goddesstogo

We've decided to forego our planned Rochester long weekend because of the high hotel rates there and the poor Canadian dollar and we're thinking of going to Ottawa instead.

I haven't been there for many years and last time was for a wedding so we really didn't do much.

We want to stay somewhere local and good for walking. Maybe near Byward Market?

Any suggestions for hotels (under $200/night), restaurants, cute parts of town? Anything else we should know about?

Thanks
gtg

cdnyul

We have stayed at the Four Points Sheraton in Gatineau, just across from the Museum. It is a short walk to the Market across the Alexandria Bridge.

Lord Elgin often has good package deals. It is also within walking distance of pretty well everything.

Delta Hotel has a good restaurant.

Mark

BAK

How are you planning to get there? If you have a car, you have more options for hotels. I find Ottawa a pretty good city for driving around.
On our last visit, we stayed at a Bed&Breakfast in The Glebe. Truth is, I'm a hotel kind of a guy.
Yes, Byward Market will absorb some time. So will the National Art Gallery. I've never been to the Aviation Museum, and would go there. A drive up to Wakefield gives you a touch of Quebec on your visit.
I used to be in Ottawa three or four times a month, but it has been a while since regular visits, and one thing I know is that the restaurants have blossomed.
Before you go, give some thought to cuisine types, and then look up appropriate places. My last good (fancy) dinner was in teh dining room of the National Arts Centre. Expense, and excellent.
Quickest drive is probably 401 and north on 416, but I like to go up Highway 15 from Kingston.
If you do go past Kingston on 401, take teh Thousand Islands Parkway "detour" It is well worth the ten-fifteen minutes it will cost you.

colduphere

GTG - The Lord Elgin is in a good area and seems to be surprisingly inexpensive this weekend. Find the canal behind the Arts Centre and head south (towards the sun) for a nice three mile walk. You can cut back up Elgin Street to your hotel or ideally walk through the neighbourhood between the canal and Elgin Street. It may not be Rosedale but it's nice.

Or walk north from behind the Arts Centre (away from the sun) and you can do a loop that goes behind Parliament Hill, crosses two bridges (first the Portage and then back across the Alexandria), stays right along the river the entire way and gives gorgeous views. Also three miles.

And if you go to Wakefield you could stop at Lac Phillippe and have a picnic lunch on the beach. And imagine me skiing there and staying overnight when it is minus 30!!

goddesstogo

Thanks, everyone, for all this excellent advice, including the Gatineau suggestion. We're not going till mid August but the hotel prices I'm seeing for those dates are much better than Rochester and I don't have to worry about the exchange rate. And we'll get to stay in a higher-end hotel for less money. Byward and the National Gallery are definitely on the list. I didn't even know there was an Aviation Museum by we'll do that too.

Thanks, too, cold, for the walk paths. We'll do at least one of them, maybe both. I don't walk in Rosedale here -- I don't have the wardrobe for it.

Any ideas for a good seafood restaurant? And what's the Ottawa neighbourhood with cute little shops and restaurants? There must be one; every city has one.

And BAK, I'm more of a hotel person too.

colduphere

The cutsy neighbourhoods are the Glebe and the Byward Market. You can buy a lot of old books in the Glebe.

The Alexandria Bridge connects the Art Gallery with the Museum of History. A beautiful walk.

goddesstogo

Thanks, cold! I'm going to check out some hotels now.

Elizabeth_S

We've stayed twice at the Byward Blue Inn. Cheap and cheerful/easy parking/great location

goddesstogo

I'll take a look at that, thanks, Elizabeth!

eliztravels2

There is also the Canadian War Museum: www.warmuseum.ca Military History is not among my interests, but I found this small museum well worth a visit. There is an exhibit of plaster figures used for the Canadian monument at Vimy Ridge in France. It is most impressive and would be of interest to anyone who read the novel The Stone Carvers. Also, if you are interested in sculpture, take a look at the monument to important suffragettes on parliament hill.

Of course the Museum of Civilization across the river in Hull is a must see. Although I think it has been renamed and reworked since the harper government got its hands on it.

Good plan to have a Canadian vacation this year with our dollar in the doldrums.

goddesstogo

Thanks, eliz. I think I'll put the Museum of Civilization on our to-do list!

cdnyul

The Canadian Museum of History, or formerly, the Museum of Civilization, or, (rolling my eyes here), "that place that harper got his hands on" has a pretty good cafeteria. The food selection is good and you can't beat the view.

