Sustainable Travel: Fun Ideas for a Sustainable and Eco-friendly Getaway to Ottawa
Sustainable travel has become increasingly important to destinations and to travellers, and more travellers than ever are looking for ways to reduce their footprint while contributing to the communities they visit. Respecting the environment, local culture and heritage, minimizing the negative impacts and maximizing positive ones are all important in travelling sustainably. By staying in eco-friendly accommodations, taking shared transportation, respecting local culture and communities, supporting local businesses and eating local food, you too can travel responsibly while having an unforgettable experience. Plan your next trip to Ottawa and include these ideas to enjoy a sustainable and eco-friendly getaway.
Sustainable Ottawa Attractions
Rideau Canal Boat Cruise
No trip to Ottawa is complete without exploring the world-famous Rideau Canal. A UNESCO world heritage site, the Rideau Canal winds 202 km from Kingston to Ottawa through a series of lakes, rivers and locks. Hop on the Rideau Canal Boat Cruise’s all electric boat and discover the canal from downtown Ottawa to Dow’s Lake, sightseeing historical landmarks along the way. The Rideau Canal Boat Cruise’s boat is North America’s largest 100% electric passenger vessel and is the only one of its kind, making it an environmentally friendly way to explore this historic waterway.
Ottawa Art Galleries
A city’s character is often defined by its local art and culture, and there’s no better way to discover Ottawa’s personality than by visiting one of Ottawa’s creativity-filled art galleries.
The National Gallery of Canada, with its awe-inspiring architecture and variety of Canadian art is a must for art lovers. Don’t miss the Indigenous Galleries, Water Court, Garden Court, Rideau Chapel, the stunning Great Hall and a variety of rotation special exhibitions from Canadian and International artists.
Located in downtown, The Ottawa Art Gallery, is a delightful place to get a taste of local art from the Ottawa region, as well as iconic Canadian art from new and emerging artists. Admission is free and exhibits rotate regularly, so there are also new pieces of art to discover. If you’re looking for some souvenirs to take home, the OAG store is full of great gifts for art lovers from local, regional and national artists, and definitely worth a stop.
Bike Rentals and Tours
Escape Bicycle Tours
One of most sustainable and eco-friendly ways for a sightseeing adventure in Ottawa is exploring by bike. Escape Bicycle Tours, just steps away from Parliament Hill, offers private and group guided tours around the capital as well as bike, e-bike, and electric scooter rentals for those who want a self-guided experience. Their tours include not only the classic sightseeing tour, but specialty tours like their Bike and Boat tour, Peddle and Paddle combo, Bike and Spa Tour and our favourite the Bikes and Bites tour, which makes stops at culinary hidden gems throughout the city.
RentABike
Conveniently located right beside the Rideau Canal locks directly on the Rideau Canal pathway, RentABike provides bicycle rentals for people of all ages. Zip around the city to explore major attractions and secret hidden gems while diving into the city’s culture, nature and history. Choose from a selection of carbon or aluminum road bikes, mountain bikes, and kids bikes and explore over 800 km of multi-use pathways around Ottawa. Pick from one of their route maps to explore the city, or choose your own adventure, then head off the beaten path for an adventure on two wheels. If you’re looking for a guided experience, they also offer guided sightseeing tours as well as bike tours focussed on speed and distance for avid bikers wanting a high intensity ride.
Paddling Ottawa’s Waterways
Rideau Canal
Paddling one of Ottawa’s stunning waterways, which are endowed with natural beauty throughout the city, is one of the best ways to enjoy and appreciate the natural environment of the capital. If you’re looking for a relaxing day on the water, or are new to paddling, then head to Dow’s Lake and explore the world-famous Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World heritage site and one of the city’s top attractions. Dow’s Lake Pavilion provides canoe, solo and tandem kayaks, stand-up paddleboard and paddle boat rentals by the hour, including all safety equipment. Paddle your way down the canal flanking the Dominion Arboretum to the Hartwell locks, or take in the sights around Dow’s Lake on a hot summer day. For those who want the full sightseeing adventure, spend a half-day exploring the canal all the way up to Parliament Hill, exploring cool sights along the way including Paterson Creek, TD place, the Shaw Centre and Fairmont Chateau Laurier.
