Unexpected Journeys

04/02/2025

🇨🇦 Our surprise road trips are Made in Canada! 🇨🇦

Our incredible Unexpected Journeys are…

🇨🇦 Created in Canada
🇨🇦 Based out of Ottawa, Ontario
🇨🇦 Showcasing ONLY Canadian locations
🇨🇦Supporting Canadian small businesses

Even our packaging is Canadian

🇨🇦Wax Seals -
🇨🇦 Plantable Postcard -
🇨🇦 Printer - Jiffy_photo
🇨🇦 Website -
🇨🇦 Graphic Designers - and .curations

Supporting local charities like:

🇨🇦 Tree Canada -
🇨🇦 Special Olympics Ottawa -
🇨🇦 CHEO - cheohospital
🇨🇦 Bruyere Hospital -
🇨🇦 Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa
🇨🇦 Family Services Ottawa -
🇨🇦 Terry Fox Foundation -
🇨🇦 Walk of Hope -
🇨🇦 Ottawa Heart Institute -
🇨🇦 Roger Neilson House -
🇨🇦 Ottawa Hospital Foundation -
🇨🇦 Ronald McDonald House

And so many more! ❤️

THANK YOU so very much much for supporting my little business. It’s a privilege to be able to guide you to discover some incredible 🇨🇦 locations and small shops right here at home.

Jen
Just another strong and proud Canadian. 🍁





Let’s share more incredible 🇨🇦 brands. Add yours ⬇️

23/01/2025

CONTEST CLOSED 💗💗Valentine’s Day GIVEAWAY 💗💗

✨In celebration of the season of 💗 we are giving away an ✨Unexpected Journey✨ of your choice + a ✨$50 prepaid VISA ✨ so you can show a little 💗 to our local businesses as you explore.

Our surprise road trips are all about staying local and supporting local. 💗

PRIZE INCLUDES:

🚗 An Unexpected Journeys of your choice to be used with someone you love (partner, family, friends, your squad!). Don’t forget that our road trips can be used in any season and don’t expire!

💵 A $50 prepaid VISA so you can support local along the way. 😊

TO ENTER FOLLOW THESE 4 STEPS:

1️⃣ Follow

2️⃣ Like this post

3️⃣ Tag your family and friends. Each tag = 1 entry (you can tag as many people as you want)

4️⃣ Share this post on your IG stories and tag us or on your page

Contest ends Monday, January 27th at 11:59 pm. We are the only account who will reach out to you to let you know you have won.

Good luck! 💗

11/01/2025

⛸️ Skating Trails - SAVE THIS POST❄️

We are so fortunate here in Ottawa to have the Rideau Canal (OPENS today!) which transforms into the world’s longest outdoor skating rink from January when the ice freezes until February-March, depending on the weather. Follow for updates.

Here are some other unique trails (some even found on our surprise road trips) that might make you want to sharpen those blades and explore this winter:

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⛸️ - York’s Corners - 3.5km - Night skating - ODRs - Bonfires - Cider

⛸️ - Next to Gatineau Park - over 3km - Hiking and snowshoe trails - Night skating by torchlight - Fire pits, benches, their own adorable mascot.

⛸️Laurentian Valley Skating Trail - https:// www.lvtownship.ca - Pembroke - 1.5km - Snowshoe trail - Special night skates - Donations accepted to help keep it running.

⛸️ - Stittsville - Over 2 km of skating trails through the forest - Night skating - Benches

⛸️ - Gatineau - Over 5km skating trail on a beautiful golf course - Skate rentals and sharpening every weekend

⛸️Grouse Park Skating Trail - Deep River - Night skating - Free (Check updates to see if open)

⛸️Beckwith Skating Trail - Beckwith (behind Beckwith Park) - Benches

⛸️- Moose Creek - 3 km trail - Snowshoe trail - Tubing - Petting zoo, bonfires,food truck - Rentals available

⛸️ - Le Grand Lodge Skating Rink and Trail - An illuminated 900m skating trail through a pine forest - Giant snow slide - Book a 2 hour access online - Skate rentals available

31/12/2024

✨ What a year! ✨🥳 2024 has been a year filled with some incredible journeys of our own (and some not so incredible ones of course)✨

We visited Tremblant a few times, slept with the wolves , my fist time in Washington, marvelled at the ruggedness of Tofino and the , went home to Mattawa lots and lots, hung out in Montreal, Toronto, Niagara-On-The-Lake and ended our year .

✨In between all that travel, we explored and discover some new local gems that we’ll share with you through our new journeys launching just in time for the spring! 🚗💌

✨Unexpected Journeys won the Faces awards for “BEST OTTAWA EXPERIENCE”!! Thank you so much! 😊🙏

✨We moved into a new house on the water 💦 and lived through 5 months of renovations!

