Olivia TaylorDid you know that out of all the major regions in Canada, Ottawa’s population has more scientists and PhDs? Over 40% of the city’s population has at least a bachelor’s degree, making it one of the most educated workforces today.
However, Ottawans’ professional life doesn’t keep them from having fun! If you’re out and about in the city and are in search of fun activities in Ottawa for adults, here’s a list of our top recommendations.
- Go skydiving at Parachute GO Skydive
- Shoot your shot at Archery Games Ottawa
- Feel the need for speed at Amigo Karting
- Try the world’s first interprovincial zipline at InterZip Rogers
- Chug beer and tease your brain at Pour Boy’s Trivia Tuesdays
- Party and play bar games all night at Playback
- Release your rage at BATL Axe Throwing
- Climb as high as you can at Altitude Gym
- Flip your fins as a mermaid at Aqua Mermaid
- Relieve your daily stress at Smash Room
- Spend a day (or night) in jail at SaintLo Ottawa Jail Hostel
- Challenge your friends to a game of mini golf at Putting Edge
- Strike down pins at West Park Bowling
- Practice your aim at LaserMaxx Ottawa’s laser tag arena
- Escape from the world’s largest underground bunker
- Catch a late-night comedy show at Absolute Comedy
- Enjoy doing watersports and activities around Petrie Island
Go skydiving at Parachute GO Skydive
Address: 1717 Rue Arthur-Fecteau, Gatineau, QC J8R 2Z9, Canada
Distance from OT: 15 minutes
Contact Details: +18196695867
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Traveling between Gatineau and Ottawa is an easy 15-minute drive, but if you want to take things further (and higher), why not try skydiving between cities? Parachute GO Skydive lets adults experience skydiving from Gatineau to Ottawa (or vice versa).
They’ve been in business for 14 years, run by a team of licensed skydivers, pilots, and flight technicians. They offer two types of tandem jumps for first-time jumpers: Regular and Adventure.
Regular lets you free fall for one minute at 200 km/hour from over 13,500 feet, while the Adventure tandem lets you free fall for 25 seconds from 9,000 feet. All equipment like suits and glasses are included in the $315 (regular) and $282 (adventure) fees!
| Tips: Parachute GO Skydive lets jumpers take videos and photos while skydiving with additional fees of $104 for just photos and $209 for both photos and videos. A deposit of $50 per jumper is required upon booking. In case of weather issues, jumpers can reschedule their jump dates. If you wish to cancel, your deposit can only be transferred to another person but will not be refunded. As a general rule, Parachute GO Skydive suggests booking at least 5 days in advance for weekday jumps and 7 to 10 days in advance for weekend jumps. |
Shoot your shot at Archery Games Ottawa
Address: 1860 Bank St #3b, Ottawa, ON K1V 7Z8, Canada
Contact Details: +16135232282
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Thursday, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Want to unleash your inner Robin Hood? You can test your aim and shoot arrows at Archery Games Ottawa.
The combat archery arena lets teams play against each other in a round of combat for $30.99 per head. For those who don’t know, combat archery is like dodgeball, except you hit other players with foam-tipped arrows instead of balls.
Combat sessions last 60 minutes, preceded by a 15-minute orientation and training. Once you get the hang of your bow and shooting, you can start the round as soon as your team fixes a strategy!
| Tips: No prior archery experience is required to play combat archery at Archery Games Ottawa. A staff member will be there to facilitate the gameplay as well as introduce basics during a 15-minute orientation. You can join a public game with other players if you’re coming as a group of less than 12 or book the arena for a private game session. Private sessions start at $372 and require a minimum of 12 players. |
Feel the need for speed at Amigo Karting
Address: 1870 Boulevard Maloney E, Gatineau, QC J8R 3Z4, Canada
Distance from OT: 10 minutes
Contact Details: +18196435376
Operating Hours: Friday, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Saturday, 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Sunday, 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Located just 10 minutes away from downtown Ottawa is Amigo Karting, the largest kart racing track in Ontario. If you love speed and want to race against your friends, this race track lets you do so across their large fleet of karts available.
