Flashback: Take Your Rubber Boots (Parc Omega)

Originally posted on March 31, 2011.

It's not everyday you get pulled over by a Wapiti. 

And it wasn't for speeding either - it was for carrots.

Want to see animals up close and personal?  Take a trek to Parc Omega.  It's a great time of year for a visit.

Why?

• It's not crowded;
• The weather's pleasant again and we all need to get outside (yes, there are walks), or at least outside the City;
• There are deer roaming around freely in the woods surrounding the walking trail found at the half-way point of the drive;

• There are BABIES.  Ever see a baby wild boar?  Adorable!  And yes they change to not-so-adorable later in life, so you do want to have a look in the springtime.
• Black Bears are out of hibernation - we must have seen a total of about 20; clearly they wanted to be out of their caves and in the sunshine as much as we do!  And yes, the bears are behind a fence and you stay in your car;
• The habitats are open and natural;

(This is the Mother!)

• There's a Sugarbush (new this year) complete with maple syrup hardened to a toffee consistency and pans of waiting snow; Incredibly sweet.

Key Facts: 

• It's about a 1 hour drive from Ottawa; see http://www.parc-omega.com/ for directions; 80 km but smaller roads;
• If you go on the Ontario side you can add in a ferry ride from Cumberland to Masson-Angers for added excitement;
• Entrance fees at this time of year are $14 for adults, $10 for 6-15 year olds and $2 for 2-5 year olds;
• You cannot take the family dog (or other pet);
• You need to take lots of carrots!  We took 3 bags per child.  Two probably would have done it but one would have been completely inadequate.  You can also buy them there;
• Although the route through the Park is only about 10 km you do need a few hours for the SLOW drive;  Lots of stopping and feeding.
• Driving a standard that slow for a long time can be tedious
• The roads aren't paved, and they are muddy and have ruts - if you have an "older" car, take it