Teen birthday party idea: Room Escape

My twins turned sixteen this year, and for the first time in a few years, they wanted something a little more than pizza and cake at our house. My whole family is a big fan of escape rooms, and since we’d had a great time at Room Escape in the past, we headed back!

How does it work?

Room Escape is in a shared building with Archery Games, so you can try either adventure while you’re there.

They have seven physical escape rooms (of varying levels of difficulty), and what we like about these specific ones is that they are more permanent and well-built than many of the other ones.

You have an hour to escape and figure out all the different puzzles in the room

When you arrive, you are first asked to wait in a holding area until your room is ready (it’s also a great photo op!). You are then brought into a small room where the rules of the escape room are explained to you. Then you’re introduced to the story you are going to be solving.

Once you are in, you have one hour to solve the room - there is a TV screen in the room that keeps time for you. You have a walkie-talkie to ask for unlimited clues, and you are also given the option of a clue hint sheet

My kids chose Outbreak, which had a 4/5 difficulty level. I was a bit nervous that without any adults in the room they would struggle, but they got out with time to spare (something I often haven’t been able to do!)

I’m also told this is one of the scarier rooms, but the teens said it wasn’t really that scary at all :) ( They also really appreciated the technology components to this room.)

The cost is $31/player and you don’t share the room with anyone other than the group you came with. If your kids are under 10 they will require an adult in the room with them, but there is no charge for that person.

You can easily book your session online through their website.

The staff

I even got to see them escaping the room through the front desk’s monitoring system! :)

The staff were amazing. They were friendly and engaging with the teens, and I particularly enjoyed that they gave me little updates on how they were doing while I was waiting in the front lounge area (they have lots of picnic tables to sit at and there is also a bar to go to - as long as there isn’t a private event happening).

From the mouth of the teens

« I had the wonderful chance to do this escape room with my friends for my birthday party. I love a challenge, and this escape room was excellent! The details were intricate, and the puzzles were original but not too hard. I loved the various details and types of puzzles, including many interactive puzzles. The instructions on how to complete the puzzles were clear, and the many moving elements made it feel like you were truly immersed in the story. Whether it was someone talking to you or something moving, it was extremely fun! »

« The escape room was a very fun group experience that I would love to do again. It was interactive and immersive. The sound effects of Bryan, our computer companion, were super cool, and we always had something to do. The puzzles were challenging but not impossible, and I really liked that the room had two levels because it made the experience more realistic. »

« I thought it was very immersive and had very cool set design.  »

Check Room Escape out!

Disclaimer: We were gifted passes to Room Escape, but all viewpoints are our own.

Chutes Coulonge Aerial Adventure Park

One aspect of the modern world that fascinates me is to see the laborious parts of our past become leisure in the present. For thousands of years, most people farmed to survive, and now, agro tourism has arisen. Chutes Coulonge is another example of this trend. Having supported the region with its waterfalls that transported the fruits of a booming logging industry, it is now the beautiful site of an aerial adventure park. I recently visited Chutes Coulonge to experience this scenic part of history. 

I got strapped in, and began heading to the river. We climbed down the ladder on the edge of the cliff, where I first saw the beautiful view of the rapids below and the mountains around. I would be seeing this canyon from all angles throughout the morning. My guide gave instructions on how to grab the zipline, and then use my glove to slow myself down near the end following a signal. Once I understood, it was time to go.

On my first run, I was able to feel the mist from the waterfall as I flew across the canyon, spending a few seconds appreciating my surroundings before looking ahead for my sign to stop. I put my glove down and smoothly arrived at the opposite mountain, where I was unhooked. The first of three zipline runs went smoothly. 

We then took a quick hike up and down the rugged terrain to get to the next zipline. After a few minutes, we arrived and I attached my harness. On my guide’s signal, I was released over the river, and again looked at the scenery around as I hurtled to the platform. After a few seconds, I landed where my first guide met me. 

