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travel / great places / cg recommends / ottawa
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Ottawa's Winter Wonderland
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| Skating on the Rideau Canal |
UlanBator, Mongolia, is the coldest capital in
the world. Ottawa is second — beating out even Moscow and Reykjavik.
Despite this dubious claim to fame, Ottawa is without doubt my favourite
Canadian winter destination.
I got to know Ottawa while attending Carleton University.
Living in Ottawa allowed
me to experience Ottawa's many facets.
Some people may still see Ottawa as a "subarctic lumber village
converted by royal mandate into a political cock-pit" as a
19th-century commentator once described it. Granted, the politicians
are still scrapping like angry roosters in the 'cock-pit' that is Parliament
Hill, and it is definitely cold, but Ottawa has become a bastion of
Canadian culture — indoors and out, summer and winter.
Spring flowers abound throughout Ottawa during the famous Tulip Festival.
In summer, the many parks and bike paths come alive. Autumn is marked
by intensely vibrant foliage. It is no less beautiful in winter.
Unlike Toronto, where I currently reside, Ottawa is not a city of slush.
It gets blanketed with snow. This whiter-than-white cityscape is truly
incredible, and keeps residents of Ottawa enjoying winter, rather than
complaining about it like we do in Toronto.
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| Sunset on a frozen Rideau Canal |
The
world's longest skating rink, the Rideau Canal, is the hub of Ottawa's winter activities.
Before living in Ottawa, skating meant doing circles on local rinks,
which was fun for about ten minutes. However, the seven-kilometre canal
affords a good long skate with changing scenery.
Not only is it the site of events such as Winterlude (a winter festival in February), it
is also a great place for people watching. One will see parents teaching
children to skate, impromptu hockey matches, Elizabeth Manley and Kurt
Browning wannabes, and executives skating to work, briefcases in hand.
Skating from Carleton (where the rink begins) to downtown would definitely
include at stop at an on-ice kiosk for hot chocolate and Beaver Tails.
Beaver Tails are a local specialty that consist of fried dough covered
with a multitude of toppings, including my favourite, butter and maple
syrup (click here for the recipe).
It is true that some days in Ottawa the
weather can be so cold that outdoor activities are unfathomable. This
is the perfect time to spend a long day experiencing the city's world-class
museums. There are so many wonderful museums or historical places in
the Ottawa/Hull region: Museum of Nature, Museum of Civilization, Museum of Science and Technology, War Museum, Royal Mint, National Archives, Supreme Court, and more. All well worth a visit.
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| The National Gallery of Canada |
My favourite is the National Gallery. The architecture is stunning
inside and out, making just strolling around a treat. Their travelling
exhibits are first-rate, and their Canadian art, specifically the Group
of Seven, is the best. Where they really surpass most museums around
the world is in their exemplary modern art collection.
They go out of their way to find not only collections of the famous
but also works by lesser-known, equally inspired artists. I also relish
sitting by the infamous "Voice of Fire," listening to how many people
point out: "they spent millions on that?" or "my three
year old could do that!"
After a day skating or museum-hopping, I love heading to the ByWard
Market for a cappuccino at Café Whim or a meal at any number
of fabulous restaurants. Almost every cuisine imaginable is found in
this downtown area within a range of prices. The Market is also know
for its interesting stores, artists shops, grocers, and boutiques so
it's always fun to walk around.
I loved Ottawa so much I swore that every year I would return. Nine
years later, I haven't missed a year.
Glen Farrelly, Web Intern
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