Family-friendly activities in Kanata range from swimming at the Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool to biking the South March Highlands trails, skating and swimming at the Richcraft Recreation Complex, and easy day trips to Saunders Farm and the Diefenbunker museum. Kanata is one of Ottawa’s most family-oriented communities, with more than 150 parks, two major recreation complexes, and a full calendar of seasonal events — so families rarely run out of things to do close to home. Jason Polonski, a Kanata-based REALTOR® and parent, rounds up the best options by season and setting, from toddler-friendly splash pads to indoor rainy-day fun.
This page focuses on activities for families with children. For general attractions and outings across all ages, see things to do in Kanata; for green spaces, Kanata parks; for trails and nature, Kanata outdoors; and for arenas and gyms, Kanata sports complexes.
Swimming and recreation complexes in Kanata
Kanata’s two city recreation centres are the backbone of family activity year-round. The Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool on Aird Place is a longtime favourite, with its wave pool and slide a hit for kids of all ages. The newer Richcraft Recreation Complex on Innovation Drive adds pools, arenas for skating and hockey, a gymnasium, and a branch of the Ottawa Public Library under one roof — an ideal rainy-day destination. Both run drop-in swims, skating, and registered programs through the City of Ottawa. Families who prioritize this kind of amenity often factor it into where they buy; the best neighbourhoods in Kanata notes which communities sit closest.
Parks, playgrounds and splash pads
With more than 150 green spaces, Kanata gives families a playground or splash pad within walking distance of most neighbourhoods. Summers mean splash pads and wading pools at local parks, while the trails and ponds at places like Beaver Pond in Kanata Lakes are made for stroller walks and duck-feeding. The full rundown of standout parks — including which have the best play structures and water features — is on Kanata parks. For families, proximity to a good park is often as important as the house itself, and it is one of the first things a local agent can map to a shortlist.
Sell Your Ottawa Home for Just 1% Listing Commission
Why pay 2.5% listing commission to sell your home when you don't have to? Jason Polonski lists Ottawa homes for a simple 1% listing commission. Full MLS® and REALTOR.ca exposure, professional photography, powerful online marketing, expert pricing, and a skilled negotiator fighting for every dollar of your sale price. Top-tier service — you just keep thousands more when your home sells. Smart sellers are already making the switch. Your home deserves the best, and your wallet deserves a break.
Outdoor adventures and trails
The South March Highlands conservation forest offers hundreds of hectares of family-friendly hiking and beginner mountain-biking trails right in Kanata, with boardwalks and lookouts that keep younger kids engaged. The paved Watts Creek and Trans Canada Trail pathways are ideal for family cycling and learn-to-ride outings, and the Ottawa River shoreline at Shirley’s Bay adds birdwatching and shallow-water exploring in warmer months. More trail and nature detail is on Kanata Outdoors. These green spaces are a defining part of raising a family in the community.
Indoor and rainy-day fun
When the weather turns, Kanata families head indoors without going far. The Richcraft and Kanata Leisure Centres both offer indoor pools and open-gym times, the cinema at Kanata Centrum runs family matinees, and the Ottawa Public Library’s Kanata branches host free story times and children’s programs. Kanata Centrum and the Hazeldean shopping area cover indoor browsing and treats on a cold day. For larger indoor playgrounds and trampoline parks, families typically make a short drive into Ottawa proper, as the biggest venues sit outside Kanata — a local agent or the community associations can point to the newest nearby options.
Get Cash Back When You Buy a Home in Ottawa
Can you get cash back when buying a home in Ottawa? Yes. Jason Polonski, a Chairman's Club REALTOR® serving Ottawa and Kanata, shares part of his commission with buyers — up to $3,000 cash back at closing.* You still get full-service, award-winning representation: expert pricing, sharp negotiation, and hands-on guidance from first showing to keys in hand. No cut corners and no rebate-only shortcuts — just real money back in your pocket when you buy your Ottawa or Kanata home.
Seasonal and special-event activities
Kanata’s calendar changes with the seasons. Winter brings outdoor skating, tobogganing hills, and Nordic skiing at Wesley Clover Parks just outside the community. Summer means the seasonal Kanata Farmers’ Market, festivals, and outdoor movie and concert nights, while the Canadian Tire Centre hosts family shows and Ottawa Senators games through the colder months. Many events are organized by active community associations, making it easy for new families to plug in. A fuller list of year-round outings is on things to do in Kanata.
Family day trips just outside Kanata
Some of the region’s best family destinations sit a short drive from Kanata, making them easy weekend outings. Saunders Farm in nearby Munster offers mazes, jumping pillows, and seasonal fall and Halloween events; the Diefenbunker: Canada’s Cold War Museum in Carp is a memorable rainy-day history outing for older kids; and Fitzroy Provincial Park adds beaches, camping, and hiking to the northwest. Closer to home, Pinhey’s Point historic site on the Ottawa River in Dunrobin and the Wild Bird Care Centre near the Kanata–Nepean border round out the list. All are within roughly 15–30 minutes of most Kanata homes.
Why families choose to live in Kanata
The sheer volume of family activity is a big part of why Kanata is one of Ottawa’s most sought-after communities for raising children — alongside its schools, parks, and safe streets. Families weighing a move can read the full case in the benefits of living in Kanata and whether it is a good place to live, and check catchments on Kanata schools.
Jason Polonski, a Kanata REALTOR® and parent himself, has helped hundreds of families across Ottawa’s west end find homes close to the parks, pools, and schools that matter to them. He knows which neighbourhoods put families steps from the good stuff, and is available seven days a week. Learn more about Jason Polonski, browse homes for sale in Kanata, see his services on the Ottawa real estate homepage, or read verified reviews on his Google Business Profile.
Frequently asked questions about family activities in Kanata
Top family activities in Kanata include swimming at the Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool, skating and swimming at the Richcraft Recreation Complex, hiking and biking the South March Highlands trails, visiting local parks and splash pads, and seasonal events like the Kanata Farmers’ Market and Canadian Tire Centre shows.
On rainy days, families head to the indoor pools and gyms at the Richcraft and Kanata Leisure Centres, catch a family matinee at the Kanata Centrum cinema, or join free children’s programs at the Ottawa Public Library’s Kanata branches. The Diefenbunker museum in nearby Carp is a great rainy-day trip for older kids.
Kanata has two main public pools: the Kanata Leisure Centre and the Wave Pool on Aird Place, known for its wave pool, and the Richcraft Recreation Complex on Innovation Drive. Both offer drop-in family swims and lessons through the City of Ottawa.
Yes. The South March Highlands offer family hiking and beginner mountain biking; the Watts Creek and Trans Canada Trail pathways are ideal for family cycling, and Kanata’s 150-plus parks provide playgrounds and summer splash pads throughout the community.
Within about 15–30 minutes of Kanata, families can visit Saunders Farm in Munster, the Diefenbunker museum in Carp, Fitzroy Provincial Park, Pinhey’s Point in Dunrobin, and the Wild Bird Care Centre near the Kanata–Nepean border.
Kanata is one of Ottawa’s most family-friendly communities, with abundant parks and splash pads, two recreation complexes, strong schools, and safe neighbourhoods — reasons many young families settle here and stay long-term.
