Things to do in Ottawa (Kanata)...

In My Humble Opinion
1

Hey there, I get to go on a training course in Ottawa, well actually Kanata. I’m there for days and I’d like to know what I should do?

I’m staying at the Brookstreet hotel. It looks pretty swank.

I arrive on Sunday the 19th at about 6:00PM local time and my plane leaves on Saturday the 25th at 5:30PM.

It looks like my hotel is aways away from downtown Ottawa, does anyone know how much a cab will cost from my hotel to downtown Ottawa? How long will the ride take?

I’m thinking I can do some site seeing on the Saturday from 9:00 until 3:00. What should I see/avoid?

Also, are there any good restaurants in the general vicinity of my hotel? Nothing too pricey I’m a government employee and don’t have a large expense account.

Thanks!

MtM

2

Take the bus. They’ve got a nice “Plan your trip” page. here’s the Brookstreet to Elgin/Laurier route that gets you downtown by 7:30. Driving in would likely take 20-30 minutes without taking traffic into account.

It used to cost about $25 to get from the airport to downtown so estimate about $20. Also take a very large grain of salt since I’ve never taken a cab into downtown from the west end.

Local food…well there are 2 pub places nearby. The Barley Mow and the Royal Oak. The Barley Mow is closer and has better fish&chips. There is a Lone Star just down March Rd. Not bad Tex-Mex food. If you can get over the Centrum Plaza (closer to the arena) there’s a bunch of good food places. Swiss Chalet, Eastside Mario’s, Texas Chop House etc.

For site seeing the Museum of Nature is under renovations but still cool, Parliament hill is great and the Library is no longer covered up for repairs. Getting over to the Museum of Civilization is worth it too if you can manage it. The downtown market is fun to wander around and has a large 2 storey Chapters at its corner.

3

The brand-new Canadian War Museum is worth a visit, I hear, despite some controversy about some of the war art. http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions_e.html

and I can personally vouch for the National Art Gallery, which is in a very cool building that mirrors the Gothic towers of parliament, but in glass. http://national.gallery.ca/

The parliament buildings themselves are a good visit, if you’ve never been. Hey, you can say that you’re from Stockwell Day’s riding, and get introduced in parliament! http://www.parliamenthill.gc.ca/text/hillcam_e.html

Near Ottawa, the Canada Aviation Museum (out by Rockdliffe, and right next to where the RCMP keep their horses in the winter) is really reat, with lots of old aircraft, and “visible display” (so you can see cool things that they don’t have room to put out on the main floor). Great gift shop, too. http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/

4

Just out of idle curiosity, how is Kanata pronounced? Is it the same as “Canada,” or more like “Ka-NAH-ta?”

5

Oh, and food.

You are totally, completely insane if you do not, at some time during the trip have:

Shawarma Palace, 464 Rideau. Ask for extra pickled cabbage. Really.

and poutine, from a van on the street near Parliament.

I don’t care if you’re on a diet. You gotta have an open-air poutine from the van. It’s totally Canadian. Besides, it’s February in Ottawa, outdoor poutine is perfect!

6

I’ll second the War Museum. But it’ll take you a long time to wander through, bank about 3 hrs for it.

The poutine van is the one with the Vietnamese Superman right? If so, and if he’s still there go for it. Also, head for the Market (or weather gods permitting) the Canal for some Beaver Tails. I recommend the Killaloe Sunrise. :slight_smile:

7

The second one.

As to Ottawa, the Museum of Civilization in Hull is another good museum, but rather far from your hotel. You’ll be very close to Scotiabank Place, home of the Senators. If you’re in to hockey think about taking in a game.

8

Kanata, Canada? You’re making my brain hurt.

9

If it makes you feel any better, no such place exists anymore, technically. What was once the city of Kanata has been absorbed into the City of Ottawa.

10

Well, it’s not as bad as New York, New York, anyway.

11

Also, I believe the Native Americans (Canadians?) called their land: Ka-na-ta, and the name Canada is a derivation.

So the old joke that ends with c, eh?, n, eh?, d, eh? is wrong.

12

You could try wandering about Parliament asking directions to your office, since you were recently elected.

13

If you like art, the National Gallery of Canada is well worth seeing. Here is the Gallery’s website.

Though it’s been a while since I’ve been there, I quite enjoyed Byward Market in the past. Here is their website. They also seem to have a calendar of events on their website.

Also, if you’re the political type, you can always take a wander by Parliament Hill and the Supreme Court of Canada.

14

In IPA, “Kanata” is really more like “kʌ-næ-tʌ”. The middle syllable is pronounced like “gnat” the insect. (Reference: my friend who used to live in Kanata)

You’ll be arriving right as Winterlude is ending, which is a shame.

Beyond what everyone else has said, I’m not sure what to tell you. Parliament really is interesting even if you’re not into politics - great architecture. And don’t pass up that poutine, ok?

15

Trust me I looked into this, but there is a hockey black-out due to the Olympics. :frowning:

My course is from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. Is it worth it to go downtown in the evening?

MtM

16

:smack:
I did know that. There’s also the Ottawa 67’s, a major-junior team, but they play downtown.

17

Stay downtown for dinner. There’s a bunch of good places to eat in the market (Fish Market, Black Tomato etc.) and a few bars/pubs to hit. The Heart and Crown comes to mind though it’s morphed into a sprawling collections of pubs linked together.

There are some movie places though the big screens are at the Palladium (on Carling) and the AMC 24 out by the Centrum Plaza. Both have bus access.