Ottawa River
For iconic views of the Ottawa skyline and cool waterfalls, as well as historic and cultural sites, head to the Ottawa River for an eco-friendly self-propelled adventure by boat. Location Escape provides kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals on the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River at Jacques Cartier Park, as well as guided tours and paddling lessons. Head east and check out the amazing Rideau Falls, at the convergence of the Rideau and Ottawa rivers, or venture under the Alexandra Bridge west for beautiful views of Parliament, the Rideau Canal Locks, Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Canadian Museum of History, the Supreme Court of Canada and Victoria Island.
If you haven’t had your fill of paddling, there are other great spots to paddle around the capital including the Rideau River and Meech Lake in Gatineau Park. Both locations offer rentals and spectacular paddling opportunities surrounded by nature.
Hiking in the Ottawa Region
Gatineau Park
One of the most popular places for hiking in the Ottawa region is the popular Gatineau Park, only minutes away from downtown Ottawa. With over 165 km of hiking trails to choose from, this massive 361-square kilometres natural area provides opportunities for wildlife viewing, scenic viewpoints and historic sites. Visit the Mackenzie King ruins, the former residence of prime minister Mackenzie King, explore the beautiful Pink Lake trail with its unique ecosystem and emerald green waters, or venture onto the King Mountain trail, a great trail for avid hikers leading up to an epic lookout point. Other spots not to miss are Meech Lake, a serene spot for hiking, picnicking and paddling, and the Carbide Wilson Ruins, a hidden gem deep in the forest which is worth the hike.
Ottawa’s Greenbelt and Multi-use Pathways
If you have access to a vehicle, there are numerous other hiking trails and pathways around the periphery of the city. Some of our favorites include Mer Bleue Bog, Pine Grove Trail, Stony Swamp and Shirley’s Bay. If you want to stay closer to town there are numerous trails right in the city including the Ottawa River Pathway, the Rideau Canal pathway, Voyageurs pathway and the Rideau River pathway.
Cool places to Shop Sustainably
Ottawa Antique, Vintage and Consignment Stores
Shopping sustainably allows you to reduce waste, while supporting local small businesses and the local economy. If you’re an avid antique hunter, Ottawa has a vibrant antique scene with numerous local retailers where you can discover some amazing hidden gems to add to your collection. Check out our guide to antiquing in the capital here.
If you’re a fashionista in search of vintage clothing and accessories to update your look, or looking for that one-of-a-kind hidden statement piece, shopping at Ottawa’s Vintage and Consignment Stores is a great way to be fashionable in a sustainable way. From high end handbags and designer shoes, to quirky costume pieces and everyday wear, Ottawa has a plethora of cool vintage and consignment stores where you can shop pre-loved fashion, instead of buying new. Check out our guide to the best consignment and vintage stores in Ottawa for the best vintage shopping in the capital.
NU Grocery
A unique grocery store leading the way in sustainability is NU Grocery, Ottawa’s first zero waste grocery store. Offering over 700 package-free products, their carefully curated selection of goods includes locally sourced and organic foods; everything from cereal to toothpaste. Bring your own containers, use a paper bag, or borrow a jar, and stock up on the essentials in an eco-friendly way.
Afrotechture
A unique store created to showcase vibrant black Canadian artisans, Afrotechture is a great place to shop to help support local black-owned businesses. From luxurious beauty products to African inspired fashion and home décor, there is no shortage of amazing items to pick up for yourself, or as gifts for friends and family. Some great businesses to check out are Eight50 Coffee, offering responsibly sourced, organic Ethiopian fair-trade coffee, Chakou Collection with their beautiful collection of African Princess dolls, Baccanalle Foods’ Caribbean inspired spices and marinades, and Twenty20 Skincare’s collection of velvety body butters made with shea butter from Ghana.