Thank you so much for following along and stay tuned for 2025!

25/12/2024

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!🎄

✨May this magical season be filled with family, friends, great food and some quiet time beside the fire. ✨

Oh, and hot chocolate. May it be filled with hot chocolate… with whip cream…and sprinkles! 😊

13/12/2024

🎄📸Insta worthy holiday photo stops! Save this list and head out soon!

Here are just a few of our favs:

📸 - Pakenham - Pictured here! - So many fun photo ops to be had here! Don’t forget that iconic picture of the bridge

📸 - Munster - A Country Christmas - See photo - Gorgeous lights, festive backdrops make this experience extra special. There’s even a Cider House to stop in and visit.

📸 - Orleans - Beautifully decorated for the holidays. Festive plants, decor, holiday photo booth and even a coffee shop!

📸Winter Wander - Sparks Street - see photo - Explore the many holiday-themed light installations.

📸Turcotte Family Home - 18 Cypress Gardens, Stittsville - This family has been decorating their home as a fundraiser for CHEO. So worth the visit!

📸Ottawa Christmas Market - Lansdowne - See photo - Photo after photo to be had at this magical market. Don’t forget the one with the giant Christmas tree! 🎄

📸 - Smith Falls - See photo - Stroll through this gorgeous garden centre all decorated for the holidays!

📸 - Dowtown Ottawa - See photo - Head into the lobby of the Ottawa’s castle to see the Trees of Hope for CHEO. Then head to the Elf Pub for a warm drink.

📸 Downtown Ottawa is like walking through a Hallmark movie with lights everywhere you look.

📸 Take a little road trip and head to for lunch in Canada’s biggest log cabin. Add in a little snow and you have the perfect backdrop for a festive photo! See photo.

🎄✨Happy Holidays everyone and enjoy the season!

30/11/2024

This is the perfect holiday experience you’re going to want to explore this season! 🎄

📍Ottawa Christmas Market - Lansdowne

This incredible event has it all! There are lights, music, photo-ops, Santa visits, an outdoor rink, food, drinks ( even some adult ones), lots of shopping, special events, outdoor fires, workshops and more!

We promise you’ll leave here feeling all warm and fuzzy ( unless you forgot your mitts!😊)

🎄Details:

🎄Runs from Nov 22nd - Dec 22nd - Friday - Sunday
Dec 26th - Jan 5th - Every day

🎄Parking on site

🎄Accessible to people with limited mobility and special needs

🎄Pets on leash permitted but not in restaurants

*A few tips:

-🚗There is also a parking garage on 2nd Ave ( it’s few blocks away but lets you shop Bank St as you head over and no line ups to get in and out)

-🧤Wear mitts and a tuque, it can get pretty cold!

-🥗🍱If you plan on eating in the area, make reservations at least a week in advance! Or, if you forget, put your name in somewhere and walk around until your time.

-We were told that Friday nights were the quietest. GO then! 😊

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24/11/2024

🎅🏼Our surprise road trips are SANTA APPROVED!

The big guy ❤️ loves them because:

✨They will lead you to 5 surprise outdoor stops! Who doesn’t love a surprise?

✨It’s a day out already planned for you…all you need to do is drive! 🚗

✨They are filled you lots and lots of optional things to see and do along the way!

✨They tour some of the most incredible areas in and around Ottawa like , , , , , , ,
and so many more.

✨Our Unexpected Journeys support local! They’ll help you discover incredible small businesses in charming small towns all over Ontario and Quebec. 😊

✨There are 11 to choose from with so many more being added in the new year!

✨They make the perfect gift…especially for Christmas. 🎄

✨The packaging is beautiful ( if Santa does say so himself 😉).

✨They can be used all year long! You can return in a different season for a whole new experience! It’s like having 4 road trips all in 1!

✨The experience creates memories that will last a lifetime. Isn’t that what it’s all about? 🤍

You are invited on an Unexpected Journey. Visit our website to accept the invitation. 💌

01/11/2024

🎄✅Want to check a few people off your list?

🎁 Give the gift of an experience this holiday season with our surprise road trips!

✨🤍We promise they’ll help you create memories that will last a lifetime.

✨💌5 ways to elevate your gift of an Unexpected Journey this holiday season with a few local ideas to inspire you.

1. Pair a bottle of wine or your fav bevie for a celebratory drink after your day of adventures.

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2. Add a gift card to a cafe, resto or local shop to be spent along the way.
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3.An Unexpected Journey + a cozy tuque and mitts = the perfect winter experience.

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4. Purchase an overnight stay at one of our recommended accommodations.

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5.Buy some new winter gear to go with the gift of an Unexpected Journey.

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❄️🚙💌You are invited on an Unexpected Journey this winter. Head over to our website to accept the invitation.

