Ottawa/QC - day trip from Montreal?
May 14th, 2004, 04:53 AM
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Ottawa/QC - day trip from Montreal?
Would it be worth doing a day trip from Montreal to either Ottawa or Quebec City? I will be in Montreal for 4 nights altogether next weekend. Obviously if a day is not enough to appreciate either of these cities I will drop the idea. I would only be able to choose one and at this stage, am undecided but swaying towards Ottawa because I think that is closer and QC may be similar to the Old Town area of Montreal.
I assume the easiest way would be to hire a car for the day (eg from 10am one day to 10am the next day) and drive. That being said, does anyone know which car rental places in downtown Montreal have an office near to the Hilton Bonaventure?
I assume the easiest way would be to hire a car for the day (eg from 10am one day to 10am the next day) and drive. That being said, does anyone know which car rental places in downtown Montreal have an office near to the Hilton Bonaventure?
May 14th, 2004, 05:06 AM
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Most of the well-known rental companies have branches within a 5-minute walk of the Bonaventure. A couple of them have branches in Central Station, which is directly across the street, but I forget which ones. Ottawa is an easy 2-hour drive once you get on the Trans-Canada Hwy going west. Usually very little traffic once you get out of Montreal. It is a pretty, quaint, strongly British-influenced government centre. A day is plenty to get the feel of the place. Like many government towns, it tends to be boring at night, compared with Montreal.
May 14th, 2004, 10:47 AM
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It's always interesting to learn of how your city or country is perceived by outsiders. As a long time resident of Ottawa, I've never thought of it as "quaint", whatever that may mean, or British (aside from the architecture of the Parliament Buildings and the Changing of the Guard Ceremony). It has always seemed to me to be Canadian.
While for night life, Ottawa is no Montreal, the image of a boring, civil-service town where they roll up the streets at night, while true at one time, is today mainly perpetuated by the likes of Alan Fotheringham ("the town that fun forgot" ad nauseam).
Having gotten that off my chest, I think that you will find lots to see and do in Ottawa for a day. Aside from the main attractions of Parliament, museums and galleries, the summer is a long series of festivals (jazz, blues, chamber music, folk to mention a few).
Ottawa is an easy drive from Montreal, and as you don't want to stay overnight, probably a better choice than a day trip to Québec.
While for night life, Ottawa is no Montreal, the image of a boring, civil-service town where they roll up the streets at night, while true at one time, is today mainly perpetuated by the likes of Alan Fotheringham ("the town that fun forgot" ad nauseam).
Having gotten that off my chest, I think that you will find lots to see and do in Ottawa for a day. Aside from the main attractions of Parliament, museums and galleries, the summer is a long series of festivals (jazz, blues, chamber music, folk to mention a few).
Ottawa is an easy drive from Montreal, and as you don't want to stay overnight, probably a better choice than a day trip to Québec.
May 14th, 2004, 11:49 AM
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How many people on this trip?
If it's one person, I'd walk from the Bonaventure Hilton to the train station next door, take the train to ottawa, take a cab to parliament Hill, and spend the day walking, plus maybe one or two Ottawa cab rides.
From parliament Hill it's an easy walk to the Rideau Cana, to boat trip on the ottawa River, to the national Gallery ("regular" art) and the the photography museum. And you can visit the By-Town market. Plus the Royal Canadian Mint.
It's easy to get across the river to the Museum of Civilization, too.
And, depending on train scchedules, eat in Ottawa or catch a train back to Montreal and have a late dinner there.
The downsides to this: if there's lots of people, a car rental might be cheaper. There are rental offices of the major carr rental companies across the street in Central Station.
If you love airplanes, you could, if you were driving, stop at the aviation museum, which is quite a way from downtown Ottawa, on the Montreal side of the city. And it's easier to get to the Museum of Science and Technology with a car than by bus, but I bet you could do that, too, if you wanted. Tehre's genuine locomotives inside this museum, one of which was driven by my friend Jack.
BAK
If it's one person, I'd walk from the Bonaventure Hilton to the train station next door, take the train to ottawa, take a cab to parliament Hill, and spend the day walking, plus maybe one or two Ottawa cab rides.
From parliament Hill it's an easy walk to the Rideau Cana, to boat trip on the ottawa River, to the national Gallery ("regular" art) and the the photography museum. And you can visit the By-Town market. Plus the Royal Canadian Mint.
It's easy to get across the river to the Museum of Civilization, too.
And, depending on train scchedules, eat in Ottawa or catch a train back to Montreal and have a late dinner there.
The downsides to this: if there's lots of people, a car rental might be cheaper. There are rental offices of the major carr rental companies across the street in Central Station.
If you love airplanes, you could, if you were driving, stop at the aviation museum, which is quite a way from downtown Ottawa, on the Montreal side of the city. And it's easier to get to the Museum of Science and Technology with a car than by bus, but I bet you could do that, too, if you wanted. Tehre's genuine locomotives inside this museum, one of which was driven by my friend Jack.
BAK
May 14th, 2004, 12:08 PM
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The only problem with the train is that in order to have a decent amount of time to spend in Ottawa, you would have to leave Montreal at about 7am. The last train back leaves at 6pm. If you take VIA 1 class, you will be well fed in each direction, but the fares would certainly be much more than a car rental for the day.