For adults, the Super-Kart may be the best option as it can go as fast as 70 km/hour with its 9.0 horsepower. The kart mimics the same sensation as racing on a professional track (plus, it’s far cheaper this way!).
You’ll be racing on a NASCAR-type 630-meter track with two 180-degree turns and one 150-meter straight line. You can race with your friends for 15, 20, and 30 minutes on the track starting at $39.99 per head!
| Tips: Amigo Karting also allows guests to race on the track with their own karts. Rates for personal kart usage start at $30 for around 4 hours. If you’re coming with a group of friends of more than 10 people, rates will start at $54.79 for 30 minutes. Grand Prix-level races start at $65.23 for 35 minutes, which already includes a 5-minute warm-up and 10 minutes of qualifications. |
Try the world’s first interprovincial zipline at InterZip Rogers
Address: 40 Rue Jos-Montferrand, Gatineau, QC J8X 0C2, Canada (starting point)
Distance from OT: 15 minutes
Contact Details: +16136955803
Operating Hours: Varies from week to week from June to September
If you love skydiving but want to try another fun activity in Ottawa for adults that doesn’t involve riding on planes, you can try ziplining from Gatineau to Ottawa (or vice versa) on InterZip Rogers.
You begin your zipline adventure at Jos-Montferrand Street in Gatineau, crossing the Ottawa River at a speed of 40 km/h. Despite being swift, it’s a safe experience suitable for individuals of any age.
The landing spot is located west of Downtown Ottawa or in Gatineau if you’re departing from Ottawa. Whether you’re from near or far, this activity is a must-do when visiting Canada’s capital with no need for visas or vaccination records when crossing borders!
| Tips: As the attraction is eagerly awaited each summer, reservations quickly become limited, making it advisable to book well in advance. You can either contact them by phone or sign up online once the booking platform becomes available during the summer season! |
Chug beer and tease your brain at Pour Boy’s Trivia Tuesdays
Address: 495 Somerset St W, Ottawa, ON K1R 5J7, Canada
Contact Details: +16136957687
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 2:00 pm to 2:00 am
Got a penchant for trivial knowledge? Head over to Pour Boy every Tuesday evening for rounds of drinks, bar fare, and fun trivia questions!
Trivia Tuesdays run for two separate sessions, starting at 6:30 pm and the other at 8:30 pm. Topics for each session are kept a secret until the actual day, though hints may be dropped on their Instagram posts leading up to it.
There’s no admission fee to join Trivia Tuesdays, but you can help yourself with a plate of chicken wings, burgers, and nachos to support the local pub. Expect a healthy dose of competition with your mates and a chance to win some bragging rights!
| Tips: Pour Boy doesn’t just offer Trivia Tuesdays; they also have Open Mic Wednesdays, Comedy Thursdays, and Bingo Fridays! This pub is always buzzing with exciting events, so it’s wise to reserve your seat ahead of time, as they tend to fill up fast. When contacting them online or by phone, be sure to specify which event you’re interested in joining. |
Party and play bar games all night at Playback
Address: 1860 Bank St #3A, Ottawa, ON K1V 7Z8, Canada
Contact Details: [email protected]
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
If bar games are your thing, invite your friends to rounds of bocce, beer pong, shuffleboard, or cornhole at Playback while you enjoy drinks. All the games inside this bar are free to play as long as you get there before anyone else does!
Playback is located in the same place as Archery Games Ottawa, so if you’re parched after a game of combat archery, you can head to Playback to refresh with cocktails and beer!
