What are the "dont miss" things to do in Ottawa and Montreal?

[lizabu]

I'm going next week. We are staying downtown in both places. Sheraton Ottawa and Sheraton Le Centre in Montreal. We will have just 1 full day in each place. I would love suggestions or if someone wants to help me plan an itinerary.

I know I want to see the lights show on Parliament. I want to eat a beaver tail. I think there supposed to be something you can watch with Mounties.

Montreal...so far all I've thought about is what I want to eat...lol...poutine, Montreal smoked meat, bagels. I'd like to see something interesting too. Maybe the old city? IDK.

Please help point me in a direction.

 

[Gigi22]

They have the Changing the Guards ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on a daily basis, weather permitting, during most of the summer. The ceremony is at 10:00 a.m. You should plan to arrive at about 9:30 or 9:45 to get a good spot. Take water with you and wear sunscreen. Have your camera available, this is a good photo opportunity. There is no shade available, so prepare to be fried if it's hot.

The Hill is about a 6 block walk from the Sheraton. Takes me about 10 minutes and I'm a leisurely walker.

 

[Gigi22]

Beavertails. The closest Beavertail stand is at 69 George St., in the Byward Market. The shop opens at 10 a.m. daily. What I would do is walk there after viewing the Changing of the Guards. To get to the Beavertails, the most scenic walking route is to leave Parliament Hill, and turn left staying on the north side of Wellington Street. As you walk down Wellington, you will pass the East Block of the Parliament Buildings, if you look to your right you will see the National War Memorial -- the tomb of our unknown soldier is located on the far side of the memorial. Continuing along Wellington, you cross a bridge. Look down, and you see the Bytown Museum and the Rideau Canal. Then you pass in front of the (Fairmont) Chateau Laurier, which resembles a castle. Continue two blocks to the intersection of Rideau Street (Wellington becomes Rideau roughly in front of the Chateau Laurier) and Sussex St. Walk across Sussex, turn left. Walk one block down Sussex to George Street, cross to the far side of the street. Turn right. You continue on foot to the Beavertails shop, it is two or three blocks. Feel free to explore the shops and restaurants of the Byward Market area.

 

[lizabu]

Omg...you guys are amazing! Thank you! I'm starting to get super excited.

 

[Kogo Shuko]

There are LOTS of museums in Ottawa:
Aviation museum, War museum, the Museum of Civilization (it's in Gatineau), the Science and Technology museum, the Natural History museum (dinosaurs!).

The Musical Ride Centre is indeed in Ottawa, but no promise the actual horses will be there as they tour from May to October. But some horses are probably there. In recent years, you could view the practices for free.

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/mr-ce/centre-eng.htm

In Montreal, my favourite things to do include the Biodome (it's like an indoor zoo with recreated habitats), the botanical gardens, the planetarium. There is also an amusement park, but it doesn't seem like you have time for that.

 

[Bertie9396]

I just recently spent 3 days in Montreal. I am not a fan of the smoked meat sandwich but I love poutine. We ate at Dunn's. If you don't like smoked meat sandwiches they have lots of other yummy options as well. You didn't mention in your post if you have kids with you or not. Hubby and I visited Mont Royal, Biodome, La Tour and Vieux Montreal and Vieux Port and the Casino. We enjoyed it all. If you have kids, hit up the Biodome and La Tour for sure. We were at the Port on the Saturday night and it was alot of fun for all ages as well. We also took a boat cruise. I love Montreal. I haven't been to Ottawa in many years so I can't really comment on that. Bon Voyage

 

[pipertoad]

They have the Changing the Guards ceremony on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on a daily basis, weather permitting, during most of the summer. The ceremony is at 10:00 a.m. You should plan to arrive at about 9:30 or 9:45 to get a good spot. Take water with you and wear sunscreen. Have your camera available, this is a good photo opportunity. There is no shade available, so prepare to be fried if it's hot. The Hill is about a 6 block walk from the Sheraton. Takes me about 10 minutes and I'm a leisurely walker.

There is also an hourly changing posting of guards at Rideau Hall and the Tomb of the unknown soldier a the monument at elgin and wellington streets. New guards are piped on and off on the hour. This is the reason the larger ceremony takes place on Parliament hill. A lot photo opportunities at Rideau hall plus you can get a tour of the house the Governor General lives in. Often they have other events on the lawn such s concerts.

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[Gigi22]

There is also an hourly changing posting of guards at Rideau Hall and the Tomb of the unknown soldier a the monument at elgin and wellington streets. New guards are piped on and off on the hour. This is the reason the larger ceremony takes place on Parliament hill. A lot photo opportunities at Rideau hall plus you can get a tour of the house the Governor General lives in. Often they have other events on the lawn such s concerts.

