Going to Ottawa

[surferguy]

I’m headed there this weekend for a few days with my family (kids 10 and 7) Never been before.

Tell me fun things I should do and seek out.

On the list are the Canadian Museum and the Canadian Military museum.

Should I tell everyone I’m from Alberta??

[peter12]

I lived in Ottawa for two years, and I didn't hate it. You've got the right idea. Museums are great, Parliament Hill is great. You can walk along the Rideau Canal for a little while and it's pretty nice. Go for lunch at The Manx up on Elgin because it was my favourite spot.

[undercoverbrother]

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Pay Respects

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by peter12

I lived in Ottawa for two years, and I didn't hate it. You've got the right idea. Museums are great, Parliament Hill is great. You can walk along the Rideau Canal for a little while and it's pretty nice. Go for lunch at The Manx up on Elgin because it was my favourite spot.

Parliament Hill and the Canals are the obvious big draw. I think the Hill is still a big disaster right now though because of the major restoration work that is being undertaken. Not a lot to see there except for construction equipment and fences.

[loob job]

I went with my kids last summer, 11 and 9, we did a tour of the parliament buildings and it was pretty fun.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Parliament Hill and the Canals are the obvious big draw. I think the Hill is still a big disaster right now though because of the major restoration work that is being undertaken. Not a lot to see there except for construction equipment and fences.

You can go inside. I understand that the outside is a huge draw. The front lawn was always a nice place to go visit and see Canadian democracy in action, but the tours are really good too.

[activeStick]

I lived in Ottawa during my university years. Nice, calm city that you're hopefully not staying for too long in! The standard museums and sites already mentioned are definitely worth checking out. Stop by the Byward Market downtown just northeast of Parliament Hill (10 min walk) during the day and check it out. There really isn't all that much to do there except for the Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill and museums. Things close early in Ottawa so keep that in mind, though with young kids, I can't imagine you'll be out too late anyway.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by activeStick

I lived in Ottawa during my university years. Nice, calm city that you're hopefully not staying for too long in! The standard museums and sites already mentioned are definitely worth checking out. Stop by the Byward Market downtown just northeast of Parliament Hill (10 min walk) during the day and check it out. There really isn't all that much to do there except for the Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill and museums. Things close early in Ottawa so keep that in mind, though with young kids, I can't imagine you'll be out too late anyway.

I've heard the Byward Market has gotten a bit... druggy these days.

Take the kids to The Lafayette. Just kidding! Don't ever do that with children.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by peter12

I've heard the Byward Market has gotten a bit... druggy these days.

Take the kids to The Lafayette. Just kidding! Don't ever do that with children.

Really?!?! Geez, what a shame. I was there... over 20 years ago. Geez, I'm old. It used to be such a nice place, especially on the weekend. I even remember being there when Obama and his crew walked through it during his visit after he won his first term.

Okay, surferguy, don't go to the Byward Market...

[Monahammer]

Yes you are basically guaranteed to encounter some drug use if you go to the Market, but you can minimize that interaction and the market is still pretty nice to walk around.

I recommend trying Corazon de mais in the market main building for a lunch stop if you're over there.
The rabbit Hole on Sparks is also good.

The grounds are still a mess but touring inside the parliament is, IMO, a must.
You can still walk behind the building and the library wasn't covered in hoarding last time I was there. It is beautiful. The view of Gatineau, chaudiere, and the river from there is also really nice. There's also the park that is on the east side of where the canal enters the river, can't think of it's name right now, but it offers a really great view of the grounds and several other buildings. Major's Hill park. Also it connects to the national gallery which is worth a visit.

Where are you staying?

[Monahammer]

The rideau falls are also nice.

[surferguy]

I’m staying at the Fairmont.

Just booked tickets to the HOC. Is that all I should see in the parliament?

[DoubleF]

Isn't there a Mint in Ottawa? I seem to recall going there as a kid. Seemed stupid at first, but it was actually kinda interesting. The 999 and 9999 process was a neat tidbit, although I don't recall the details of that info anymore.

[surferguy]

I thought the mint was in Winnipeg?

[SilverKast]

If you're staying at the Fairmont you could also check out the floating Tiki Bar. It's a short river cruise tour operation that goes up and down and has a few stops - one of which is literally behind the Fairmont at the bottom of the canal.

My wife has family and grew up in Ottawa and we go out there a fair bit. It was a fun way to see the Parliament buildings and residences from the river side. On a nice day it's quite enjoyable.

Besides that I find Ottawa kind of boring. It's nice, but not a whole lot to do once you've seen Parliament except go places outside of Ottawa lol. And who on earth thought Kanata was a good place for the Senators? At least the new area is right where it'll be downtown. I always thought that was an ideal place.

[billybob123]

Was just in Ottawa. Market is too busy to have many junkies around, you probably won't notice them. Parliament Hill Centre Block is closed for renovations so the tours now do the House of Commons (West Block) or the Senate (conference centre in the old train station). Not as nice. You can still walk up onto parliament hill but there are cranes blocking parts of the view.

The viewpoints behind centre block are nice to view the river and Hull. Majors Hill park is nice too especially if they have a festival going on.

I grew up in Ottawa never doing tourist things. This trip I tried Rideau Falls right near old city hall and that was nicer than I had expected. If it isn't too hot and humid, Gatineau park is nice too - lovely hiking trails and some nice lakes.

Highly recommended to go to Shawarma Palace on Rideau Street. It's still my favourite from when I lived there and I tried a few other places this time and they weren't nearly as good. You can't really eat shawarma elsewhere after Ottawa - it's hard to describe but even mediocre shawarma in Ottawa is better than anything I've had in Calgary or Toronto or anywhere else - just not as good. If you don't make it to the palace, you'll find a shawarma place within a 5 minute walk of just about anywhere in the city.

St Hubert is also good if you're into chicken and not in Montreal. If you're into trendy neighbourhoods with shops and restaurants to walk through, Bank Street in the Glebe or Richmond Road in Westboro are good.

Aviation museum is very good, kids will like the Science and Tech museum. I've never been to the new war museum in Lebreton and it was so hot this trip we never made it but everyone says it's very good. The museum of history (used to be civilization) in Gatineau is interesting and a short walk across Alexandra bridge from the Market.

Family are all sens fans so we tried the Sens store in the market - it's quite small. You'll have to go out to the arena in Kanata to get a better selection and it's definitely not worth going out there unless you're there already.

[topfiverecords]

I've heard there's free camping on Wellington St by the Parliament building.

[billybob123]

Forgot to mention, to echo UCB's comment above, the cenotaph is essentially across Wellington Street from Parliament Hill and the guards arrive at 9 am and leave at 5 pm. The changing of the guard on Parliament Hill is done for the summer (no more marching up Elgin Street) but they do have a concert at 10 or 10:30 most days. Check the schedule. Old style uniforms from the GG Foot Guards with bearskin hats and red uniforms. Kids might find it fun!

Also don't recommend taking the train from the airport. They don't advertise that it takes two connections to get downtown!

[Ped]

Originally Posted by surferguy

I thought the mint was in Winnipeg?

The historic headquarters museum is in Ottawa


https://www.mint.ca/en/visit-the-mint

[surferguy]

Originally Posted by billybob123

Also don't recommend taking the train from the airport. They don't advertise that it takes two connections to get downtown!

Haha - that’s cool. I’m actually going to take the opportunity to have a bit of Amazing Race/teaching time with the kids. I plan not to research and show up and have to navigate a “foreign” system.

I’m going in blind