Note that only guests ages 19 years old and above are allowed inside the bar. Reservations are not required for entry, but it’s advisable to call Playback to secure a table on weekend evenings.
| Tips: Playback only sells alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks inside, but you can order food from other establishments nearby. You also have the option to bring your own meals from home if you prefer that! Playback is available for private bookings if you wish to have the whole space for you and your friends. You can make reservations for private bookings here. |
Release your rage at BATL Axe Throwing
Address: 2615 Lancaster Rd #29, Ottawa, ON K1B 5N2, Canada
Contact Details: +16136866642
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Saturday, 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Sunday, 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Do you need a breather from the daily hustle and bustle? Take some weight off your shoulders and invite your friends to throw battle axes at BATL Axe Throwing!
You can book private lanes for your group starting at $29.99 per person for 1 to 2 hours or book a party pack for groups of 4 to 12 starting at $144.99 flat (drinks are included in this price!).
If you’re ready for the big leagues, you can try your hand at throwing bigger and heavier axes by booking BATL Premium. The package lets you and your group throw axes in your own private lane with a mini-tournament managed and facilitated by a coach.
| Tips: BATL Axe Throwing hosts axe-throwing leagues every week for newbies and regulars to battle it out together. Joining a league enables you to compete against other individual players over the course of 7 weeks. The cost of joining a league starts at $18 per week with specific throwing sessions every Sunday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Mondays to Wednesdays from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. |
Climb as high as you can at Altitude Gym
Address: 501 Palladium Dr #0E5, Stittsville, ON K2V 0E5, Canada
Contact Details: +16139035989
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
From the ground, rock climbing doesn’t look as daunting compared to mountaineers climbing Canaan Hill (Ottawa’s highest peak), but the rock climbing walls at Altitude Gym reach up to 30 feet high!
Altitude Gym offers rock climbing and bouldering services for adults across all skill levels. Beginners can start bouldering on walls no higher than 10 feet, while intermediate or experienced climbers can opt to rock climb the 30-foot walls.
Auto-belays are set up across the tallest walls in the gym, helping you stay attached to your harness and slowly carrying you down when you reach the top.
| Tips: You’ll need to bring your own padlock for the lockers. General admission fees for adults start at $21.50, but this doesn’t include shoes, harnesses, belay devices, and rope rentals. If you pay an extra $9, you can get climbing shoes and harness rental included in your admission fee. Monthly memberships are also available, starting at $105 per month or $840 per year. |
Flip your fins as a mermaid at Aqua Mermaid
Address: YMCA Taggart, 180 Argyle Ave, Ottawa, ON K2P 1B7, Canada
Contact Details: +18662792767
Operating Hours: Hours are based on booked appointments
Every grown woman or man has dreamt about becoming a mermaid at some point in their childhood. Luckily with Aqua Mermaid, young adults can make that dream come true (somewhat) by learning how to swim like one!
You won’t magically grow a mermaid tail here, though, but you’ll be given a prosthetic one to wear and swim in for an hour’s worth of mermaid lessons.
Learn from experienced mermaids who entertain at various events, birthdays, and parties. You have the option to receive lessons either in your hotel pool or at the swimming pool of Ottawa University, whichever suits your preference!
| Tips: AquaMermaid requires advance booking through their website; walk-ins are not permitted. Additionally, cash payments are not accepted. While mermaid tails will be provided by the school, you are welcome to bring your own if you have one! If you loved being a mermaid for a day, you can become a professional mermaid by enrolling in AquaMermaid’s 4-week online certification course. You can learn more about it here. |
Relieve your daily stress at Smash Room
Address: 889 Lady Ellen Pl, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7S8, Canada
Contact Details: +16137243013
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Thursday, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Saturday, 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Sunday, 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Have you got a lot of weight in your chest right now? Another way you can let off some steam is to visit Smash Room and, well, smash anything you find in the room!
Smash Room lets you destroy anything in the given room filled with items you choose during booking. For one participant, you can smash up to 10 glassware smashable and one medium to large item for $29.99.
