Ottowa for New Year's
Dec 13th, 1999, 04:05 AM
#1
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Ottowa for New Year's
I'm thinking of driving up to Ottowa for New Year's since I've heard great things about skating the canals. Does anyone have any other suggestions of things to do, places to go and most importantly, nice yet affordable places to stay? Any suggestions would be most appreciated! <BR> <BR>Sara
Dec 13th, 1999, 09:41 AM
#2
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The first thing you need to know is that, historically, the canal has only been frozen enough to skate on over the Christmas season about two-thirds of the time. Given how warm it has been so far this Fall, it does not look promising (but a good multi-day cold snap could easily change that - watch the forecasts). <BR> <BR>There are two major free events on New Years Eve - parliament hill will have some sort of sound & light thing, multiple stages of live performers and fireworks. The Casino de Hull will have something similar, with steet dancing after the fireworks. <BR> <BR>I am not sure what you mean by nice and affordable accomodation; you might want to look at some of the B&Bs in Sandy Hill, e.g. Gasthaus Switzerland Inn, Mcgee's Inn, Auberge King Edward, Wildflowers B&B or in the Golden Triangle, e.g. Haydon House or Canal View B&B. The latter 2 are particularly close to the canal. The ones in Sandy Hill are closer to the Byward Market restaurant, bar, club milieu. <BR>
Dec 13th, 1999, 02:25 PM
#3
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Dear Sara, <BR> <BR>I went to Ottawa last February and stayed in a hotel on Albert St. (Check Ulysses guide, Ottawa) I can't remember the name of it to save my life, but I can tell you that it's not far west of Bank St ($60/night). It was reasonably priced, pleasant and within easy walking distance of Parliament Hill and the restaurants/nightlife of Bank St. and Elgin St. <BR> <BR>The National Gallery of Art is worth checking out...you can marvel at how the Ottawa government spent 7 million dollars on one piece of modern art there called "(something) Fire)...If you want a prototypical Ottawa "pub" experience, there's a place called Manx that I really liked (it's on either Bank or Elgin).
Dec 14th, 1999, 02:18 PM
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I wanted to mention the other day that I enjoyed going to Parliament Hill and seeing first-hand where the members of Parliament work and learning more about the history of Canada. The library between the Senate and the House is absolutely gorgeous, as is the view to Hull across the Outaouais River. <BR>(Not as lovely though as the view from le Musée de la Civilisation in Hull of Parliament Hill. This museum is worth checking out while in town; when I went in July, there were a few exhibits on several of Canada's First Nations.) <BR> <BR>Since you'll be in Ottawa New Year's, you'll definitely want to check out the festivities on Parliament Hill to ring in the New Year. Word has it from a number of friends that there's going to be a big to-do there New Year's Eve. (I imagine a free concert with several Canadian artists hailing from the country's many diverse communities, as well as a fireworks show.)
