Family Day is observed here in Ontario on the third Monday in February. It lands on February 21st this year and will be the perfect opportunity to spend the day outdoors with the family! Family Day is a way to shake the winter blues and let families reconnect, stay active and make the most of the winter.
This Family Day, what fun will you have with your loved ones? Below are a few ideas to help create a fantastic Family Day in Ottawa.
Visit a Park
The Ottawa area has many parks to choose from with a wide array of activities accessible at each one. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking are available in Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt. Further, there are trails within the city such as the Rideau Winter Trail, Britannia Winter Trail, and Ski Heritage East. Visit the NCC website to check trail conditions and which are best suited for the activity of your choice.
Hit the slopes
Skiing, snowboarding or tubing are great ways to be active and share some laughs with the family. In this area, we are fortunate to have many hills for downhill skiing and snowboarding. In fact, you don’t need to travel far to go tubing or even tobogganing within the city. Many neighbourhoods have good tobogganing hills but the greenbelt is also an easy travel to get into nature and have some fun!
Winterlude
Winterlude runs during the first 3 weeks of February every year. Additionally, the Rideau Canal is available for skating as well as many other public and community rinks. Take advantage of these resources to be active and be outside!
Lansdowne Park
Lansdowne Park is a world-class attraction located along the canal in Ottawa’s Glebe neighbourhood. It blends shops, restaurants, courtyards, heritage buildings, and green space. It features events and activities for all ages and all seasons. You can bike, run, walk and even skate to Lansdowne Park to take in several activities. In addition, the year-round Sunday Farmer’s Market is a great place for your family to start their day and then spend some time at the Lansdowne Park Skating Court.
Ottawa’s National Museums
The National Capital region is home to a substantial amount of Canadian history and culture. The myriad of museums and galleries offer a glimpse into everything from Canada’s social and military history, buildings that house impressive aircraft collections and explain technological breakthroughs, to astounding natural wonders and world-class art. Although museums are not open for in-person learning at this time, there are a ton of resources online to help you explore at home!
Six national museums located in Ottawa–Gatineau:
- Canada Agriculture and Food Museum
- Canada Aviation and Space Museum
- Canadian Museum of History
- Canadian Museum of Nature
- Canadian War Museum
- National Gallery of Canada
Healthy Family Habits
Family Day is a day to recognize the importance of family life for people and their communities. Having a special day to reconnect with loved ones is wonderful. But more importantly, staying connected and making family time and healthy habits all year round can be difficult if we don’t prioritize it.
Healthy habits start early in life and as adults and caregivers, we play an important role in guiding and coaching our children into establishing their lifelong habits. If these regular activities are established early as part of your family’s lifestyle they will just become the natural way you do things. Parents who make health a priority and are physically active are much more likely to encourage the same habits in their children. Keep in mind the power of modelling – your child learns mostly from what you do yourself, not from what you tell them to do.
Healthcare for the whole family
Chiropractic care, massage therapy, and physiotherapy are important components of a healthy lifestyle. From newborn babies to older adults, all spines can benefit from regular chiropractic care. Making sure the spine and nervous system are working in harmony for good health is important at all stages of life.
Our providers can help you and your body recover from injuries, achieve new goals, remain mobile and active, and live a healthy lifestyle. We provide our patients of all ages with supportive recommendations and tools to get back on track and reach new limits.
Young or mature, athlete or weekend warrior, retired or student, chiropractic care can help! No matter your reason for visiting, we are here for you and your family. Plan a healthy habit into your Family Day fun and make the time for chiropractic care for the whole family. We are open on Family Day at both locations for your and your loved ones’ health. Online booking is available on our website.
Whatever this Family Day brings, take the time to play. Play-days bring joy and keep us young. Get out, laugh out loud and have fun!
Happy Family Day.