Groups of up to 4 people can smash 34 glass items, 5 medium to large items, and an extra large item for $99.99. Smashable items range from telephones, shot glasses, speakers, and tall vases, to chairs and furniture.
| Tips: If there’s a specific item you find in the smash room that you don’t want to destroy and rather keep, you’re allowed to bring the item home with you. The Smash Room inventory changes every week, so you’ll find all sorts of recyclable treasures here. You’re also allowed to bring your own items to smash if you have extra smashables you need to get rid of. Items must not be larger than a standard milk crate, and items brought by guests will be inspected and subjected to the approval of the Smash Room staff (for safety purposes). |
Spend a day (or night) in jail at SaintLo Ottawa Jail Hostel
Address: 75 Nicholas St, Ottawa, ON K1N 7B9, Canada
Contact Details: +16132352595
Check-In: 3:00 pm
Check-Out: 11:00 am
Embarking on a jail adventure might sound daunting, but in Ottawa, it’s all part of the fun! The Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel offers a unique experience for those daring enough to spend a night or two in “prison” (don’t worry, it’s not official!).
Each room in this hostel mimics a cell block, with ample space for groups to book a staycation together. You can opt for a cozy single cell or larger cells equipped with bunk beds, perfect for groups of 4, 6, or 8 (your fellow “prison mates”).
What’s more, you’ll be treated to a complimentary morning meal, just like real inmates. The whole experience is delightfully absurd, and we highly recommend giving it a try (plus, rumor has it the food is surprisingly tasty)!
| Tips: The Saint Lo Ottawa Jail Hostel offers guided tours of Ottawa for you and your fellow “cellmates.” Conveniently located just a short distance from iconic landmarks such as Parliament Hill, the ByWard Market, and the Rideau Canal, the hostel makes it easy to explore the city’s highlights. Take advantage of a day tour led by the hostel staff to maximize your time! |
Challenge your friends to a game of mini golf at Putting Edge
Address: 5 Roydon Pl #1, Nepean, ON K2E 1A3, Canada
Contact Details: +16132244887
Operating Hours: Monday to Tuesday, 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Wednesday to Thursday, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm, Friday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 12:00 am, Sunday, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Mini golfing is a classic date idea for young adults in love to get to know each other. There are many mini golf courses around Ontario, but Putting Edge gives the fun activity a more modern spin that even older adults can enjoy.
The whole course has 18 holes, each designed with specific themes like the ocean, forest jungle, ancient ruins, and more. One thing that sets Putting Edge apart from others is that the whole course glows in the dark.
All the stations are neon-colored, emitting a kaleidoscope of colors that make for great Instagram photo backdrops. Just pay the admission fee starting at $15 per head!
| Tips: Reservations are required to enter and play golf at Putting Edge. You can make your reservations here. Putting Edge is a completely cashless establishment. Credit and debit cards as well as payments via digital wallet are accepted here. If you want to check out the venue first before finalizing your reservation, you can take the 360-degree virtual tour of the place here. |
Strike down pins at West Park Bowling
Address: 1205 Wellington St. W, Ottawa, ON K1Y 2Z8, Canada
Contact Details: +16137280933
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Friday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 2:00 am, Sunday, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Bowling at West Park Bowling is a timeless and enjoyable activity for adults in Ottawa. Established in 1946, it’s one of the city’s oldest bowling alleys.
The bowling alley largely conserved its lanes and system for decades before undergoing a total renovation in 2016. Lanes are now operated and equipped with computerized scoring and upgraded bowling equipment.
