Saunders Farm
If you fancy going to Ottawa's Canadian Tulip Festival but are not in the mood for big crowds, then the Tulip Fest at Saunders Farm is a viable alternative.
Located in Munster, one of Ottawa's rural areas, Saunders Farm offers seasonal programming throughout the year. In May, that's tulips.
I went there yesterday with my family. At $16 per person, the price for admission is not too bad. Parking is included. The farm itself is quite modest in size. You can walk around it in 10–15 minutes. But, of course, if you stop to take pictures, take in the fragrances, play with the kids, grab something to eat, etc. then you could spend a couple of hours here.
This year, about half of the field did not have tulips. They said it was because it'd rained too much in April, which stopped some tulips from blooming. Still, what was there was plenty for us to enjoy.
If you're looking for something more substantial—and free—Saunders Farm won't compare to what you'll find at Commissioners Park. Frankly, the Tulip Fest feels like a knockoff of the real deal. But I think Saunders Farm has a charm that makes it worth checking out, if only once.