Need help planning a trip to Ottawa
Mar 25th, 2011, 05:07 AM
#1
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Need help planning a trip to Ottawa
Hello,
I'm surprised that there aren't too many posts on the forum about Ottawa. My husband & I are thinking of going to Toronto this summer for a few days to visit his relatives. Because I've been to Toronto several times & I don't really consider visiting relatives a vacation
, I told him I want to extend our trip & visit a Canadian city we haven't been to yet. We've been to Montreal & Quebec City, so we've decided on Ottawa. I have a National Geographic Travelers magazine from 2000, that has an article on Ottawa, so I have some idea of what we want to see.
My big question is: how many nights/days should we spend in Ottawa? We would probably go to Toronto for 3 nights, & I'm thinking we would spend at least 3 nights in Ottawa. We will be driving from MA. We like just about everything: history, culture, museums, gardens, good food & walking through interesting neighborhoods. We like to see the "sights" but also enjoy walking around so we can see what the city looks like physically.
From what little research I've done, I want to go to the Civilization Museum, perhaps War Museum, and have a tour of Parliament. What are other "must sees"?
We would be going sometime this summer. Also, is the Thousand Islands area interesting to visit & would it make sense to stop there, perhaps for a night, on our way back to MA?
Thanks!
I'm surprised that there aren't too many posts on the forum about Ottawa. My husband & I are thinking of going to Toronto this summer for a few days to visit his relatives. Because I've been to Toronto several times & I don't really consider visiting relatives a vacation
, I told him I want to extend our trip & visit a Canadian city we haven't been to yet. We've been to Montreal & Quebec City, so we've decided on Ottawa. I have a National Geographic Travelers magazine from 2000, that has an article on Ottawa, so I have some idea of what we want to see.My big question is: how many nights/days should we spend in Ottawa? We would probably go to Toronto for 3 nights, & I'm thinking we would spend at least 3 nights in Ottawa. We will be driving from MA. We like just about everything: history, culture, museums, gardens, good food & walking through interesting neighborhoods. We like to see the "sights" but also enjoy walking around so we can see what the city looks like physically.
From what little research I've done, I want to go to the Civilization Museum, perhaps War Museum, and have a tour of Parliament. What are other "must sees"?
We would be going sometime this summer. Also, is the Thousand Islands area interesting to visit & would it make sense to stop there, perhaps for a night, on our way back to MA?
Thanks!
Mar 25th, 2011, 06:35 AM
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Yeah, I think 2 days, 3 nights is probably fine for Ottawa.
Your 3 attraction selections are also fine. If you based this on that 2000 publication, you should be aware that an iconic new war museum building opened in 2005. The National Gallery is also worth considering; you will probably at least want a photo of/with "Maman". The Museum of Nature recently re-opened after a multi-year major renovation.
For walking around, there are footpaths along both sides of the Rideau Canal as well as along the Ottawa River behind Parliament.
You should be aware that summer is music festival time, with the jazz festival, blues festival and chamber music festival follwing each other from late June to early August.
For the 1000 Islands, look up Gananoque, where the best boat tours of the islands originate. It's an attractive town, with lots of B&Bs and restaurants in converted Victorian era properties. It has a summer theatre as well, The Thousand Islands Playhouse.
Your 3 attraction selections are also fine. If you based this on that 2000 publication, you should be aware that an iconic new war museum building opened in 2005. The National Gallery is also worth considering; you will probably at least want a photo of/with "Maman". The Museum of Nature recently re-opened after a multi-year major renovation.
For walking around, there are footpaths along both sides of the Rideau Canal as well as along the Ottawa River behind Parliament.
You should be aware that summer is music festival time, with the jazz festival, blues festival and chamber music festival follwing each other from late June to early August.
For the 1000 Islands, look up Gananoque, where the best boat tours of the islands originate. It's an attractive town, with lots of B&Bs and restaurants in converted Victorian era properties. It has a summer theatre as well, The Thousand Islands Playhouse.
Mar 25th, 2011, 10:14 AM
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Hi Ron,
Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I'll also buy a more updated tour book, too. That's nice to know about Gananoque. When I did a google search for Thousand Islands, the information was very general, which makes it difficult to decide what town to stay in.
Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I'll also buy a more updated tour book, too. That's nice to know about Gananoque. When I did a google search for Thousand Islands, the information was very general, which makes it difficult to decide what town to stay in.
Mar 26th, 2011, 10:17 AM
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Upper Canada Village is along the St. Lawrence. SE of Ottawa
http://www.uppercanadavillage.com/UCV/index_e.aspx
http://www.uppercanadavillage.com/UCV/index_e.aspx
Mar 26th, 2011, 03:23 PM
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I think that two days is the very minimum to do justice to Ottawa.
