Five warm and frost-free indoor places to visit on Family Day

The weather forecast for Family Day in Ottawa looks just about perfect for Winterlude’s outdoor activities, which means that the entire population and half the tourists will be skating on the Canal or zooming down the ice slides at Jacques Cartier Park. Had enough of outside? (If you haven’t, here’s five ideas of free things to do!) Looking for family-friendly and frost-free indoor activities for this Family Day? Here’s five suggestions!

1. Visit the Children’s Museum at the Museum of Civilization. This is the best hands-on museum in the city, and a place we visit several times a year. Swab the deck, put on a puppet show or build a house — there’s no shortage of fun activities here. One of our favourites! Special for this Family Day only, kids under 18 accompanied by an adult get in FREE!
2. Try an indoor playground. Okay, so not exactly thrilling for you, but kids can never get enough of these noisy, colourful, chaotic places. Cosmic Adventures in the east end and Playtime4Kids in the west end are but two of many choices in town. This is not exactly a cheap afternoon out, though — Cosmic Adventures will set you back $13.99 per child ages 4 – 12 plus $3.99 per adult.
3. Take in a movie. Planet 51 and The Princess and the Frog are both playing at the Rainbow Cinema at St Laurent. Admission fees are $4 per person, all ages, with an “early bird” special $2 price for shows that start at 10:00 am. At those prices, you can even afford a popcorn or two!
4. The Museum of Science and Technology is still one of the boys’ favourite places to visit. In fact, we’re overdue for a visit — this may be our activity of choice on Monday. Lots to see and learn, and lots of ways to burn off a little bit of energy too. A family of five can get in for $18 (how I love places that respect the fact that not all families come in fours!!) but the annual family membership pass is a bargain at $72 for unlimited admission to the Science and Tech Museum, the Aviation Museum and the Agriculture Museum at the Central Experimental Farm.
5. Go bowling! We’ve recently rediscovered bowling and the kids love it. MacArthur Lanes, Walkley Bowland Merivale Bowling Centre all seem to be open tomorrow (but please don’t take my word for it — call ahead!) and cost is in the range of $5.00 per person per game, plus $2 to $3 for shoe rentals. Beer and nachos for the grownups is always optional!

However you’re planning to spend it, Happy Family Day!

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