Hits the Sweet Spot

Located just a quick 25-minute drive east of Downtown Ottawa (and only five minutes from the highway), Jardin Crossing keeps you connected to the action of the city while immersing you in an abundance of green spaces to help you unwind and exhale. Parks and paths are plentiful here, but there’s little doubt as to which one is the area’s undisputed showpiece: Mer Bleue Bog.

A Natural Escape

Mer Bleue, meaning “blue sea,” is thought to be named after how this 3,500-hectare conservation area looks once the morning fog rolls in. Needless to say, a 7,700-year-old bog is an extremely unusual occurrence this close to a large city. The northern boreal landscape is much more typical of the Arctic than of this area situated along an ancient channel of the Ottawa River. To visit it is to discover a truly spectacular escape to nature that will make you feel as if you’ve been transported somewhere else. And this natural wonder is only a short drive away from Jardin Crossing!

Into the Wild

As you might imagine of such a unique place, many species of birds, wildlife and plants – some rare in the region – call Mer Bleue home, which provides ample opportunity for sightseeing as you walk, cross-country ski, or snowshoe any of the twenty kilometres of forested hiking trails.

Birds of all types flock to the area, and it’s not uncommon to see beavers, muskrats, minks, and rare spotted turtles in the marshiest areas. In the more remote woodlands, white-tailed deer, red foxes, snowshoe hares, woodchucks, and porcupines are just some of the locals you may be lucky enough to spot.

Highly recommended is the self-guided tour along the titular Mer Bleue Bog Trail, a 1.2-kilometre interpretive boardwalk that takes you right out over the actual bog.

Parks and Rec

If your preferred style of recreation is more suited to the playing field, look no further than the nearby Millennium Sports Park, a 34-hectare sports complex boasting 15 soccer and football fields, which plays home to many youth sports clubs.

Picnics, a little frisbee, or just soakin’ up some Vitamin D in a beautiful space more your speed? You’re spoiled for choice in terms of charming leisure parks in the area, including Thorncliffe Park, LeBoutillier Park, Bathgate Park, and Dr. John Hopps Park to name just a few.

City Bound

And when it’s time to hit the city, you’re covered there too. Today, a quick 10-minute drive from home will have you at the Rapid Transit Station. Coming soon, though, is a planned Bus Rapid Transit Network and Trim Road LRT that will pass steps from your door. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Need to run some errands or indulge in a bit of retail therapy? Orléans is a well-established community with a ton of existing amenities. Big box stores, local shops, Place d’Orléans Shopping Centre, restaurants, a movie theatre and more are all right close by.

The Best of Both Worlds

So, if you’re on the lookout for a home in a neighbourhood that gives you that rare balance of city bustle and easy suburban pace, you’ll want to investigate Jardin Crossing for its special mix of the fresh and the familiar. For all these reasons and so many more, this gem is not likely to stay hidden for too long.