go for a skate! Okay, so it might be a while before the Rideau Canal skateway opens with all this mild weather, but did you know the city of Ottawa has 236 (!) outdoor rinks? Check out this page on the city website for details on the one nearest you. Edited to add: whoops, thanks to Melanie of the Citizen’s Adventures of a Working Mom blog for pointing out that the Canal is open after all!

5. Visit the Farm. Admission to the animal barns and the grounds of the Agriculture Museum at the Central Experimental Farm is free until February 28.

Winter can be long and dreary — might as well get out and enjoy it!

Got any other ideas to share for fun family winter freebies in the National Capital?

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