The building itself is just as interesting as its contents.

http://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhi.../tour14e.shtml

Mark

Elizabeth_S

If you didn't see it at the AGO the Colville show is at the National Gallery now.

We really enjoyed the Aviation Museum.

My B and SIL really enjoyed the sound and light show on the Parliament Buildings -- there's a new show this year apparently

http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1431101626033/1431101731481

For some reason we think of Mexican food when we go to Ottawa (for years back in the dark ages it seemed there were more Mexican restaurants there than in Toronto).

We enjoyed lunch at Agave Grill last year

http://www.agaveottawa.ca/hws/agave/index.html

Elizabeth_S

Also - assume you're driving? If so you might want to try an alternative to the obvious 401/416 route in one direction. We've driven back via parts of the Trent Waterway which is fun.

goddesstogo

I really want to see the light show so thanks for that reminder. Yes, we're driving. Going to stop in Kingston on the way for lunch and a walk. Is that the route you're talking about? I have to check a map. I'll check out the Agave too.

We did see the Colville show at the AGO and it was so interesting. I'm sure there will be plenty for us to see at the National.

This is excellent! Thanks!

goddesstogo

I really want to see the light show so thanks for that reminder. Yes, we're driving. Going to stop in Kingston on the way for lunch and a walk. Is that the route you're talking about? I have to check a map. I'll check out the Agave too.

We did see the Colville show at the AGO and it was so interesting. I'm sure there will be plenty for us to see at the National.

This is excellent! Thanks!

Elizabeth_S

gtg - no I'm referring to a meandering route we took via Peterborough and then along 115 to 7 to Ottawa. We stopped at several locks along the way - it was lovely.

But you can go north at Kingston and pick it up - that would be a lovely drive too

http://www.rideaufriends.com/images/...map-colour.gif

goddesstogo

That would be great. When we do these driving trips I like to meander as much as possible.

colduphere

If you take your time driving the leaves will be beautiful around September 25th.

laverendrye

You've had some good suggestions here.

I think the Museum of History is a must, if only for its current exhibition "The Greeks" with 500 items from 21 Greek museums never shown outside Greece before. The include the golden so-called "Mask of Agamemnon" which Schliemann found at Mycenae. The Great Hall there is always impressive as is the Hall of the First Nations. The Canada Hall is now closed for reopening in 2017.

The Canadian War Museum is also a must in my opinion. Its aim is not to glorify was but to show how war has shaped Canadian society which the museum does very well indeed.

I would also include the National Gallery. If you have seen the Colville, you might want to concentrate on the permanent collections, particularly the Canadian galleries.

Parliament Hill is a highlight, but it gets crowded so you need to book your tours well in advance. Don't forget the tours of the East Block where you will find the restored offices of MacDonald, Cartier, the GG, and the first Privy Council/Cabinet room. The Changing of the Guard takes places on the lawn every morning at 10 until late August.


Walking along the Canal can be pleasant, especially the at the locks leading to the Ottawa River. Unfortunately there are no boat rides on the canal this summer due to the fumbling bureaucracy of the National Capital Commission.

Gatineau Park is lovely at all times of the year. You might want to visit Kingsmere where Mackenzie King's summer residence has been maintained, including a tea house. Wakefield, with its covered bridge is a pretty town with interesting shops and restaurants, and one of the best seafood restaurants in the area in my opinion is Le Resto in a strip-mall in Chelsea.

For accommodation, you will want to stay centrally. For your budget, the Lord Elgin is a good choice, as is the Novotel. You might want to check out the Cartier Place Suite Hotel on Cooper Street between Elgin and the Canal. It's a nice area, but still very central and within walking distance of most of the sights.

Elgin Street has lots of restaurants and bars as does the Byward Market. Further afield, there is a concentration of Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants on Somerset St. West, Italian and others on Preston Street, and a host of new and interesting restaurants in the west end (Westboro and vicinity) on Wellington West and Richmond Road. I can make some suggestions if you can tell us your interests.

I'm a native Torontonian and long-time resident of Ottawa, and I think there is much to see and do here--many Canadians and other tourists often give Ottawa a pass, but it's well worth visiting here. Enjoy your stay
!