Ottawa Trip - Empty Closets - A safe online community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people coming out

TheRoof · 18th Mar 2011, 02:55 PM

Hey you EC canadians,
so i think i'm going to visit Ottawa, Canada during spring break, which is this coming week for me (well actually it's more like starting today)
What are good things to see and do in Ottawa?i'm planning to stay three nights there.
Any tips, suggestions, ideas would be greatly appreciated

Thanks!

zeratul · 18th Mar 2011, 03:52 PM

Get a tour of the Parliament buildings. Walk around that area in general as well, byward market, rideau centre, bunch of scenery. Depending on who you are with, you may try and see if you can ride a bike through the trails, Ottawa has an extensive network of bike and hike trails that you can basically use to get access to all parts of the greater ottawa area and the ones along the rideau canal/ottawa river are quite scenic and it leads you directly to Parliament Hill.

The culture and museums if that's what shakes your feather-tails. The war museum, the aviation museum, art gallery, canadian museum of civilization just across the ottawa river in Hull/Gatineau, theres a good casino nearby too in that area.

Other than that, theres not much else in Ottawa.

(lived there for quite a significant portion of my growing up)

endless poetry · 18th Mar 2011, 07:43 PM

Bascially a lot of museums, government offices, nice people, Byward Market,...

there are also Tim Horton's

it's truly a beautiful city (when the air is not a tad saturated as it has 2 rivers and a canal running straight through it)

English people, French people, anyone in between and beyond. Say "bonjour" they say "bonjour", say "hello" they say "hello" (it actually works)

Parks and hills and banks.
Famous people, bronze people, art.

=)

In short: everything you need to not bore you. ^^

TheRoof · 18th Mar 2011, 08:03 PM

THanks guys! i love canada, so im excited for this trip

Fintan · 18th Mar 2011, 08:34 PM

I love Ottawa! I doubt you can still skate on the Rideau, but the canal that weaves through the city is the longest skating rink in the world during the winter months! I used to skate from my University Residence to the downtown, when I was energetic!

InaRut · 18th Mar 2011, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fintan

I love Ottawa! I doubt you can still skate on the Rideau, but the canal that weaves through the city is the longest skating rink in the world during the winter months! I used to skate from my University Residence to the downtown, when I was energetic!

(Spent my summer in Ottawa...Partying and working!)

Really? From Carleton then? Wow! Good for you. I guess I was biking that distance in the summer.

What is there to do? Well if you got nice spring weather then just walk some of the walking/biking paths around downtown Ottawa or just around Ottawa.

If you love a good party then depending on your night the Byward market is a good place to catch a pint or any kind of pub food.
Heart and Crown is definatly a must see if your in the market area as it's always busy and always has something going on.

Now if you wanna check out Gay Bars. Mecury Lounge in the Market on Wednesday is gay night/drag show on the TOP floor. I think the Edge is open on Friday's and Saturday's which is another gay bar...but I didn't like it very much.

But the best time to drink in Ottawa is on Sunday. If Edge has it's rooftop patio open for Sunday then you DEFINATLY need to go there for cheap beer night before 11. Usually not that many people there and a lot of straight people end up showing up too.... But after cheap beers... Walk down the street to the bar called Babylon on Bank st. That Bar is a REALLY good time to be had on Sunday. It's like 70's funk and rock music (The Doors, David Bowie, Nancy Sinatra, Michael Jackson...) but the WHOLE atmosphere is just young, vibrant and energetic. Honestly, never had a bad sunday night at Babylon (MoD night is the name of the night)

Oh and if you are in Ottawa on Satuday the 26th then you have to go to Zaphod's (Downtown market) cause my friend's from P.E.I are playing there and they rock a really good show.

If drinking isn't really your thing (or if your underage forget to check), then there is always the parliment buildings to check out and TONS of museums if you are feeling cultural. Oh and in Gatineau I think there's a huge Paintball field that might be opening up soon. If you like Paintball.

....I miss Ottawa

endless poetry · 20th Mar 2011, 08:06 AM

^ I'm actually there the 26th I think but I'm underage =(

TheRoof · 20th Mar 2011, 05:46 PM

Wow InaRut thanks for the plenty of info

the food here is really amazing btw

)) tomorrow im going to lunch to apparently famous restaurant place in bymarket area....can't waitttt

InaRut · 20th Mar 2011, 06:37 PM

Oh oh oh! Is it the heart and crown?

TheRoof · 22nd Mar 2011, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InaRut

Oh oh oh! Is it the heart and crown?

no, it was kitchen/wine/checutarie (did i spell that right?) on murray street, but i did pass by the heart and crown. i tried sunday brunch at checutarie place but it was soo full and they had reservation filled out til end of brunch time, so i had lunch on monday...it was interesting eating shaved ox tongue XD
I found it surprising how many people spoke french in ottawa, cuz it's in ontario, which i thought used english...like the street signs were all both in english and french, and most people in stores and restaurants seemed to speak primarily french when not spoken to in english, which in that case they spoke almost perfect english, so it was definitely interesting how adept bilingual they were.

