What To Do In Ottawa

[bax]

Hey CP,

I'll have a spare night in Ottawa while I'm there for a quick trip and was wondering what would be fun to see or do? Thanks for the advice in advance!

[JonDuke]

Check out the Byward Market. It's downtown, close to Parliament, and has tons of shops, restaurants, lots of patios, clubs, etc.

Or, hop in a cab for a quick ride over to Gatineau and visit Pigales. You can thank me later.

[DuffMan]

strippers, you shouldn't even have to ask.

[terminator]

the light show at parliment hill...amazing.

[Brannigans Law]

Ah yes, Pigales. Memories. French strippers you can grope while getting a lap dance? Yes please.

[lazy_programmer]

We really enjoyed The National Gallery. Last time, it was free admission in the evenings after a certain time.

[Maccalus]

The National War Museums and Aviation Museums are really good. I highly recommend them if you have any interest at all.

[Bane]

Hookers and blow

[troutman]

Buttock Grabbing

[Kipper is King]

Ottawa is awesome! Try Beau's beer (it's a local brewery). Also, like others mentioned, the light show on Parliament Hill is cool (and free!). Check out Elgin Street for restaurants. Also, the Byward Market has great spots to eat, while the National Gallery is indeed awesome if you have time.

Enjoy your time in Canada's capital!

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

strippers, you shouldn't even have to ask.

Pro-Tip: The Bare Fax

You could also visit the parliament building. Be sure to visit the room where they have all the names of the dead soldiers. It is very humbling.

[OffsideSpecialist]

In addition to what others have mentioned, you could try one of those boat trips on the canal or Ottawa River, found at the Rideau locks. The canal one is boring, but I've heard the one along the river is nice. If you are into biking/walking/jogging, Ottawa has a fairly big scenic trail network along the canal, the rivers and on other federally owned property. There are little bike rental stations around the city that allow you to rent bikes using your credit card.

I would also try to get a tour of the Centre Block before it goes under construction in the next couple years.

[mac_82]

+1 for the National Gallery and the War Museum. I've been to the War Museum twice now, and will go back again. They even have Hitler's Mercedes Benz there.

[HOWITZER]

Byward market absolutely. The war museum is good, as is the civilization museum across the bridge in Hull. Check out parliament if you haven't already. There are lots of museums/galleries to check out if you're interested.

Don't bother with the outlying towns (Barrhaven, Kanata, Orleans) unless suburban shopping plazas and cul-de-sacs are your thing.

There are some decent restaurants/shops as well along Bank St between south of the Queensway and lansdowne park.

[Ben Dover]

You could also stop by Elgin Street Diner if you like poutine.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Brannigans Law

Ah yes, Pigales. Memories. French strippers you can grope while getting a lap dance? Yes please.

Dang, I am going to be in Ottawa in September without wifely supervision. It's too bad that Pigales doesn't stay open past 3 am. My flight is at 6:45 am and I think it would be great to stay awake all night (I'm in town for a show and will probably not even go to sleep that night anyways) and go through airport security with a rock hard awkward boner while maintaining eye contact with the security officers.

[RedHot25]

Oh Ottawa, how I miss thee...

Anyway most people have noted the highlights. If you only have one night, I'd say wandering around downtown - Parliament, Byward Market, Elgin Street and Bank Street (if you like independent shops) are probably pretty good for an evening. Check out Parliament if you can get a tour and/or the light show is on, maybe wander around a bit and check out the views (I can't remember the street/bridge right now, down by the hotel, but you can easily walk over that bridge to the Gatineau side and get a gorgeous view looking back of Parliament Hill and Ottawa downtown), and then finish off with a later bite to eat and drink in the Byward Market (basically very near to Parliament).

As others have noted, the War Museum is fantastic. We also LOVED the Museum of Civilization (big curved type looking building just across the river from Parliament) in Gatineau. Very well done and fantastic museum.

The National Gallery is also great. Even if you are not "into" art, it is great to see and is quite nice. Also easy to combine doing with any of the above.

Kind of depends what you are into. You could also walk the canal from downtown out to Landsdowne (whatever its called now?) Park, where is where the Red blacks play. Not too far of a walk, and you see the canal and random embassies of countries as you walk along. I used to live about a 5-10min walk from Landsdowne (old ottawa south), great, great area.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Maccalus

The National War Museums and Aviation Museums are really good. I highly recommend them if you have any interest at all.

Really enjoyed both of those. We had a flight tour in an open cockpit biplane, that was really cool.

Also enjoyed the parliament buildings tour and trip up the Peace tower. The Memorial Chamber and books of Remembrance really hit home.

Toured the SCC and had the place pretty much to ourselves. I rode the elevator up to the library with Justice Binnie, seemed like a really nice guy.

Also the shopping and beers in the downtown market were fun.