Bowlers can bowl during the day or join in their Rock N Bowl events every Friday and Saturday evenings (starting at 7:00 pm) wherein you and your friends can rent lanes, strike down pins, and boogie to disco or rock music for two hours (rates start at $90).
| Tips: West Park Bowling allows guests to join a league, regardless of their skill level. Leagues are helpful if you want to bowl with a group or learn together with other regular bowlers at West Park Bowl. The more you bowl in a league, the better chances you get at joining tournaments. League schedules usually fall in the morning, noon, and evening. |
Practice your aim at LaserMaxx Ottawa’s laser tag arena
Address: 1800 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1G 1A2, Canada
Contact Details: +16135264000
Operating Hours: Monday to Tuesday, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Wednesday to Thursday, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 12:00 am, Sunday, 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Laser tag is like paintball minus the painful hits, heavy gear, and paint splatter. If you’re looking for a pain-free alternative to paintball, you should consider bringing your friends to LaserMaxx Ottawa’s laser tag arena.
Players can play laser tag for one, two, or three missions with play times ranging from 40 minutes to two hours. Teams will be formed amongst you with rates starting at $11.99 per player.
If you’re coming with a large group, you can book LaserMaxx’s private group packages that include unlimited laser tag missions, access to a meeting lounge, exclusive use of the area, and the option to bring catering for two to three hours.
| Tips: LaserMAxx Ottawa hosts an Overnighters game option where players can stay and play laser tag from midnight to 6:00 am. This option is only available for private group bookings with a minimum player requirement of 20 people. Rates start at $39.99 per person. |
Escape from the world’s largest underground bunker
Address: 3929 Carp Rd, Ottawa, ON K0A 1L0, Canada
Contact Details: +16138390007
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
Did you know that Ottawa is home to the world’s largest underground escape room? Diefenbunker is a World War II underground bunker that now serves as both a museum and an escape room for brave adults.
The escape room experience is only available every Thursday to Sunday evening and offers two ways for people to escape it. The Covert Ops Mission takes you and your friends all over the bunker to find the communications room and stop a nuclear attack.
The Radioactive Mission is set on Level 100 of the bunker and you and your friends are tasked with escaping the depths after a radioactive explosion traps all of you down there.
| Tips: Guests who book tickets to any of the Diefenbunker escape room experiences receive free admission to the bunker’s museum. Guided tours are not included in the promo, but you’re free to roam around the exhibitions during the day of your escape room booking. Up to 12 individuals can enter the bunker simultaneously with a duration restricted to 60 minutes. |
Catch a late-night comedy show at Absolute Comedy
Address: 412 Preston St, Ottawa, ON K1S 4M9, Canada
Contact Details: +16132338000
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, show times start at 8:00 pm
Absolute Comedy welcomes adults for a night of laughter and good food. The comedy bar hosts comedy shows every night starting at 8:00 pm with shows starting as late as 10:00 pm for just $23.
If you’re hungry, Absolute Comedy offers a dinner package where you and your friends can enjoy an a la carte or dinner buffet for an additional $25 on top of your entrance ticket.
A few headliners and resident comedians at Absolute Comedy are Dylan Rhymer, Heather Hurst, Mayce Galoni, and Larry XL.
| Tips: The Dinner Package at Absolute Comedy requires at least a day’s notice for reservations and will only be available if there are at least 12 guests booked for the night. Dinner will be served two hours before showtime! All comedy shows are strictly for adults, as the content is intended for people ages 19 and older. |
Enjoy doing watersports and activities around Petrie Island
Address: 795 Tweddle Rd, Ottawa, ON K4A 3P4, Canada
Contact Details: +16135802595
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday, 10:30 am to 9:00 pm
Petrie Island is a beloved summer destination for adults in Ottawa seeking a refreshing escape from the city hustle. With its inviting sandy beaches, lush hiking trails, and charming picnic spots, it’s the perfect spot for a day of fun activities.
There are two beaches, East Bay and River Beach, located on the island. Both beaches are open from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm every day.
The calm waters provide ample opportunities for kayaking, paddleboarding, and canoeing. Boats and canoes are available for rent at the nearby Oziles Marina.
| Tips: You can only fish at designated fishing spots located across Petrie Island Park and Beach. During the winter, the management allows guests to go ice fishing. |