Mādahòkì Farm
Mādahòkì Farm’s year-round Indigenous Marketplace is a unique place that promotes products made by Indigenous artisans, and is a great spot to pick up Indigenous-made items that help support local Indigenous-owned businesses in the region. Browse the beautiful selection of dream catchers, unique artwork, quill boxes, sweetgrass candles, maple syrup, traditional medicine, jewelry, accessories and home décor. If you can’t make it to the farm, many items can be purchased online, all year long.
Sustainable Food and Drink
Choosing to eat and drink sustainably helps to reduce waste, carbon-emissions and support environmentally-conscious businesses. Ottawa has many notable businesses leading the way in sustainability, while at the same time offering up some amazing food and drink products you can feel good about consuming.
Vodkow
Reducing their environmental footprint and creating great tasting products is at the core of Dairy Distillery’s mission. Their innovative product, Vodkow, is made by transforming a dairy biproduct called milk permeate into a delicious carbon neutral vodka. The vodka is also mixed with fresh Canadian cream to create a variety of tasty cream liqueurs. The bottles used for Vodkow also contribute to reducing their carbon footprint, weighing on average 50% less than other glass vodka bottles, thus decreasing the amount send to landfills and recycling plants. Made from scratch at their distillery in Almonte, Vodkow products are an innovative and sustainable choice to add to your cocktail list or morning coffee. You can pick up products at many farmers markets around the city as well as at the LCBO.
Birch Bark Coffee
Roasting organic, fair trade and SPP certified coffee since 2018, Birch Bark Cofffee Co. is an Indigenous-owned coffee company brewing up high quality coffee and social change. Each unique blend has a name symbolic of important elements and symbols of Indigenous culture, paying tribute to owner Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow’s Ojibwe roots. Inspired by his local community in the Whitefish River First Nation, Mark’s purpose is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by bringing clean drinking water to First Nations communities across Canada. For every 100 bags of coffee sold in store, and every 50 bags sold online, Birch Bark Coffee provides one home with a certified water purification unit purchased and installed for free. Popular blends include the Summer Solstice dark roast, Coureurs des Bois medium roast and Dream Catcher decaf, which can be found in numerous stores, cafés and shops across Ottawa.
Vegetarian and Vegan-friendly Restaurants in Ottawa
Any visitor to Ottawa will want to dive into the capital’s vibrant culinary scene. If you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just want to indulge in healthy, plant-based meals, you’ll find a variety of delicious meatless options in restaurants, bakeries and cafés throughout the Ottawa region. Not only is a vegetarian diet great for maintaining good health, but plant-based diets are also eco-friendly, emitting 2.5-times less carbon than a diet containing meat. Eat your way sustainably through the capital and check out our guide to the best vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in Ottawa.
Fluid Coffee Roasters
A small business packing a powerful sustainable punch is Fluid Coffee Roasters. Located in the town of Clayton, just outside Ottawa, Fluid Coffee Roasters purchases small batch coffee directly from farms and small-scale suppliers around the globe. They pay their producers a minimum of 50% more than fair trade prices, giving back to farmers in the source communities. Perhaps the most unique attribute of this innovative coffee company is that their beans are roasted using 100% renewable resources. Their roaster is 100% powered by solar power (supplemented by power generated by a wind-turbine during the darker months), and it takes about 11 minutes of sunlight to roast 8 pounds of coffee.
Fluid Coffee Roaster’s coffee bags are compostable and they deliver their coffee using an electric vehicle, making it one of the most sustainable cups of java you’ll ever taste. You can grab a cup at many Ottawa cafés and restaurants including Planet Coffee, Pure Kitchen, Ottawa Bike Café, Charlotte, and Wild Oat Bakery. You can also purchase bags at local retailers like Herb and Spice and Thyme & Again.
