Ottawa Vacation

[Sugar Jones]

We are heading to Ottawa for a quick family vacation in a couple of weeks. The only thing we have planned is Museum of Civilization. We have family there we are visiting, so we don't have much time for touristy things, but what can you reccomend?

Also we are needing to rent my father a scooter or a wheelchair so we can walk from our hotel to Byward Market and such. Any reccomendations for that?

Thanks!

 

[ottawamom]

Where are you staying? That will be a deciding factor in what is available in the neighbourhood for quick things to do. Boat cruise along the canal. Watch changing of the guards on Parliament Hill (daily 10am). Must have a Beaver Tail when you're in the Market. Just a few quick suggestions.

 

[bankr63]

Ontario Medical Supply (www.oms.ca) is probably the largest local supplier of rental equipment. They are usually for in-home use and rentals might be weekly only. If they won't do a short term, they might suggest someone who will.

Not sure what age groups you have, but I find the Sound and Light show at Parliament Hill (evenings around dusk) is fascinating. We have more museums and galleries than probably anywhere else in the country, so what you see can be tailored to your interests. Fine Art? see the National Gallery. Coin Collector? The Royal Canadian Mint or the Currency Museum. Theatre or Dance? See what is playing at the National Arts Centre. Photo Buff? National Photography Museum. Animals - the Museum of Nature (old Victoria Museum, great architecture). Hot day with kids? Calypso Waterpark or Mont Cascades Waterpark. Hiking? the Gatineau Park (King Mountain is a favorite family trail). The list is probably endless.

Our downtown is a bit of a mess right now with Ottawa's big dig going on (underground light rail), so expect some traffic delays in the centre core.

 

[Sugar Jones]

Thanks!

The kids are 14, 12 & 9. My father can't walk very far so we can't do a hike this trip. My uncle is retired from the National Art Gallery, so we've been there numerous times. I'd love to to the Mint, do you think the kids would be interested in that? It's buskerfest while we are there so we will watch the peformers at night. We are staying at The Sheraton, so not too far from everything. As long as we can rent my father a wheel chair we should be able to get him everywhere with us. Calypso looks awesome! We might do that on the Saturday, as the family we are visiting has a wedding in Quebec anyway!

Any great restaurants around?

I also thought about maybe driving through Gatineau? Is there much to see? We drove through there once at Thanksgiving and it was stunning with the colour changes!

 

[Aladora]

What about the Diefenbunker?

 

[bankr63]

Thanks!

The kids are 14, 12 & 9. My father can't walk very far so we can't do a hike this trip. My uncle is retired from the National Art Gallery, so we've been there numerous times. I'd love to to the Mint, do you think the kids would be interested in that? It's buskerfest while we are there so we will watch the peformers at night. We are staying at The Sheraton, so not too far from everything. As long as we can rent my father a wheel chair we should be able to get him everywhere with us. Calypso looks awesome! We might do that on the Saturday, as the family we are visiting has a wedding in Quebec anyway!

Any great restaurants around?

I also thought about maybe driving through Gatineau? Is there much to see? We drove through there once at Thanksgiving and it was stunning with the colour changes!

The mint is okay if the kids have any interest in coins. Be sure to go on a weekday when they are actually running production; weekends you will just be seeing an idle production line.
If the kids have any interest in military history, the War Museum is a must see. It was one of my favorite museums at a young age; well, still is, but I haven't been to a museum in a while. Handicapped access it very good at that location (lots of veterans touring).
There are a ton of dining options across the scale; depends on what your tastes are. The biggest concentration of restaurants are in the market area (5 blocks from Sheraton).
Some of my other favorites, but all have stairs: SmoqueShack has some of the best BBQ in the city. Laid back Ahora is our go-to for Mexican; it is very inexpensive good food, popular with the university crowd, and a cross between counter/table service (order at counter/served at table; like a Panera). Fancier dining at Play; one of Stephen Beckta's (a top local chef) 3 restaurants. Most of my favorites are smaller and in older buildings with limited access for your dad unless he can do short stair transfers.
But I am just one person; I would spend a little time on Urban Spoon or similar and see what the masses say. I tend to keep going back to my favorites...