Among the must-sees which you have correctly identified as Parliament Hill, the Museum of Civilization and the War Museum, one could also add the National Gallery and the By-Ward Market. Every morning during July and August, the Ceremonial Guard of the Canadian Forces performs a Changing of the Guard Ceremony on Parliament Hill. You should not miss it. All these places are within reasonable walking distance of each other.
The By-Ward Market is still a functioning farmer's market but has dozens and dozens of interesting shops, restaurants and bars as well. It has quite a different feel at night from during the day.
Ottawa is a great city for walking and biking and multi-use paths are everywhere. Some of the nicest ones are along the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. If you are interesting in biking there are a number of rental stations right down-town. There are also boat tours on the canal and the Ottawa River if you want to rest your legs.
Ottawa is also a city of museums, and in addition to the ones already mentioned here and in Ron's post, the Aviation Museum and the Museum of Science and Technology are both excellent national museums. There is a host of smaller museums catering to various interests.
The festivals which Ron mentioned attract first class artists. Each is about two weeks long and has far more concerts than one person could possibly attend. They are located downtown--the Jazz festival in Confederation Park, the Blues Festival at Lebreton Flats, and the Chamber Music Festival at various churches and halls around the downtown area.
Some of my favourite places to see outside the big attractions are Laurier House, the home of two Prime Ministers (Laurier and King) in the Sandy Hill district, and Kingsmere, King's summer home in the Gatineau Park, about a 30 minute drive from downtown. Gatineau Park is a first-class attraction in its own right with hundreds of km of hiking/cycling/XC ski trails, several lakes and some scenic lookouts accessible by auto.
If you are in Ottawa on Canada Day, July 1, the whole downtown closes down for a vast celebration with lots of concerts and other activities ending with a massive fireworks display in the evening. It's well worth seeing.
I hope this doesn't sound too much like boosterism, but I've lived in Ottawa for over 30 years and never tire of what the city has to offer.
Here are some useful websites:
http://www.ottawatourism.ca/
http://www.ottawa.ca/visitors/index_en.html
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins...d=16297&lang=1
Just a couple of notes on attractions between Toronto and Ottawa. The 1000 Islands Boat Tour is certainly worth doing, and Gananoque is place to take the tour. However, I think that Kingston would be a much better place to spend the night. It's a very attractive city and if you have time, try to visit Old Forty Henry, especially on an evening when the Fort Henry Guard performs its retreat ceremony.
Upper Canada Village is also very much worth seeing--plan to spend the better part of a day there.
In choosing your route, if you have time avoid the main highways (401 and 416) unless you are pressed for time. In the vicinity of Ottawa, try to see Perth or Merrickville. Along the St. Lawrence, take the St. Lawrence Parkway roughly between Gananoque and Brockville, and from Kingston take the route through Bath and Picton through Prince Edward
County.
Enjoy your visit!
Among the must-sees which you have correctly identified as Parliament Hill, the Museum of Civilization and the War Museum, one could also add the National Gallery and the By-Ward Market. Every morning during July and August, the Ceremonial Guard of the Canadian Forces performs a Changing of the Guard Ceremony on Parliament Hill. You should not miss it. All these places are within reasonable walking distance of each other.
The By-Ward Market is still a functioning farmer's market but has dozens and dozens of interesting shops, restaurants and bars as well. It has quite a different feel at night from during the day.
Ottawa is a great city for walking and biking and multi-use paths are everywhere. Some of the nicest ones are along the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. If you are interesting in biking there are a number of rental stations right down-town. There are also boat tours on the canal and the Ottawa River if you want to rest your legs.
Ottawa is also a city of museums, and in addition to the ones already mentioned here and in Ron's post, the Aviation Museum and the Museum of Science and Technology are both excellent national museums. There is a host of smaller museums catering to various interests.
The festivals which Ron mentioned attract first class artists. Each is about two weeks long and has far more concerts than one person could possibly attend. They are located downtown--the Jazz festival in Confederation Park, the Blues Festival at Lebreton Flats, and the Chamber Music Festival at various churches and halls around the downtown area.
Some of my favourite places to see outside the big attractions are Laurier House, the home of two Prime Ministers (Laurier and King) in the Sandy Hill district, and Kingsmere, King's summer home in the Gatineau Park, about a 30 minute drive from downtown. Gatineau Park is a first-class attraction in its own right with hundreds of km of hiking/cycling/XC ski trails, several lakes and some scenic lookouts accessible by auto.
If you are in Ottawa on Canada Day, July 1, the whole downtown closes down for a vast celebration with lots of concerts and other activities ending with a massive fireworks display in the evening. It's well worth seeing.
I hope this doesn't sound too much like boosterism, but I've lived in Ottawa for over 30 years and never tire of what the city has to offer.
