Ottawa?
 

Willbe accompanying my husbamd on a business trip in late November. I'll have almost two full days on my own. Any suggestions for a (late) middle aged female tourist? I think we are staying near the govern,ent center. I'd appreciate your help abput what to do, where to eat, etc.
Thankx!

con_brio - there are several posts on Ottawa - you can search for them and see if they help you.

Here's the site for Ottawa attractions: http://www.ottawatourism.ca/en/visitors/attractions

Thanks so much. That's a very helpful site. And I have looked at some previous threads -- ialso helpful. And now I understand that a Beaver Tail is not an entre....

Lots of walkable stuff from near Parliament Buildings. National Gallery is biggest, best, high quality art gallery. By-town Market has interesting shopping and some good restaurants.

Other museums include War, aircraft, which might have less appeal.

You'd be welcome to sit in the visitors gallery at the House of Commons, and shake your head at the antics of our politicians.

BAK

Yours won't break my heart the way ours do...

Here's a link to a fairly-recent thread, very similar to yours - lots of good info, which you might find helpful to/for your stay --
http://www.fodors.com/community/cana...-and-ideas.cfm

I made some suggestions on the thread JPinBC referred to, and many of them apply here. However, the weather in Ottawa at the end of November can put a damper on outside activities--cold with rain or sleet and little or no snow on the ground--so you would want to concentrate on indoor activities.

In addition to the Ottawa Tourism site already mentioned, you might find this one useful:

http://www.ottawa.ca/visitors/index_en.html

I would recommend the major museums in this order

1. Canadian Museum of Civilization

2. National Gallery of Canada

3. Canadian War Museum (as I remarked earlier, don't be put off--it is not a museum to glorify war, but to explain through its exhibits how war has shaped Canada.)

4. Canadian Museum of Nature. I mentioned earlier that I hadn't visited since the extensive renovations had been completed this summer. Well yesterday, I had a chance to see it and it is very good indeed. It has a good collection of dinosaur fossils (and recreations), galleries devoted to mammals, birds, water (with a skeleton of a blue whale that is enormous), geology and other aspects of nature.

There are other specialist museums devoted to aviation, science and technology, Ottawa history and the like, but I think that the four above are must sees.

Another indoor attraction is the Parliament buildings. A guided tour will show the Senate and the House of Commons and the Parliamentary Library (recently restored to its past glory, as it was the only part of the Centre Block to escape the fire of 1916). You end up with a trip to the top of the Peace Tower and panoramic views of Ottawa and Gatineau.

I would also suggest a visit to Laurier House in Sandy Hill, not far from downtown. For over 50 years it was the home of two Prime Ministers of Canada, Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Mackenzie King. Mackenzie King's rooms remain as they were when he died, including his crystal ball.

There are many good restaurants in the downtown and if you have any particular liks or dislikes I could recommend a few.

You didn't mention shopping, but there are many interesting boutiques in the Byward Market area, and the large Rideau centre with national and chain shopping is immediately adjacent.

I don't know if your evenings will be free, but the National Arts Centre is a showcase for music, theatre, dance and variety.

http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/

Even though the weather may not be at its best, I'm sure you will enjoy your visit.

I was only there for a day and a half, but the food memories that make me want to go back- The Manx is a pub, and Ottawa is full of pubs! But, it has unique characteristics like live music, art showings, delicious vegetarian food options and a unique sense of art and creativity. Often line-ups for seats! The other is La Bottega Nicastro Fine Food Shop. It is just in front of the Market in the centre of the city. The Market is certainly worth a trip, maybe get an 'Obama' cookie? But La Bottega is an Italian market with an ungodly amount of meat and cheese and a deli in the back. The deli sandwiches are 4 inches tall, on your choice of bread and amazing. Also great shopping for odd shaped pasta or pasta made with lemon and pepper or whole wheat ingredients.

Wow. Thank you so much. We are staying at the Novatel right actoss from the Byward Mkt so all of these things are within walking distance. Luckily, we only have a "work" meal one night which leaves two for us plus days. Thanks for the heads up on the War museum and the Laurier House. I don't think that those would have come under my radar without advice. You may hear from me again before Nov 13.
Thanks!