Ottawa Farmers’ Markets
Shopping at local farmers’ markets is a great way to support local makers and producers. As the only year-round producer-only farmers’ market in Ottawa, the Ottawa Farmers’ Market at Lansdowne Place is the place to go for fresh produce, plants, local crafts and unique finds. You’ll find local coffee roasters, honey producers, vintners, soap makers, chocolatiers, sugar bushes, sauce makers and artisans of all kinds. There are also some great on-site spots for a quick bite, including gourmet grilled cheeses, fresh squeezed lemonade, and delicious homemade samosas. Located outside in the summer from May to October on weekends, and in the historic Aberdeen Pavilion in the winter (Sundays only), the market only allows locally-sourced products from within a 100 km distance of Ottawa, so you know everything you take away is sourced from local small businesses.
There are several other farmers’ markets around the city that are open daily and operate on a seasonal basis. The two most notable are the ByWard Market farmers’ market and the Parkdale Market offering great local produce and fresh foods from the Ottawa region. They also hold occasional night markets with additional specialty vendors, as well as live entertainment from local musicians and performers.
Eco-friendly Ottawa Hotels
Brookstreet Hotel
As one of Ottawa’s greenest hotels, the Brookstreet hotel is committed to sustainability, and is a great place to stay when visiting Ottawa. Recognizing the importance of managing the environmental impact of business activities, the Brookstreet has a four out of five rating for the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-rating, and participates in the Green Key Global Eco-Rating and Green Key Meetings Programs. The hotel has chosen 100% low-impact renewable electricity from Bullfrogpower (Canada’s leading 100% green electricity power), and offers a number of electric vehicle charging stations for its guests.
To reduce paper waste, every guest is given access to PressReader where over 2000 daily newspapers and magazines can be downloaded, and their Perspective restaurant has moved to an ipad only wine list. Any printed materials for the hotel use papers exclusively made with a water-free eco-press and vegetable-based inks. Additional sustainability initiatives include a discount on hot beverages when you bring your own mug, the use of Vivreau Pure Water to reduce bottled water usage, and sourcing from local producers to support the agricultural economy.
Ramada Ottawa
One of only two carbon-neutral hotels in Ontario, and the only one in Ottawa, the Ramada Ottawa is one of the top sustainable hotel options in the capital. Located near the historic Rideau River in the city’s south end, the Ramada Ottawa was the first carbon neutral company in Canada, holds the Wyndham Green certification, and participates in the Green Key Eco-Rating Program, which measures a property's impact on the environment, community, cultural-heritage, and the local economy. With 87 guest rooms, complimentary breakfast, a seasonal outdoor pool, free airport shuttle, and access to canoes, kayaks and pedal boats, , it’s a hotel you can feel good about supporting.
Sustainable ways to get to Ottawa
Train and Bus
Travelling by train or bus allows you to reduce your carbon footprint by sharing the carbon emissions from travel with other passengers. Ottawa is easily accessible by VIA Rail, a comfortable and eco-friendly way to travel. They offer service from most major cities, with multiple trips per day from hubs like Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City.
There are several bus services available to Ottawa including Flix Bus (from Toronto, Montreal, London and Vancouver) and Mega Bus (from Kingston and Toronto). Red Arrow is a new bus service (connecting destinations within Ontario and Alberta), which provides a more premium travel experience, similar to VIA Rail. They offer reclining leather seats, fold-down tray tables, complimentary snacks and drinks, optional single-aisle seating, advanced seat selection, and charging stations at every seat.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Ottawa
If you’re already sustainability-minded and own your own electric vehicle, there is a good network of electric vehicle charging stations in Ottawa. There are 223 public charging station ports (level 2 and 3) within 15 km of the city, 46% of which offer free charges for your electric car. Check out this handy charging station map.