Here are some useful websites:
http://www.ottawatourism.ca/
http://www.ottawa.ca/visitors/index_en.html
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins...d=16297&lang=1
Just a couple of notes on attractions between Toronto and Ottawa. The 1000 Islands Boat Tour is certainly worth doing, and Gananoque is place to take the tour. However, I think that Kingston would be a much better place to spend the night. It's a very attractive city and if you have time, try to visit Old Forty Henry, especially on an evening when the Fort Henry Guard performs its retreat ceremony.
Upper Canada Village is also very much worth seeing--plan to spend the better part of a day there.
In choosing your route, if you have time avoid the main highways (401 and 416) unless you are pressed for time. In the vicinity of Ottawa, try to see Perth or Merrickville. Along the St. Lawrence, take the St. Lawrence Parkway roughly between Gananoque and Brockville, and from Kingston take the route through Bath and Picton through Prince Edward
County.
Enjoy your visit!
Mar 26th, 2011, 05:49 PM
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If you're in Ottawa for July 1, the newlyweds, William and Kate will be there. http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Na...519/story.html
Mar 27th, 2011, 06:11 AM
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Some of this will be repetitive from previous posts, but thought I would briefly list what we like about Ottawa. We do a getaway there almost every year. We spend 3 or 4 nights there and here's some of the things I like:
- The downtown and most of the attractions are quite concentrated and mostly walkable if you stay in a downtown hotel. There are a number of "suite" hotels which we enjoy for their spaciousness and flexibility (sometimes after a busy day we bring home snacks and treats from the Byward Market and just relax in).
- The Byward Market district. In good weather there are outdoor flower and trinket vendors but all year there are a number of specialty food stores, many, many restaurants, bistros and pubs (most with outdoor seating), and some interesting gift and furnishings shops, etc. Great for strolling, people-watching, a drink or a meal.
- Museums: my favourites are the Museum of Civilization, the Canadian Museum of Nature (newly renovated) and the National Gallery of Canada (art museum).
- Parliament Buildings are worth seeing and touring
- French culture right across the river in Gatineau (Hull) Quebec - some good restaurants there
- Classy little casino also in Gatineau - Lac Leamy Casino. In addition to gambling they have Shows and Fine Dining
- Gatineau Park - also in Quebec but not far. You can see the forested hills from parts of Ottawa. Very scenic park, scenic drives, picnic areas, overlooks.
- If visiting Gatineau Park and don't feel like picnicking there, short drive to Wakefield for lunch - quaint little town with famous covered bridge, some shops and cafes/bistros.
- There are boat tours on both the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal. I have not done these but have been told they are quite enjoyable.
If time, a boat tour of the 1000 Islands is quite pleasant (and I agree about staying in Kingston). If not time, you could just make a small scenic diversion by swinging off the 401 near Gananoque and driving along the Thousand Islands Parkway which offers views of the river and islands and after several miles joins back onto the 401.
- The downtown and most of the attractions are quite concentrated and mostly walkable if you stay in a downtown hotel. There are a number of "suite" hotels which we enjoy for their spaciousness and flexibility (sometimes after a busy day we bring home snacks and treats from the Byward Market and just relax in).
- The Byward Market district. In good weather there are outdoor flower and trinket vendors but all year there are a number of specialty food stores, many, many restaurants, bistros and pubs (most with outdoor seating), and some interesting gift and furnishings shops, etc. Great for strolling, people-watching, a drink or a meal.
- Museums: my favourites are the Museum of Civilization, the Canadian Museum of Nature (newly renovated) and the National Gallery of Canada (art museum).
- Parliament Buildings are worth seeing and touring
- French culture right across the river in Gatineau (Hull) Quebec - some good restaurants there
- Classy little casino also in Gatineau - Lac Leamy Casino. In addition to gambling they have Shows and Fine Dining
- Gatineau Park - also in Quebec but not far. You can see the forested hills from parts of Ottawa. Very scenic park, scenic drives, picnic areas, overlooks.
- If visiting Gatineau Park and don't feel like picnicking there, short drive to Wakefield for lunch - quaint little town with famous covered bridge, some shops and cafes/bistros.
- There are boat tours on both the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal. I have not done these but have been told they are quite enjoyable.
If time, a boat tour of the 1000 Islands is quite pleasant (and I agree about staying in Kingston). If not time, you could just make a small scenic diversion by swinging off the 401 near Gananoque and driving along the Thousand Islands Parkway which offers views of the river and islands and after several miles joins back onto the 401.
Mar 27th, 2011, 03:07 PM
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WOW!!! Thanks to everyone who responded!!! I love all of your ideas & suggestions. I was originally thinking of spending 3 nights in Ottawa but will now consider staying 4 nights. Ottawa sounds like a beautiful and fascinating city with lots to offer. I'm surprised there aren't many posts on this forum about Ottawa. I'll print out all of your replies.
Thanks again!!
Thanks again!!
