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General Discussion => Welcome and General Discussion => Topic started by: FrugalSaver on August 12, 2016, 09:34:59 AM

Title: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: FrugalSaver on August 12, 2016, 09:34:59 AM

I'll be staying a few days in downtown Ottawa in a couple of weeks and am looking for things I "have to do" and places I "have to eat".

This is my first trip there so I'd like to make the most of the 3-4 days.

Any awesome suggestions?!?

Title: Re: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: powersuitrecall on August 12, 2016, 10:53:15 AM

If you have young kids I can direct you to some pretty cool parks :)

Aside from that, you will need to consume at least one shawarma from any of the fantastic examples that we have (such as shawarma palace).

Title: Re: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: GuitarStv on August 12, 2016, 11:38:19 AM

The aerospace museum is pretty interesting if you're into planes.

Title: Re: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: scottish on August 12, 2016, 05:45:19 PM

Gatineau Park is nice even if the weather is a little warm right now.   Good views from any of the lookouts, and nice walks.   maybe from Champlain lookout to Western lookout?

Title: Re: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: andreamac on August 12, 2016, 06:11:32 PM

I live in the west end of Ottawa and I would suggest, Parliament buildings, Gatineau park but it maybe hard to get to since it's on the other side of the bridge and buses may take a while if you have a car then that would be fine. The Canadian mint is cool if you like money :)  Also right by Parliament Hill are the locks and you can see boats going in and out, a piece of history for sure. Hog's Back Falls is really nice as well to walk around and have a picnic.

For food downtown I would check out reviews on trip advisor. That's what I normally do.

If you have any specific questions I could answer them if you like. Feel free to PM me.

Title: Re: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: FrugalSaver on August 12, 2016, 11:26:42 PM

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Keep it coming!!!

Title: Re: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: Gerard on August 13, 2016, 05:58:23 AM

+1 on eating Lebanese food. And the Byward Market is a good place to pick up picnic fixings, or for somewhat-spendy restaurants.

Aside from that, it's a pretty good city for recreational bike riding. If you can find a decent rental, you might want to head out to Gatineau Park, for the rare fun of riding on a paved trail through actual forest-y forest.

And because it's the capital, it has decent museums (national gallery, history, war).

[True story: My son once asked me, "How long did we live in Ottawa?" I said, "Seven years." He said, "What did you do, break a mirror?"]

Title: Re: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: human on August 13, 2016, 06:56:51 AM

Ottawa's pretty boring. If you are staying over a weekend spend that weekend in Montreal.

Title: Re: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: Rightflyer on August 13, 2016, 07:37:25 AM

+1 for Byward Market.

You can spend a nice (sunny) afternoon tooling around the shops/cafes/pubs etc.

Then maybe a walk back up the hill to the Houses of Parliament... then possibly a stroll around Victoria Island?

Title: Re: Trip to Ottawa
Post by: frugalmom on August 15, 2016, 07:39:55 AM

The Royal Canadian Mint was a pretty cool stop.