Arboretum At the Central Experimental Farm

Nice and big park in the middle of the city. Perfect for walks! Many people bring their dogs, and often they are off-​leash. I don’t have a problem with that, but if you have a dog just be mindful of that fact. Also, I’ve seen people not clean up after their dogs which makes me a little mad because you don’t want to wake in dog poop.
Anyway, I had my wedding here 3 weeks ago. It’s a bit of work to get approval to get married here and the government agency or the lady you have to ask doesn’t encourage or promote events/​weddings here. Lots of things you can’t do including bringing chairs, etc. We were a dozen people and had a short ceremony so for us it was perfect. I also recommend checking out Fletcher Gardens adjacent to the property and the ornamental gardens across the road. Both are stunning and have a huge assortment of flowers. Parking can be a little tricky to find, but there is some free parking spots here and there.

Everyone should go here at least once I brought some family last week and the kids just loved it it really is just so beautiful.

One of my favourite places in Ottawa. Beautiful trees, very clean park. Bike trails run through it making it ideal for joggers, bikers and rollerbladers. Beautiful views overlooking Mooney’s Bay, The Canal, Carleton University, and the locks. You can cross the locks onto Colonel By and also to get to Carleton University. There are two free parking lots in the Arboretum, however parking spots are limited and sometimes it is hard to find a spot.

A beautiful area, central to almost everything and not usually overcrowded. I love bringing my dog here, or just going there to read. Even better, it’s a great place for a date.
My only issue is the ever looming possibility of being fined because the Arboretum is part of Agriculture Canada and they make the rules. Technically dogs aren’t allowed off leash, but everyone does it anyway. Just be sure to keep an eye out for «authorities».
Bring the kids, dog, wife, picnic gear and have a great time. Heck, some people even fish along the Canal section of the Arboretum.

This is a massive chunk of land located smack dab in the middle of central Ottawa.
There’s a huge dog park at the Central Experimental Farm and a petting farm where you can take kids to learn all about farm animals but probably the neatest feature at the farm is the arboretum.
The trees and vegetation are spectacular and many of them are quite rare. In the spring the blossoms are amazing at the farm and if you’re looking for a place for a picnic in Ottawa this has to be at or near the top of the list.
The farm is also quite accessible as there are bus routes that pass through it and you should be able to find parking (which I believe is free). An even better option is to rent a bike from downtown Ottawa and take it down the canal and finish your ride at the farm.
The farm also has winter activities although it’s quite exposed in the winter and is notorious for being one of the windiest spots in Ottawa with large snow drifts along Prince of Wales Drive and Baseline Road so bundle up if you go!

This is my favourite park in downtown Ottawa: it’s absolutely gorgeous. Many of the trees are incredibly old, including some that date back to the late 19^th century. There are a huge variety of tree and shrub species, my favourites being the crab trees (when in bloom) and the dozens of weeping willows that line the waterway. You can even climb onto the extended flat thick branches that reach out over the water. I’ve even seen people fishing off these areas.
The arboretum is pretty large with lots of different areas to have picnics, read, play frisbee, or take your children or pets. It’s also apparently a great place to go sledding in the winter.
This area has been so beautifully sustained and it’s great for all seasons. This is one of the best green spaces in Ottawa, and that’s saying a lot.