With young kids quests in Ottawa

An hour at Britannia Beach

Skip the seawall loop. Sit or walk Britannia Beach until you can point at five hulls, birds, logs, or buildings without checking your phone.

An hour at Britannia Watersport Beach

Britannia Watersport Beach is Ottawa's public water south-west of centre, Ottawa. One hour. Five things on the waterline. No private docks.

An hour at Mooney's Bay Beach

Mooney's Bay Beach is Ottawa's public water south-east of centre, Ottawa. One hour. Five things on the waterline. No private docks.

An hour at Westboro Beach

Skip the seawall loop. Sit or walk Westboro Beach until you can point at five hulls, birds, logs, or buildings without checking your phone.

One loop of Annie Pootoogook Park

50 minutes in Annie Pootoogook Park (on Somerset Street East, north-east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Arlington Woods Park

Walk a single loop of Arlington Woods Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Bateman Park

Bateman Park (on Bateman Drive, south of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Ben Franklin Park East

Ben Franklin Park East (on Knoxdale Road, south of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Ben Franklin Park West

50 minutes in Ben Franklin Park West (on Gibbard Avenue, south of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Borden Farm Park

50 minutes in Borden Farm Park (south-east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Bruce Pit

Walk a single loop of Bruce Pit. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Cindy Mitchell Park

50 minutes in Cindy Mitchell Park (on Chapel Street, north-east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Clarke Memorial Centre

50 minutes in Clarke Memorial Centre (east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Craig Henry Park

Walk a single loop of Craig Henry Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Dominion Arboretum

Dominion Arboretum (east of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Gilbey Park

50 minutes in Gilbey Park (on Gilbey Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa): leave the parking lot behind, pick a bench, listen.

One loop of Inverness Park

Walk a single loop of Inverness Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Leslie Park

Walk a single loop of Leslie Park. Sit until you can name two non-traffic sounds, then leave by the same gate.

One loop of Nepean Creek Park

Nepean Creek Park (south-east of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Pinecrest Recreation Complex and Park

Pinecrest Recreation Complex and Park (on Torquay Avenue, south of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Raoul Wallenberg Park

Raoul Wallenberg Park (on Viewmount Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

One loop of Redpine Park

Redpine Park (on Redpine Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa) is larger than the postcard. One loop, one un-famous bench, two sounds that are not traffic.

Playground hour at Clare Gardens

Clare Gardens is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Émile Zola

Give Émile Zola (north-west of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Giver 150 playground

Giver 150 playground is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Greenlawn Playground

Give Greenlawn Playground (south-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Desjardins

Give Jeux d'eau Desjardins (on Rue Goyette, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Dupuis

Jeux d'eau Dupuis is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Laflèche

Give Jeux d'eau Laflèche (on Rue de Lausanne, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Larocque

Give Jeux d'eau Larocque (on Rue Fortier, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Louis-Roy

Give Jeux d'eau Louis-Roy (on Rue Louis-Roy, west of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Jeux d'eau Shamal

Give Jeux d'eau Shamal (on Rue du Shamal, north-west of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Banner Park

Give Splash Pad - Banner Park (on Banner Road, south-west of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Celebration Park

Splash Pad - Celebration Park is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Centrepointe Park

Give Splash Pad - Centrepointe Park (on Centrepointe Drive, south of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Charing Park

Give Splash Pad - Charing Park (on Chartwell Avenue, south of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Dr. John Hopps Park

Give Splash Pad - Dr. John Hopps Park (on Den Haag Drive, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Kilreen Park

Splash Pad - Kilreen Park is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Laroche Park

Give Splash Pad - Laroche Park (on Bayview Station Road, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Piazza Dante Park

Give Splash Pad - Piazza Dante Park (on Booth Street, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Plouffe Park

Give Splash Pad - Plouffe Park (on Somerset Street West, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - St. Ambroise Park

Splash Pad - St. Ambroise Park is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Playground hour at Splash Pad - Thornecliffe Park

Give Splash Pad - Thornecliffe Park (on Provender Avenue, north-east of centre, Ottawa) a full hour. Two pieces of equipment. No errands bolted on.

Playground hour at The Duck

The Duck is the quest, not a cafe next door. Stay until two pieces of kit have been used, then leave when you said you would.

Rain plan: Algonquin College Library

Rain plan at Algonquin College Library: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Bibliothèque Aurélien-Doucet

Bibliothèque Aurélien-Doucet (on Boulevard du Mont-Bleu, north of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Bibliothèque Maison du Citoyen

Bibliothèque Maison du Citoyen (on Rue Laurier, north-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Brian Dickson Law Library

Rain plan at Brian Dickson Law Library: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Christian Science Reading Room

Rain plan at Christian Science Reading Room: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Greenberg Families Library

Rain plan at Greenberg Families Library: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Morisset Library

Morisset Library (on Université Private, north-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Ottawa Public Library - Greenboro Branch

Ottawa Public Library - Greenboro Branch (on Lorry Greenberg Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Ottawa Public Library - Main Branch

Rain plan at Ottawa Public Library - Main Branch: one unfamiliar aisle, one sentence in a note, then back to the street.

Rain plan: Ottawa Public Library - Nepean Centrepointe Branch

Ottawa Public Library - Nepean Centrepointe Branch (on Centrepointe Drive, south-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Ottawa Public Library - St-Laurent Branch

Ottawa Public Library - St-Laurent Branch (on Côté Street, north-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: Ottawa Trans Library

Ottawa Trans Library (north-east of centre, Ottawa) is a free indoor room. Pick one shelf you have never stood in front of. Leave with one sentence from a book you will not buy.

Rain plan: one room at Bank of Canada Museum

Indoor weather plan at Bank of Canada Museum. One room. Three objects. Out the front door.

Rain plan: one room at Billings Estate Museum

Indoor weather plan at Billings Estate Museum. One room. Three objects. Out the front door.

Rain plan: one room at Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

Indoor weather plan at Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. One room. Three objects. Out the front door.

Rain plan: one room at Canada Aviation and Space Museum

Canada Aviation and Space Museum (on promenade de l'Aviation Parkway, north-east of centre, Ottawa): pick one room, stay until you can name three objects, leave. Not a gift-shop outing.

Rain plan: one room at Musée canadien de l'histoire

Indoor weather plan at Musée canadien de l'histoire. One room. Three objects. Out the front door.

Rain plan: one room at Museum of Classical Antiquities

Museum of Classical Antiquities (on Laurier Avenue East, north-east of centre, Ottawa): pick one room, stay until you can name three objects, leave. Not a gift-shop outing.

Rain plan: one room at Parliament: The Immersive Experience

Parliament: The Immersive Experience (north-east of centre, Ottawa): pick one room, stay until you can name three objects, leave. Not a gift-shop outing.

Rain plan: one room at Vanier Museopark

Indoor weather plan at Vanier Museopark. One room. Three objects. Out the front door.