3 great things to do in Ottawa this winter
- Ottawa Travel Guide
- |
- Friday, 02 November 2012 16:24
There's no better place to spend the holidays than the winter wonderland that is Ottawa. The Canadian capital gets into the spirit early on and doesn't stop until it's practically springtime, giving guests at Ottawa hotels countless opportunities to enjoy all of the escapades the city has to offer. From colourfully lit streets to snow-covered trees and the frozen Rideau Canal, Ottawa looks as though it was taken straight out of a children's book whenever winter rolls around.
Whether visitors are staying only for the weekend or the entire holiday season, there are a few essential things they need to experience before they pack up and head home:
1. Rideau Canal Skateway
Don't know how to skate? This winter may be the best time to try it for the first time. The picturesque Rideau Canal is a centrepiece of life in Ottawa, and when it freezes over, thousands of residents and visitors strap on their skates and slide their way down the 7.8-kilometre (4.8-mile) ice rink. Even if visitors didn't bring their own pair of skates, they have no excuses: There are rental facilities along the frozen waterway.
2. Camp Fortune
For all of the thrill seekers staying in Ottawa accommodations this winter, Camp Fortune is the perfect choice. Located within the picturesque Gatineau Park, Camp Fortune has 23 different downhill skiing trails to choose from, including seven lifts and three ski areas where visitors can commence their wintry holiday from the gently sloping hilltops. Like the Rideau Canal Skateway, Camp Fortune has rental facilities for visitors who didn't bring their own gear.
3. Christmas Lights Across Canada
It'll be impossible for visitors to avoid seeing Christmas Lights Across Canada in Ottawa, but it's still no less an essential activity the entire family can enjoy. Beginning in early December, the streets of the Canadian capital will be aglow with more than a quarter of a million lights. More than 70 landmarks, including Confederation, Boulevard and, of course, Parliament Hill, will be festively decorated. All visitors have to do is take a walk with their loved ones and have their cameras ready to take unforgettable family photos.
