Lilacs, the Snowbirds and discounts on cabins

Also, a circus festival, line dancing and the Great Glebe Garage Sale

A bouquet-making workshop in Russell and discounts on eco-cabins near Perth. A garden walk in Vankleek Hill and the Great Glebe Garage Sale. Lilac and circus festivals. Monster trucks and line dancing. A $10 discount on my guidebooks. And the chance to win a trip to Banff or Morocco! It’s all in this week’s newsletter.

Calendar of events: Lilacs, line dancing and the Great Glebe Garage Sale

From street parties in Hull and Glen Robertson to a circus festival in Ottawa, a bike fest in Montreal, book sales and plant sales, ballet and line dancing, lilacs and monster trucks, and ribs, comedy and the Great Glebe Garage Sale, this week’s calendar of events has more than 50 reasons for you to hop on your bike or into the car and do some exploring. Enjoy!

This week’s featured contest

The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is running a contest where the grand prize winner can choose one of two great prizes: skiing in Banff or exploring Morocco! Open to Canadian and American residents of legal age, with some restrictions. Enter by October 15, 2026.

Heads Up: Snowbirds, cabin discounts, bouquet workshop

This week's Heads Up post includes information on your last chance to see the Snowbirds (pictured above) in Gatineau, tickets to a bouquet-making workshop in Russell and a garden apothecary walk in Vankleek Hill, discounts on eco-cabins near Perth, a new non-stop flight from Ottawa to Kelowna, a Renfrew County driving itinerary, and more. Check it now to find out about VIA Rail discounts that are only available today (May 19). I even have the scoop on an ecstatic dance silent disco in Plantagenet! You’ll also find out how to save $10 on my guidebooks.

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And before I sign off this week

This week, it’s a very personal, non-travel selfie. This morning, I rang the gong at the General’s chemo unit for blood cancer patients. That means I’ve finished chemo!

There may be some minor maintenance treatments to come, but the hard part is over and the prognosis is excellent.

I’m SO looking forward to being back on the road and writing some new day tripping and weekend getaway posts for you!

In the meantime, here are a couple of Ottawa Road Trips posts from the past, in case you missed them:

• 10 things you didn’t know about Almonte

• Your complete guide to local cycling

Trying to find something from an earlier newsletter? You can read previous issues on the Ottawa Road Trips Substack page.

That’s it from me for now. I’ll be back in your in-box next week with more ideas. Until then, happy road tripping!

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.