A Twist on Tobogganing

If all goes well, you’ve got about six weeks left to make the most of winter in Ottawa. If you haven’t tried tubing, now is the time to get your boots on and jump on.

What is tubing, you ask? Imagine yourself at the top of a snowy hill. Now plunk yourself down into a large, bouncy inner tube, with your legs and arms draped over its sides. Scoot forward until you start to slide. Enjoy the ride!

In Ottawa, we’re spoiled for choice: there are at least four places (three of them ski hills) offering this fabulous winter activity that provides just the right level of adrenalin for kids. Choose your level of excitement, with runs ranging from mildly sloping hills to steeper, curvier runs that will have your inner tube spinning so you finish the ride backwards.

First, some tips on making the most of your outing:

• Pack lots of snacks.
• If your kids are old enough to ride the lift on their own, stuff a granola bar and some Kleenex in their pockets so they can snack and clean up their noses on the fly.
• Bring money for the inevitable hot chocolate break back at the lodge, or fill your own Thermos with some before you set out.
• Extra mitts are always a good idea, as are helmets.

How many hours are you good for? It really depends on your children’s ages, stamina and interest, but most will want to keep going for two or three hours. At all the places mentioned below, tubing is generally only open weekends and school holidays, so call ahead to check on availability.

Now, where to go? Our top pick would have to be Edelweiss Valley, the ski hill just beyond Wakefield, Quebec. Edelweiss offers eight different tubing runs and a chairlift, with tickets available in two-hour, four-hour or full-day blocks for kids of all ages, including the under-five set.

If you live in the west end, Mount Pakenham may be more convenient. You’ll find just two runs here, side by side (perfect for racing!) and no lift, so you can expect some tired children by the end of the day. Pakenham recommends kids be at least four years of age, but there is no official restriction. The scene is similar at Calabogie Peaks, also 50 minutes west of Ottawa. Kids should be at least 45 inches tall and weigh 44 pounds. Although there is only one run here, a magic carpet lift keeps the kids moving.

If you’d like a horse-drawn sleigh ride when you’re finished tubing, consider making a day of it at Le Domaine de L’Ange-Gardien, about 45 minutes east of Ottawa near Buckingham. This place has eight different runs and a tow lift, plus a large cafeteria. There’s a sugar shack open year-round for all-you-can-eat breakfasts (reservations required), and snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails are available, too.

Ski hills that also offer tubing are a great choice for families or groups where some want to ski and others don’t or can’t. You can head up together, split up for a few hours, reconvene for lunch, and head back out again.

It’s totally tubular!

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