OT~ Ottawa

[cabmom]

Hi everyone, we are taking a short trip to Ottawa this week with the boys.
Last time we went we did the Governor Generals house, Parliament Hill, and Bayward Market. Oh, we also did the wave pool in Kanata. We are staying at the Algonquin residence.
What do you recommend with 4 boys?

Thanks!
Marilynn

 

[NARM Forever]

Don't miss the Museum of Civilisation in Hull. The Children's Museum is great and has a good outdoor area, my boys also enjoy the Canada Hall exhibition and Postal Museum. The bonus is that you can eat looking over the Ottawa River at Parliament Hill.

Enjoy Ottawa!!

NARM

 

[2forMe]

They have just redone the Museum of Nature.. think dinosaurs etc... Museum of Science and Technology is fun too. There is also Mont Cascades for a waterpark and many beaches

 

[jojo14]

Here's what I wrote to another famiy visiting Ottawa:

Your list of dos is a good one - here are a few more:

If you have a car while you're here, you might want to take a drive and then hike through the gatineau hills (your hotel can give you maps). You could go down to Dow's Lake at the far end of the canal from you - gorgeous gardens, and you can rent peddle boats or canoes.

I've never done this tour but it's supposed to be fun - "Haunted Walk of Ottawa. Mon-Wed at 8 p.m. Thurs-Sat at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Meeting place is in front of D’Arcy McGee’s, at the corner of Elgin and Sparks Sts. $12 adults, $8 students/seniors and free for kids 10-and-under when accompanied by an adult. Tour Director Glen Shackleton blends local history and ghost stories into a 90-minute walk. Tours often sell out in the summer, so registering in advance is recommended, by calling 613 232-0344."

At the national gallery, there's a Renoir exhibit this summer. They do have a kids part where they can do art and have it hung in the gallery. The Children's Museum, inside the Museum of Civilization, and the dinosaur exhibit at the Museum of Nature. The Museum of Science and Tech is a good, hands-on one for the kids, but a 15 min drive from your hotel.

Walking through the market on Sat or Sun is fun, usually lots going on, buskers etc. Kid friendly restaurants: In the market, the Lone Star is loud, fun, tex mex with yummy fajitas; Blue Cactus is good for kids as welll Zak's diner is a fun spot for kids too. My dd LOVES Elgin Street Diner, close enough to our hotel, on Elgin St (not the market). You have to "upgrade" to poutine here if you havn't tried it!

PM me if you need any more info. Have a great holiday!!

 

[Blndiebby25]

Don't miss the Museum of Civilisation in Hull. The Children's Museum is great and has a good outdoor area, my boys also enjoy the Canada Hall exhibition and Postal Museum. The bonus is that you can eat looking over the Ottawa River at Parliament Hill.

Enjoy Ottawa!!

NARM

I second the Children's Museum. My boys and I just got back from visiting my parents in Ottawa for 2 weeks. The boys had a blast at the Children's Museum! There is so much to do.

Other things we did were:

- Kanata wave pool (it was very packed)
- Glow in the dark mini putt at the Putting Edge
- the Experimental Farm (it was pretty fun to see all the animals and they got to help make some ice cream) http://www.agriculture.technomuses.ca/english/indexhpnagr.cfm
- Parliament Building to watch the changing of the guard
- Watched some boats go through the Locks by Parliament Hill (the boys thought this was very neat)
- Saunders Farm in Munster, ON (they have 10 or 11 mazes you can go through they are made of trees, grapevines, corn, etc., there are activities to do while you go through the mazes, they also have a small water spray park the kids can run through) http://www.saundersfarm.com/pages/MAZE-HOME.html
- Go Karting and mini putt at Karters Korner in Stittsville, ON http://www.karterskorner.com/