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Not quite right. Changing the Guards has been done on the Hill for decades (I viewed the ceremony in the 1960s) whereas the tomb of the unknown soldier is relatively recent. There's currently a restoration project of the entire War Memorial, so a lot of the monument is under scaffolding. There's a lot of restoration being done on Parliament Hill too.

 

[Gigi22]

I just recently spent 3 days in Montreal. I am not a fan of the smoked meat sandwich but I love poutine. We ate at Dunn's. If you don't like smoked meat sandwiches they have lots of other yummy options as well. You didn't mention in your post if you have kids with you or not. Hubby and I visited Mont Royal, Biodome, La Tour and Vieux Montreal and Vieux Port and the Casino. We enjoyed it all. If you have kids, hit up the Biodome and La Tour for sure. We were at the Port on the Saturday night and it was alot of fun for all ages as well. We also took a boat cruise. I love Montreal. I haven't been to Ottawa in many years so I can't really comment on that. Bon Voyage

For smoked meat try Chez Schwartz Charcuterie Hebraique de Montreal at 3895 boul. St-Laurent. Be warned, order the sandwich, or you will never finish the smoked meat plate.

For bagels, try either St-Viateur Bagel & Cafe, 1127 av. du Mont-Royal est, or Fairmont Bagel at 74 av. Fairmont oust. The St-Viateur offers a nice light breakfast, bagel, cream cheese and coffee.

 

[lizabu]

Thanks everyone! I'm bringing my teenaged son. It sound like there will be lots to do.

 

[ccudmore]

For Ottawa, if you don't mind a short drive, the Cold War Museum (Diefenbunker) in Carp is good too. It's the former secret underground control centre in case there was ever a nuclear war. It's like a self-contained underground village that's now been converted into a museum.

If you're here next week you'll be here in the middle of Bluesfest - a huge outdoor music festival in front of the War Museum. Line-up can bee seen at http://ottawabluesfest.ca/line-up. Also note that during Bluesfest parking can be an issue around the War Museum, especially on the weekends and evenings.

Finally, if you want to take in a sports event, the Ottawa Fury (professional soccer) play their home opener in the brand new TD Stadium on July 20th.

 

[Girlfriday17]

For Montreal - Musee de Beaux Arts (I saw my first real Monet there), Schwartz' for smoked meat sandwiches, La Banquise for poutine, Simons for cool but affordable clothes, Pointe a Calliere for Quebec history and if you are out late and want to eat go to Boustan for schwarma. We had so much fun. Didn't even rent a car we bought a metro pass. Have fun, if I wasn't going to DL in September and WDW in October I would be jealous.

 

[Girlfriday17]

Oh and you will never eat a regular bagel again once you have a Montreal one. Thank goodness there is a place in Calgary.

 

[Josh Hendy]

There are LOTS of museums in Ottawa:
Aviation museum, War museum, the Museum of Civilization (it's in Gatineau), the Science and Technology museum, the Natural History museum (dinosaurs!).

I found to my surprise just the other day that the Museum of Civilization has had a name change to "Canadian Museum of History". Old wine in new bottles! LOL

FWIW when my kids were little we really enjoyed the "kids museum" (separate admission) section of Museum of Civilization/History but found the rest to be quite boring. It also has the only IMAX theater in town.

I can't rate any of the other museums since I haven't been to most of them in a long time, but the Aviation Museum is a definite must-see for airplane enthusiasts. Just west of the Aviation Museum is the pasture where the Musical Ride horses graze (when not on tour).

Walk down to the Ottawa River near Parliament hill (at the bottom of the Rideau Canal locks). It's very scenic, especially at sunset. During the day or after dark, there is a very pretty view of Ottawa from across the river on the bicycle path near the Museum of History. Sunsets can also be enjoyed from up on top of Astrolabe Point (the prominent cliff with a statue on top). Be careful crossing the streets near Astrolabe Point and the National Gallery! The sunsets are also nice when viewed from the lookouts on Rockcliffe Parkway (just east of downtown).

In Montreal I always enjoyed the view from the top of Mont Royal. If you're keen and fit it's fun to walk up the steps from the area of McGill University. Otherwise drive up.

 

[Chickkypoo]

I second Beavertails and Schwartz's Deli.

You may want to check out the Royal Canadian Mint. It's not too far from parliament hill and they do tours throughout the day. I've done the tour twice now and really enjoyed it: http://www.mint.ca/store/mint/visit...A7234CB0185411655E963E60.node2-2#.U8w9TZVOVMs

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Don't forget going to old montreal while you're in Montreal, also in Ottawa my family used to like to go to Sparks street it's a pedestrian only street.