May 14th, 2004, 01:34 PM
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In addition to the train there is hourly bus service between Montreal and Ottawa. The bus station in Ottawa is within walking distance of where you want to be, unlike the train station which would require a modest taxi ride.
May 14th, 2004, 03:19 PM
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I think a day trip to Ottawa is an OK idea, although if you've never been to Montreal before, I'm not sure if I would personally use one day to go to Ottawa.
Ottawa as others say may not be as dull as it used to be, but I've had 2 friends visit in the past few months who commented on it being deadly dull. Personally, while I agree that Ottawa is a lot quieter than Montreal or Quebec, I find the city has a certain charm. And I find there's plenty to do for a day touring some of the museums, Parliament Hill, the Byward Market, Sparks Street, Bank & Elgin Streets.
On a different note, contrary to your belief Dave, I find Quebec City (even Vieux Quebec) is quite different from Old Montreal. QC is much more French-speaking, the architectural style differs considerably (QC is quite a bit older than Montreal), Old Quebec looks far more European, not to mention that the vantage point over the Saint Lawrence river is totally different (sharp dropoffs looking down at the river). And there's nothing quite like the Plains of Abraham or the Parc Bois de Coulonge in Montreal.
Quebec has some similarity to Old Montreal in architectural choices, but then again, Ottawa has some similarity too (the blue copper roofs on buildings can be seen in all 3).
Enjoy whatever you decide.
Ottawa as others say may not be as dull as it used to be, but I've had 2 friends visit in the past few months who commented on it being deadly dull. Personally, while I agree that Ottawa is a lot quieter than Montreal or Quebec, I find the city has a certain charm. And I find there's plenty to do for a day touring some of the museums, Parliament Hill, the Byward Market, Sparks Street, Bank & Elgin Streets.
On a different note, contrary to your belief Dave, I find Quebec City (even Vieux Quebec) is quite different from Old Montreal. QC is much more French-speaking, the architectural style differs considerably (QC is quite a bit older than Montreal), Old Quebec looks far more European, not to mention that the vantage point over the Saint Lawrence river is totally different (sharp dropoffs looking down at the river). And there's nothing quite like the Plains of Abraham or the Parc Bois de Coulonge in Montreal.
Quebec has some similarity to Old Montreal in architectural choices, but then again, Ottawa has some similarity too (the blue copper roofs on buildings can be seen in all 3).
Enjoy whatever you decide.
May 14th, 2004, 04:01 PM
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Dave, if Iunderstand the Via Rail web site, you can travel from Montreal to ottawa and back for $61 if you buy your tickety in advance.
Leave around 7:30 in the morning, be back for dinner. Skip first class; you pay way to much just to get a "free" breakfast. The Montreal train station is full of good places to get food to take on the train with you.
Cost-wise, parking for a rental car might be close to the price of taxis in Ottawa. If you drive, it's boring. If you take the train,you can read or snooze or check out travel books about what to see in Ottawa.
BAK
Leave around 7:30 in the morning, be back for dinner. Skip first class; you pay way to much just to get a "free" breakfast. The Montreal train station is full of good places to get food to take on the train with you.
Cost-wise, parking for a rental car might be close to the price of taxis in Ottawa. If you drive, it's boring. If you take the train,you can read or snooze or check out travel books about what to see in Ottawa.
BAK
May 14th, 2004, 05:59 PM
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In many cases any city is what you make of it - I lived there seven years ago and believe me I managed to find myself having a ball six of seven nights...and when the bars closed at their early 1am hour in Ottawa I walked across the bridge to Hull to continue the festivities until 3am - Ottawa has a lot of different types of night life to suit a wide variety of people partly because of the university crowd which is terribly diverse with Carleton U. there. so don't let that hold you back - outside of simple party life...Ottawa is a beautiful clean safe city that would be a perfect contrast to a short trip to Montreal. They are very different in wonderful ways (they are both FABULOUS cities).
Montreal I find more URBAN and Ottawa has oddly kept more of a small city feel to it...the Market is a great spot to shop and have a bite to eat...Walk along the canal also the worlds longest skating rink in a different season, Explore Parliament, stroll down Elgin - all great things to do for a day...I would vote for renting a car as it allows you more freedom if you do more research and find other places you are interested in. Go across to Hull and see the Museum of Civilization...go up to Aylmer...Go to Ottawa - Quebec City is one of my favorite places of all time - but I think that it would be too far for a day trip and it requires much more than a day - Ottawa will leave you wanting more - but you will likely still feel satisfied with one...for the time being.
Montreal I find more URBAN and Ottawa has oddly kept more of a small city feel to it...the Market is a great spot to shop and have a bite to eat...Walk along the canal also the worlds longest skating rink in a different season, Explore Parliament, stroll down Elgin - all great things to do for a day...I would vote for renting a car as it allows you more freedom if you do more research and find other places you are interested in. Go across to Hull and see the Museum of Civilization...go up to Aylmer...Go to Ottawa - Quebec City is one of my favorite places of all time - but I think that it would be too far for a day trip and it requires much more than a day - Ottawa will leave you wanting more - but you will likely still feel satisfied with one...for the time being.
