July 17, 2025 • Volume 39, No. 5
Next edition July 31
Orléans has lots to offer when it comes to summer activities
Kayaking around the many islands and inlets in and around Petrie Island has become a popular summer activity, especially later in the day when it cools off a bit. FILE PHOTO
By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star When it comes to looking for something to do this summer, either with the kids or on your own, Orléans and the surrounding area has lots to offer starting with Petrie Island. Petrie Island is a combination beach destination, water sports hub and hiker’s paradise. The island has three beaches – the east beach where the water is the deepest, the main beach which is the most popular due to its shallowness and the old beach which is located just west of the main beach and is much less crowded. If you’re not a beach person and still want to enjoy the water, you can rent all sorts of watercraft at the Petrie Island Marina located on midway down the causeway, including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and pedal boats. Or if you want to take your water sports to the next level you could always join the Petrie Island Canoe Club. The Club offers “Try it Out” sessions every Wednesday night for free from
6:30-8:00 p.m. The next session will be held on Wednesday, July 23. For hikers and nature lovers, Petrie Island has more than seven kilometres of easy walking trails offering spectacular views of the Ottawa River and peaceful wetlands with an abundance of wildlife and lush vegetation. You can find a map of the hiking trails on the Friends of Petrie Island website at pertrieisland.org. After you work up an appetite from hiking, swimming and paddling you can drop by the Baja Burger Shack, located on the main beach for a quick bite to eat. Also, while admittance to Petrie Island is free, parking is not. So make sure to bring a couple of loonies or toonies or your credit card. For parents of young children, there’s no better place to take them than Millennium Park which has both a splash pad and a massive playground, with plenty of free parking, although the park is also accessible by bus. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12