29/10/2024

✨Soon we’ll be swapping out 🍂this view ➡️ for ❄️this view!

Make sure to head to our website on November 1st to see what we have in store for the ✨Holiday Season✨and for the upcoming ❄️winter❄️ season!

💌Our surprise road trips make the PERFECT experience gift for any occasion but especially for 🎄Christmas!

And it’s coming up in 2 months!😳

27/10/2024

🍂Surprise fall road trips…our specialty!🍂

But we also specialize in:

❄️Surprise winter road trips❄️

🌸Surprise spring road trips🌸

☀️Surprise summer road trips☀️

🎄Holiday road trips🎄 (we have one coming up just in time for the holidays)

✨💌Head to our website to take the first step on your next incredible journey! (Link in bio)



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24/10/2024

🍁🌳Add your fav fall tree pic and let me know where it was taken!

🍂My first one was taken at Riverside Park in Carleton Place.
💌This sweet spot may just be found on our River and Valley Route Unexpected Journey ( for more details, head to our website)

🍂The second photo was taken along Hwy 533 just outside of Mattawa. If you’ve been following me you know that is my fav fall drive!

Add yours in the comments!


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23/10/2024

🍂Add this experience to your fall bucket list for next year! SAVE this post.

📍 chairlift rides

They run weekends in October during the peak leaf 🍁 🍂 season. Head up the lift and take in the incredible views from the top of Dickson Mountain!

There’s a whole network of trails to explore at the top!

✨💌This magical experience appears on our “Bridges, Rapids and Trails” journey!

Did you know that:

💌All of our surprise road trips can be used all year long? 🍁❄️🌸🌸

💌We’ve included “reasons to return to the area”. If you took this journey in the winter for example,these chairlift rides would definitely be a reason to return!

🍁Happy fall everyone!

20/10/2024

Hidden gem alert! 💎

🍂🍂Head here while the leaves are at their peak!

📍Blueberry Mountain in

These photos were taken yesterday. The colours will take your breath away!! This is one of our fav spots to head in the fall. Even the drive in is spectacular!

The details:

🍂Free to access - Donations accepted
🍂Dogs on leash allowed
🍂502 Hills of Peace Rd, Lanark (a long drive in but so very worth it!)
🍂Small parking lot
🍂Less than 5 km hike
🍂Outhouse around 5 minutes into the trail
🍂Head out early! It’s always a special moment to summit when nobody else is around!
🍂Make sure to take in the views from one of the many tribute benches on the trail. 🥹

🍁Anywhere in Lanark County right now is absolutely dreamy so enjoy your drive in!

💌🚗Did you know that 2 of our Surprise Road Trips explore Lanark County? Our “Bridges, Rapids and Trails” and “Waterways and Views” journeys will lead to this incredible corner of Ontario!

17/10/2024

11/10/2024

✨Finally caught the stunning Northern Lights tonight over the Ottawa River✨

Thanks for showing up at 8:00 pm instead of midnight this time! 😴

05/10/2024

Make sure you hit up one of these lookouts this FALL 🍂:

🍂1.Dickson Mountain - Calabogie - Access the top of Calabogie Peaks via their chairlift rides every weekend in October to explore some spectacular views of the valley.

🍂2.Barron Canyon - Algonquin Park - East end of Algonquin Park outside of Deep River - 1.5 km trail leads you to this incredible lookout.

🍂3.Mont Tremblant - Mont Tremblant - Tqke the gondola to the top of the mountain and explore the many lookouts, especially the 360 observation tower and the view of the Laurentians. Stunning!

🍂4.Rock Dunder - Lyndhurst - Take the 3.9 km Summit Loop for a jaw-dropping view of the Rideau waterway and beyond!

🍂5.Eagle’s Nest - Calabogie - An easy and gradual 1.5 kn ascent following an old logging road - Rocky cliffs and views of the Madawaska Valley that go on forever!

🍂6.Blueberry Mountain - Lanark County - a 5km return trail will take you to this hidden gem and a spectacular lookout. Head out early and you’ll have the whole place to yourselves!

🍂7.Spy Rock on Foley Mountain - Westport - A short hike with maximum reward - This lookout is even accessible! Fantastic view of Westport and the surrounding areas.

🍂8.The Lookout Trail - Algonquin Park - One of our favs in the park - 2.1 km rugged loop that will lead you to beautiful high ridges overlooking the park.

🍂9.Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area - PEC - This hidden gem has several lookouts easily accessible from your car overlooking Lake Ontario!

02/10/2024

Post of pic of your fav fall 🍂 colour!
❤️🧡💛 Add it to this post by adding it into the comments.

I just might be a red!❤️

📸 #1 - Lookout Trail in Algonquin Park

📸 #2 - Blueberry Mountain in

💌 🚙🍂 Don’t forget that it’s not too late to book your fall road trip! 😊