It was now time for the via ferrata, but in order to get to the cliff face, we had to traverse the first zipline once more. At this point, I was getting comfortable with the hooking and unhooking, so this third run was the easiest yet. Now that we were done with ziplines, it was to maneuver the exposed Canadian shield above the river.

The way the via ferrata worked was simple. One of my two clips had to be attached to a hook at all times, slowly moving along the path by switching hooks. We slowly made our way along the side of the cliff, pausing at times to see the scenery around us. The via ferrata lasted around 20 minutes, offering a unique view not comparable to anything else.

After finishing the via ferrata and being back on land, I decided to check out the physical features that give the park its name- the waterfalls. On a wooden platform, I observed the magnificent waterfalls which fueled the rapids I had been seeing all day. Having been formed in the ice age, these waterfalls were the driving force of the local economy in the 19th century with log drives. 

Once I was out of my harness, we learned that people can also stay overnight at Chutes Coulonge. Although we would be heading back that same day, we decided to check out one of the yurts that can accommodate up to 6 visitors at a time. Inside, there were bunk beds, a fireplace, and other amenities. It has the perfect balance between modern comfort and access to nature for an overnight stay, particularly for large groups.

Finally, we checked out the logging museum which covered the history of how this site was used. From transporting wood, to attracting tourists, the Coulonge waterfalls have played a critical role in the region's history.. 

If you too want to see some great views, have an adrenaline rush, learn some history, and maybe even stay overnight, check out Chutes Coulonge park in Pontiac, Quebec. Via Ferrata Packages including zip lines are between $94-$134, while the kids adventure park is $44-$69. The yurts cost $160 per night, with up to 6 people staying and splitting the bill. For more information, click here.

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. David received free tickets to experience this activity but all thoughts are his own.

Teen Fun at an Ottawa Blackjacks Game

I am a fan of all sorts of sports. I always keep up with the NHL drafts and watched the Copa America earlier this summer. Because of this interest, I love watching games in person. 

When it comes to basketball, though, the nearest NBA games are in Toronto. Fortunately, there exists a Canadian league, the CEBL. Thanks to this, I recently got to see some more local talent at a game between the Ottawa Blackjacks and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Ottawa.

We arrived at Lansdowne Park in the evening, with restaurants booming with business and a vibrant atmosphere. After we passed through security and to our seats, we watched the Blackjacks warm up while music was playing. After a bit, the national anthem played, and the game began.

Like all basketball, it was fast-paced back and forth on the court, with the enthusiastic Ottawa crowd cheering whenever we got a point and jeering during penalties against us. You could especially feel the admiration of the crowd whenever an impressive play was made. The second period ended on a nailbiter, with Ottawa and Scarborough neck and neck in score. 

At halftime, I went to get some popcorn and soda before heading back to my seat. The game went on, and while the Blackjacks gradually lost the advantage, the crowd remained supportive and energetic. It was nice seeing all the capital spirit. 

While Ottawa unfortunately lost in a final score of 92-79, I still had a great time supporting a team from close to home. All in all, it was a great evening and a perfect experience for teens interested in sports from the Capital region. 

There will also be many more home games in the 2025 season starting in May of next year, with early bird season tickets available until August 16. For more information, click here. 

When it comes to basketball, though, the nearest NBA games are in Toronto. Fortunately, there exists a Canadian league, the CEBL. Thanks to this, I recently got to see some more local talent at a game between the Ottawa Blackjacks and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Ottawa.

We arrived at Lansdowne Park in the evening, with restaurants booming with business and a vibrant atmosphere. After we passed through security and to our seats, we watched the Blackjacks warm up while music was playing. After a bit, the national anthem played, and the game began.

Like all basketball, it was fast-paced back and forth on the court, with the enthusiastic Ottawa crowd cheering whenever we got a point and jeering during penalties against us. You could especially feel the admiration of the crowd whenever an impressive play was made. The second period ended on a nailbiter, with Ottawa and Scarborough neck and neck in score. 

