In a way, it feels like summer is almost over. I’m back at work this week, while Beloved has one week left. The boys have another two weeks after that, but really, the sun and warmth of summer carries on for weeks after that.
Today’s Friday Family Fun is a great summer treat, but you might want to choose one of those fresh fall days instead of the breathlessly muggy day we chose. We trekked out to Karter’s Korners go-karts and mini-golf and had one of our best adventures of the summer.
I’ve known of Karter’s Korners, eastern Ontario’s largest go-karting track, for years. We have friends with older boys, and have heard them talk about how much fun they had. I was a little concerned about whether our boys were old enough to enjoy — or even accomplish! — go-karting. As usual, I needn’t have worried.
They have two types of go-karts. Riders taller than 54†tall can drive their own kart, and they have a handful of doubles so younger riders can ride with a parent. It worked out perfectly for us that Lucas and I shared one kart while Simon and Beloved shared another, and Tristan drove his (eek!) own.
O!M!G! Did we ever have fun! The track is just a smidge short of a mile long, with a couple of bends and corners and at least one hair-pin turn. We’d bought one of those groupon-type deals that gave us each four loops around the track and a round of putt-putt, which was just the right amount of fun for us.
At first, I was concerned that Tristan might not be able to drive his kart on his own, but he did a fine job. This is me taking a picture of Tristan while zooming around in my own kart, one arm around Lucas, one hand on the camera, one hand on the wheel, tearing down the track at a speed I’d rather not consider. Don’t tell my mom!
After that, we got the boys each a ball and putter and set them loose on the putt-putt range, one of those fun old-skool ones with a windmill and a loop-the-loop and other classic obstructions. It was pretty much pandemonium, and I’m sure the boys managed to break every official rule of mini-golf (Lucas was especially funny, picking up his ball randomly and placing it within six inches of the hole so he could putt it in!) but they had a good time and didn’t bother anyone else so we didn’t care.
Karter’s Korners also has a mini-ATV track where kids under 54″ can drive their own vehicles, a driving range, an arcade, and a little canteen. In other words, pretty much everything you need to keep the kids engaged for a full afternoon of fun. It’s not an inexpensive family outing, but it’s frankly comparable in price to what it cost to bring everyone to the movie theatre last week, and way more fun. Plan your trip for a discount Tuesday and save a few pennies — or play a little longer!
I don’t know who had more fun, the kids or the grownups. Beloved is already talking about heading back and trying a few more laps. Karter’s Korners truly is an Ottawa adventure the whole family can enjoy!
My girls are still too young for this, but my husband and I are planning a (belated) date night this week to Karters Korners to celebrate our anniversary. I’ve been a little nervous, oddly enough (I’m always anxious about trying new things), but your post makes it look like so much fun!
#Ottawa Friday Family Fun:zooming around the track at Karter's Korners! http://t.co/zwXxySz #vroomvroom
#Ottawa Friday Family Fun:zooming around the track at Karter's Korners! http://t.co/zwXxySz #vroomvroom
#Ottawa Friday Family Fun:zooming around the track at Karter's Korners! http://t.co/zwXxySz #vroomvroom
We did Karter’s for the first time this summer as well – it was great! Love that you can bring your lunch as well!
So I took my son karting at Karters last Friday and he came home with head lice. I found them 6 days after and know without a doubt it was the only possible exposure, he isn’t in summer or day camps, and hadn’t been around any children prior, or after
I called imediatly to speak to either an owner or management to alert them, left messages about my son contacting lice from their helmets, and no one has called back.
They use helmets with material inside the helmet, yet don’t spray, or clean them in any way between uses/people.
Bowling allies spray every shoe returned to stop foot rot, (fungi) which I would much rather deal with and treat.
So far Karters Korners has cost me between treatments and laundry $50
Jennifer, ugh, lice is one of those things that as a parent I see as almost an inevitable right of passage but ick ick ickity ick. What a pain. I can’t speak for Karter’s Korners, but I can see where sharing helmets might bring this issue up. If this is a concern for people, I did notice that they offer hair/head protectors that you can put on yourself before you put your helmet on. 🙁