Fall Activities in Ottawa for the Chronically Ill
Photo by Alex Motoc
Photo showing dried leaves in a pile. Leaves are many shades of brown and red.
Fall is that wonderful time where nature shows off and the oppressive summer heat abates, and everyone goes out to do fun enjoyable fall activities.
As a chronically ill person, my fall activities are limited to things that I can do from the comfort of my home or things that don’t require too much exertion (no I’m not going to go hiking to see the leaves in Gatineau Park, stop asking).
I’ve tried to find a variety of activities in terms of effort, cost, accessibility so I hope you find something that works for you and your family and friends.
1. Visit a pumpkin patch
Photo by James Wheeler
Photo showing pumpkins in a green pumpkin patch
There are a few pumpkin patches like Fosters Farm around the city that you can visit by car to take lovely fall pictures for Instagram. You can also sit on the hay bales while enjoying the ambience or you can grab pumpkins and hay to decorate your front porch or balcony
Be sure to get pumpkins to make a delicious pumpkin inspired cookies, pies, or loaves. You can also expand on your visit by grabbing fresh produce or you can even take a haunted hayride at Saunders Farm for their annual Fright Fest.
2. Do a haunted car ride with Deadwood Ottawa
Photo by Zengxiao Lin
Photo showing forest at night with fog in the background
If you’re looking for something scarier from the comfort of your own vehicle, you can try out Deadwood Ottawa. The ride lasts 20 minutes though a trail of scary attractions at the Wesley Clover Park Campgrounds. Tickets will run you $56.94 all in so it’s not the cheapest activity but it is a spooky thing to do while being cozy in a warm car.
3. Try an escape room
Photo by Roman Denisenko
Photo showing hallway with open door on the right and closed door straight ahead lit by a red light.
I know it’s not a hot ticket item like it was in 2016 but hear me out—at 45 minutes and $28.25 all in, it’s a low-key activity that fits the bill for spooky season. Escape Manor has a lot of horror themed rooms and they also have an immersive film experience if you are feeling like a drive 20 minutes away from downtown Ottawa. The location for the film experience is a secret until the day of (for added spookiness) and it seems like there would be lots of opportunities to sit and enjoy the festivities. If you are limited by transportation, they have virtual escape rooms that can be done at home.
4. Sign up for a fall themed plant workshop
Photo by Hillary Ungson
Photo showing bunches of green plants on a table. A person is holding pruning shears and thread and a wreath is also on the table. The wreath is designed with the green plants and a few white flowers.
If you want something to do in the comfort of your home that will get your creative juices flowing, a plant workshop at Flowers Talk Tivoli might do the trick. Prices range from $50 to $125 for wreaths, terrariums, floral hoops, and garlands. Each kit is prepared for you to pick up or it can be mailed to you via Canada Post. Feel free to involve friends and family and snacks to make a fun evening of designing your own plant products.
5. Visit the Lansdowne Farmers’ Market
Photo by Ralph (Ravi) Kayden
Photo showing summer squahses, candy onions, shishito peppers and zucchini in crates with various prices.
This market at Lansdowne in the Glebe is a lovely way to get seasonal fruits and vegetables and support small businesses. The summer market ends October 31st, but they also have a November market that runs on Sundays, so you still have some time to make it there before the end of fall. The market isn’t too large, so you don’t have to walk for hours if you don’t want to. You can also identify the places you would like to visit and head straight to those booths when you get on site.
6. Halloween Movie Marathon
Photo by JESHOOTS.com
Photo showing white woman reclining with remote in left hand and eating popcorn. The woman is laughing.
You know how this goes—Movies, Snacks, Company. It’s a classic for a reason.
As with any activity it’s important to know your limits. Make sure to prepare for your time out with all your mobility aids and medications. There are other activities like apple picking that require a bit more walking or hiking in parks to see leaves. If you feel up to it, check out some ideas from Little Miss Ottawa who has hidden spots that you can visit around the city. Most of the activities listed require some sort of travel via car so if you don’t have access to transportation, I hope some of the at home activities are worthwhile for you.
