Sunday Excursion - Sun-Tech Tomatoes

On Sunday we went to viisit the Sun-Tech greenhouses (http://www.suntech.ca/). I had thought of it a while back in the context of learning about local produce and researching where to buy fresh food - they grow tomatoes, cucumber, eggplant and beans. We learnt a few things (1) Sunday is actually the worst day to go because very few people are working and so there is really no one who can show you around.  Any other day is better - Saturdays are fine. That being said the 1 person who was working was willing enough to leave the shop and take us into the greenhouse...and she knew what she was talking about..  (2) Don't go if you're allergic to bees.  There are hundreds of bumblebees in the greenhouse.  They're friendly bees because they live in a great bee environment with lots of plants, but they are bees.  (3) Sun-Tech will be part of Doors Open Ottawa on June 5th and 6th.

If your children want to run around outside there is lots of space but I would still recommend combining this outing with something else - our choice was Watson's grist and flour Mill in Manotick (http://www.watsonsmill.com/).

Sunday Excursion - Parc Louis-Roy, Aylmer

It's a milestone - my kids' feet reach the ground at Dovercourt from the monkey bars!  We got a tip from a friend about a great play structure in Aylmer so we decided to hunt it down.  This was not just any playstructure and was well worth the trip.  It's located in Parc Louis-Roy in Aylmer (Gatineau).  It was built a year and a half ago by a company called Landscape Structures and it is awesome for older kids (eg. 5 -12). 

Not only is this structure great to play on but it's a lesson in physics as well.  Why do you stay on the super narrow slide with no sides?  How do you climb the spinning corkscrew?  Why do the tilted seats continue to spin without you pushing them?

The park is flanked by the charming older neighbourhood of Witchwood on one side and a new development on the other.  Paved walking paths lead from the new development and there are plenty of comfortable benches.  Toward Witchwood there is a wooded area if your children want to scamper down some short trails.   You can park on either side.  There is a playstructure and swings for the younger set as well.  People were friendly and it will give you a chance to break out your French.  Afterwards, have a walk through historic Aylmer, or drop by the beach/marina for some fresh air.

The park is about 20 minutes from Kitchissippi.  Take Island Park Drive to the Champlain Bridge.   Cross the bridge and turn left almost immediately on the lower Aylmer Road (Blvd de Lucerne).  Continue to rue des Grandes Chateaux and turn left (the house on the corner does have a castle-like turret that you can't miss).  Then take the first right onto rue Louis-Roy where there is street parking and paved pathways to the Park.  If you want to park on the Witchwood side, continue to rue Pine and turn left.  Turn left again at rue Juniper and you will be able to park at the barricade where the road ends (it continues as a paved pathway).  You may not see the play structure right away from this side but it is right behind the trees.  Have fun!

Sunday Excursions - Five Arch Bridge in Pakenham

If you have a grade 3 student they may be working on building a model bridge for a school project right now.  My son is doing an arch bridge.  On googling "arch + bridge + Ottawa" we found that North America's only operating five-arch stone bridge is in Pakenham so we went to see it.   

There are parking spots on both sides of the bridge and you can go right down to the water - though be careful - the water is fast and there are undertows so watch your kids!  If you stop on the east side of the bridge (pictured here) there is a plaque with the details of bridge construction (and reconstruction).  On the western side there are picnic benches.  The town itself hosts some small galleries (the Pakenham Studio Tour just happened to be on this weekend as well), several picturesque and historical churches, a General Store complete with fabulous smelling bakery and a restaurant with an enticing sign that reads "warm beer, bad food, come join us" (or something close).  In June, July or August stop by Cedar Hill Berry Farm to pick strawberries, raspberries or corn.  The town is also very close to Mt. Pakenham for skiing and Fulton's Sugarbush for when the snow is down or the sap is running.