At halftime, I went to get some popcorn and soda before heading back to my seat. The game went on, and while the Blackjacks gradually lost the advantage, the crowd remained supportive and energetic. It was nice seeing all the capital spirit. 

While Ottawa unfortunately lost in a final score of 92-79, I still had a great time supporting a team from close to home. All in all, it was a great evening and a perfect experience for teens interested in sports from the Capital region. 

There will also be many more home games in the 2025 season starting in May of next year, with early bird season tickets available until August 16. For more information, click here. 

David is a fifteen-year-old aspiring adventure and travel writer living in Ottawa.  Skydiving is on his bucket list. David received free toclets to experience this activity but all thoughts are his own.

Rafting on Rouge River with Propulsion Rafting

It is now well into summertime in Ottawa. meaning it's time to squeeze out as many warm weather activities as possible before we return to the nine months of cool Canadian weather.

As soon as I wrapped up exams, one activity in particular was on my mind - rafting. With rough but refreshing waves, forested scenery and a healthy dose of adrenaline, this is the perfect summer activity for adventurous teens. I recently spent an afternoon on the rapids of Propulsion Rafting. 

We arrived at Propulsion rafting shortly after lunchtime. Driving in, we could see a fleet of rafts from the morning tour bouncing in the rapids; we later learned that the tide was particularly high that day, so our experience would be very intense. We were early, but luckily, the site had a pool and hot tub for us to pass the time.

When it was time to depart, my friend and I, along with the seven other people in the raft, were suited with lifejackets, helmets and paddles. Our guide, Phil, gave our group the safety instructions associated with the trip. Once that was done, we boarded the raft and began paddling out.

As soon as we were off the shore, our raft was hit with heavy waves. We drove our oars into the water and got a hang of the motions. It would largely be on-the-job training as we quickly got to our first series of rapids.

The rounds of waves became taller and taller until it appeared that a wall of water blocked our way forward. As we heeded Phil’s calls for heavy paddling, I held on tight, with the raft sharply rising and falling like a spooked bull! After one final splash that threw everyone a meter backward, we emerged from the first trial with two fewer people than we started with. 

Fortunately, those who ended up in the water floated safely, but not so calmly, back to our raft. We stayed in the area for a few moments to pose for pictures and help any other rafts that lost occupants before continuing down the river.

At a relatively calm patch of water, Phil let us all jump off and swim around. On that particular day, the Rouge River was delightfully warm, giving a moment to relax and appreciate the green  hills. We then practiced an aquatic pull up to get back in the raft before heading to the next series of rapids with the ominous name of “slice n’ dice”. 

This next patch of waves was equally intense but longer than the first, with the front of the raft getting drenched in waves and the back constantly being catapulted into the air. We took a break on the shoreline after finishing the rapids, heading back out to retrieve some people whose raft had capsized. 

We paddled on, heading towards the climactic set of rapids- the washing machine. In this set, we paddled even harder than before, with Phil quickly adjusting instructions to maneuver the waves. While it definitely felt like the raft could tip over, this was more of an exhilarating than scary thought as I had seen the security measures in place. We finally emerged from the rapids and stopped on shore. There, we hauled the raft onto a truck along with other rafts and took a hike to the final stretch of the journey. 

We got back into the raft and took a leisurely paddle all the way to the Ottawa River. Finally, we landed on a beach, got on a school bus and returned to the center, where we got our photos and relaxed after an exciting day.

For an exhilarating experience, check out Propulsion Rafting near Calumet, Quebec. They offer a variety of packages for rafting, camping and sportyaking. Facilities on land include a pool, hot tub, sports field, outdoor chalet and indoor bar. Prices vary based on age and package. For more information, click here.

For most packages, participants need to be over the age of 12, weigh a minimum of 41 kg and a maximum of 135kg, and have good health and basic swimming skills. Please check each package to see if there are any other requirements or conditions.

