6 Best Things to Do in Nottawa in 2026: What's Really Worth Planning, Based on 647 Reviews and Local Lists

When you search for Nottawa, you'll likely be directed to Collingwood pages. The reason is simple: the two places are close, and most people plan their itineraries together anyway.

So this article won't pretend that Nottawa is a place with "twenty must-visit photo spots." It's a small community whose value lies in its location, its pace, and the surrounding area that can be easily linked into your itinerary.

Below is a planning approach based on public reviews, local business lists, and event platforms.

Where is Nottawa? First, understand its scope

Nottawa is located in Clearview Township, Ontario, Canada, in the Simcoe County area.

On TripAdvisor, its destination page has accumulated about 647 to 648 reviews, covering attractions, restaurants, B&Bs, and accommodation information.

This number tells you one thing: it has basic amenities and tourism resources, but it's not large.

Most people who search for "Nottawa things to do" end up planning a day trip that combines Nottawa and Collingwood. That's actually the most efficient way to do it.

Before planning your Nottawa itinerary, understand these 4 key points

First, distinguish between "in town" and "surrounding area." Nottawa itself isn't very walkable, so including Collingwood in your plan will save you driving time. If you only plan for Nottawa, you'll likely finish in half a day.

Second, check the weekly calendar for events, not just permanent listings. The events listed on Eventbrite's Nottawa page are mostly limited-time or traveling events in the Simcoe County area, such as a scavenger hunt in Barrie, ski weekends, or tourism industry partner meetings. These events are time-sensitive, so be sure to double-check before you go.

Third, research your food theme first. Nottawa General's website has a page dedicated to attractions, brunch and coffee shops, and family activities in Collingwood and Nottawa. This kind of locally curated list is usually more up-to-date than large platforms.

Fourth, think about transportation and where to stay. The main entry points for this area are Kitchener-Waterloo Regional Airport (YKF) and Toronto Pearson (YYZ), which are quite far apart. TripAdvisor's accommodation categories also follow this logic.

Most recommended approach: Treat Nottawa as the starting point for a day trip

If you treat Nottawa as your "only destination," you may be disappointed. Treating it as a starting point or a stopover will make your day flow much better.

Option 1: Local shops plus a stroll around town. Start with a list curated by local businesses like Nottawa General, pick a brunch spot or coffee shop as your starting point, and then take a walk around the area. This approach requires no tickets and is very flexible.

Option 2: Half-day golf. In reviews on the Nottawa attractions page, some mention that the local golf course has friendly service, fairways are dry due to lack of rain, and walking is not too strenuous. This means there are walkable courses in the area where you don't necessarily need a cart, making it great for a half-day outing. Keep in mind that course conditions are heavily weather-dependent, so check before you go.

Option 3: Include Nottawa in a Collingwood itinerary. Have breakfast in Nottawa in the morning, head toward Collingwood, and loop back in the evening. This is the most common approach.

Option 4: Limited-time events. Things like scavenger hunts, markets, and seasonal events don't have a fixed list; rely on event platforms and local announcements.

Option 5: Family-friendly itinerary. Local business lists include family activities. If you're bringing kids, check these compilations first—it's faster than searching one by one.

Option 6: Just stay overnight and slow down. There are plenty of B&Bs and accommodation options in the area. Using Nottawa as a rest stop and heading out the next day is also a valid way to enjoy it.

Honestly, Nottawa isn't the kind of place where you can "fill three days and nights." Its strengths are low density, easy parking, and no crowds. If you're looking for excitement, planning for Collingwood will better meet your expectations.

Beyond strolling around town, what other options are there?

Limited-time events on Eventbrite. Events like scavenger hunts, ski weekends, and industry conferences appear irregularly. Topics vary but updates are frequent. Suitable for those who have been before and are looking for something new.

Locally curated Collingwood lists. If you care more about "what to eat," these lists are more useful than general platforms because they directly describe the differences between brunch spots and coffee shops.

A pure golf itinerary. If golf is the main purpose of your trip, you can make Nottawa's course the main activity and just finish with a stroll around town.

Pitfall guide: 4 most common mistakes when planning a Nottawa itinerary

Mistake 1: Treating Nottawa like a big city and planning a full day. Its scale can't support a full day. Planning half a day plus one nearby spot will yield much higher satisfaction.

Mistake 2: Only looking at permanent attraction lists and ignoring weekly events. Events on platforms are time-sensitive. Check again a week before you go—you'll often find unexpected things.

Mistake 3: Not checking season and venue conditions. Some reviews mention fairways being dry due to lack of rain. Grass, golf courses, and outdoor activities are all affected by weather, so confirm before heading out.

Mistake 4: Underestimating driving distances. YKF and YYZ are far apart. Which side you choose for accommodation directly affects your daily commute time.

Mixing work with travel? Use Tinrec to keep meeting and travel notes together

To be clear: Tinrec is not a travel app. It's an AI meeting notes and collaboration tool for individuals and teams, available on iOS, Android, and web.

It's included here because many people visit Simcoe County for a mix of "meetings and travel." Events like tourism industry partner meetings have appeared on Eventbrite.

Here's how it works in practice: If your meeting is on your computer, you can use the desktop version to capture system audio directly. It works with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Webex without needing an extra meeting bot to join. After the meeting, it automatically generates transcripts, summaries, chapters, and action items.

If you think of itinerary adjustments while traveling, you can also just record a voice memo and convert it to text to organize into a list. After recording, you can use AI Q&A to ask "What were the conclusions of this meeting?" without having to scroll through a 30-minute transcript yourself.

Keep in mind that the free version has usage limits, and heavy users need a paid plan. Transcription quality can be affected by recording quality, accents, and background noise. For important content, it's recommended to cross-check with the recording playback. If a group is planning together and needs to share meeting materials, the team plan offers separate team spaces, role and seat management, usage analytics, and audit logs. Monthly billing is USD 29.80 per paid seat per month, and annual billing is USD 199 per paid seat per year.

Summary: How to plan the smoothest Nottawa itinerary?

In one sentence: Treat it as the starting point for a day trip in the Clearview area, not as a single destination.

• Want a relaxed meal and a stroll → Start with locally curated brunch and coffee lists
• Want to golf → Plan a half-day, and check course conditions before you go
• Looking for something new → Check Eventbrite's weekly events a week before you go
• Want to fill a whole day → Start in Nottawa and head toward Collingwood
• Itinerary includes work meetings → Use Tinrec to record, then check summaries and action items afterward

One last tip: Before you go, look through TripAdvisor reviews and Eventbrite event pages. One gives you "permanent things," the other gives you "what's happening this week." Together, they make a sufficient draft itinerary.

Sources

• THE BEST Things to Do in Nottawa (2026) - Must-See Attractions
• Nottawa Travel Guide 2026: Top Attractions, Things to Do & Deals | Trip.com | August 2026
• Nottawa, Ontario: All You Need to Know Before You Go (2026) - Tripadvisor
• Things to do in Collingwood & Nottawa | Nottawa General
• THE 10 BEST Things to Do & Activities in Nottawa, Canada | Eventbrite