David received free passes to experience this activity but all thoughts are his own. Photo credit goes to Propulsion Rafting/ Mads Modeweg.

Outerbridge Magic

An evening with my 12 (almost 13) year old is a special event… but what do we do with that time? It’s a challenging task to find a suitable activity with a tween that isn’t too childish but also isn’t too boring.

Enter: Outerbridge Magic - Mysteries of the Keyhole House, a spooky, true-story-based production mixed with magic, illusions, and a little bit of dancing, too.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. M and I arrived in Carleton Place (about a 50 minute drive from our south Ottawa home) at about 7pm, and parked on the street near the Town Hall (parking is free for 2 hours, which is perfect).

The theatre was a striking space that combined old fashioned details with modern elements. Ornate chairs with velvet cushions provided a welcome and comfortable seat for patrons. The smell of wood polish aged floorboards gave some church vibes; the balcony spoke to the present day with an impressive array of lighting and sound boards.

We grabbed seats right at the foot of the large, sloped stage; so close we could see the shuffle of feet beyond the heavy velvet curtains as the crew readied the props. A slide show played as people filed in, showing us pictures and names of the previous owners of The Keyhole House, while boogie-woogie music seemed to crackle out of an invisible phonograph somewhere. The whole scene managed to be cosy and a little eerie.

The show itself was not just magic and illusion, but wove in the plot of Ted and Marion Outerbridge and how they came to live in a haunted house in Smiths Falls: the Keyhole House. As the two worked to restore the house to its original beauty, they had one mysterious encounter after another, and found artefacts like keys, clippings, and hankerchiefs from long ago. 

As the intrigue unfolded, we were treated to a host of experiences that enhanced and enriched the storyline. It was clear from the audience’s reaction that Ted and Marion were no amateurs; they awed us time and again throughout the show. 

There were sleight-of-hand manoeuvres, mentalism and prediction tricks, close-up magic, parlour magic, and some big, impressive, full-stage feats. I looked around during one such act and saw that the entire audience, my daughter included, was staring in open-mouthed anticipation, waiting for the resolution of the scene.

On the drive home I got the review from the tween: overall, a good show, and “not so long that my butt fell asleep,” (which is, of course, an important feature of any evening entertainment). The most impressive tricks bookended the show, in M’s opinion, and the pantomime (done by Marion, a former Hollywood dancer), was “a little cringe” in places, but did not lack for its entertainment value. The creepy dolls found in the house were M’s least favourite part, but she was glad that the show had a lighter tone to it that prevented the spookiness from being outright scary.

Those interested in seeing the show should check it out - this upcoming weekend there are multiple shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets available through Eventbrite.

TL/DR

A fun night out for older kids, tweens and teens that’s not dull for parents. Some cheesiness in the storytelling, but your kid will not be able to feign disinterest at the magic and illusions the duo pull off. 

Age range/scary factor: The show writeup says minimum age 5, but my 12 year old was a bit freaked out. Scariest part is talk and pantomime of (friendly) spirits haunting a house. A couple of creepy-ish dolls. Nothing overtly jump-scary, violent, sweary, or inappropriate.

Cost: ~$27 per ‘youth’ ticket (age 25 and under), $50 general admission.

Running time: 2 hours, including a short intermission

Location: Carleton Place Town Hall, 175 Bridge Street

Cool-teen factor: Not bad. Ted is charismatic and has a performer’s sense of reading the crowd well. Some of the pantomime and dancing done by Marion feels a little out of place (my daughter was mildly embarrassed by this but I, the grownup, thought it was awesome).

Good to know: It’s cold in the theatre; bring a sweater or buy some long-sleeved merch! No drinks or snacks available to purchase, so bring your own. Lots of audience participation - expect you might get called on to help with a trick!

Jen is a Mum of 4 and an Ottawa business owner living in the National Capital. She received two complimentary tickets to the show, but all views are her own.