InaRut · 22nd Mar 2011, 07:23 PM

Well it is Canada's captial. You expect us to respect both of our languages

Glad you had fun though! What did you do?

Fintan · 22nd Mar 2011, 08:09 PM

You two are making me miss Ottawa!

RedState · 22nd Mar 2011, 08:15 PM

Montreal is MUCH better!
God I love Montreal.

TheRoof · 23rd Mar 2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InaRut

Well it is Canada's captial. You expect us to respect both of our languages

Glad you had fun though! What did you do?

Mostly walking around the downtown area, and especially the Bytown Market bc they had tons of stores and cafes and restaurants. This bakery or something called Le Moulin de Provence had really good pastries so I ended up having breakfast during my stay in Ottawa. Also I went to parliament hill. it was pretty magnificent, but some ppl were having protest thingy in front of the parliament, which was...interesting to watch XD
Also walked along Ridieau Canal, went shopping to Ridieu Center, went to National Gallery of Canada, and did little spa in a hotel XD
Unfortunately, I didn't have much chance to experience nightlife bc it was family trip, but definitely if I had gone with friends, it would have been fun to go to clubs and stuff :/
But yea all in all it was a fun trip.

18th Mar 2011, 02:55 PM	#1
TheRoof True Blue Full Member Gender: genderqueer Orientation: I like who I like. Location: NY Age: 20 Posts: 1,459 Join Date: Nov 2008	Ottawa Trip Hey you EC canadians, so i think i'm going to visit Ottawa, Canada during spring break, which is this coming week for me (well actually it's more like starting today) What are good things to see and do in Ottawa?i'm planning to stay three nights there. Any tips, suggestions, ideas would be greatly appreciated Thanks!

18th Mar 2011, 03:52 PM	#2
zeratul Prelate Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Location: Toronto Posts: 748 Join Date: Jan 2011	Re: Ottawa Trip Get a tour of the Parliament buildings. Walk around that area in general as well, byward market, rideau centre, bunch of scenery. Depending on who you are with, you may try and see if you can ride a bike through the trails, Ottawa has an extensive network of bike and hike trails that you can basically use to get access to all parts of the greater ottawa area and the ones along the rideau canal/ottawa river are quite scenic and it leads you directly to Parliament Hill. The culture and museums if that's what shakes your feather-tails. The war museum, the aviation museum, art gallery, canadian museum of civilization just across the ottawa river in Hull/Gatineau, theres a good casino nearby too in that area. Other than that, theres not much else in Ottawa. (lived there for quite a significant portion of my growing up) __________________ I am a lord of shadows. I claim the shadows that the Shadow may not. I am the strong arm of deliverance. I am Shadowstrider. I am the Scales of Justice. I am He-Who-Guards-Unseen. I am Shadowslayer. I am Nameless. They shall not go unpunished. My way is hard, but I serve unbroken.

18th Mar 2011, 07:43 PM	#3
endless poetry We're off to see the wizard Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: A few friends know Location: Ottawa Age: 18 Posts: 547 Join Date: Aug 2009	Re: Ottawa Trip Bascially a lot of museums, government offices, nice people, Byward Market,... there are also Tim Horton's it's truly a beautiful city (when the air is not a tad saturated as it has 2 rivers and a canal running straight through it) English people, French people, anyone in between and beyond. Say "bonjour" they say "bonjour", say "hello" they say "hello" (it actually works) Parks and hills and banks. Famous people, bronze people, art. =) In short: everything you need to not bore you. ^^ __________________ Se eu te pudesse abraçar. Written no book of this life, I am a mere pamphlet who thinks that I am a best selling novel.

18th Mar 2011, 08:03 PM	#4
TheRoof True Blue Full Member Gender: genderqueer Orientation: I like who I like. Location: NY Age: 20 Posts: 1,459 Join Date: Nov 2008	Re: Ottawa Trip THanks guys! i love canada, so im excited for this trip

18th Mar 2011, 08:34 PM	#5
Fintan EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: My Family & some Friends! Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 28 Posts: 540 Join Date: Aug 2010	Re: Ottawa Trip I love Ottawa! I doubt you can still skate on the Rideau, but the canal that weaves through the city is the longest skating rink in the world during the winter months! I used to skate from my University Residence to the downtown, when I was energetic!

20th Mar 2011, 08:06 AM	#7
endless poetry We're off to see the wizard Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: A few friends know Location: Ottawa Age: 18 Posts: 547 Join Date: Aug 2009	Re: Ottawa Trip ^ I'm actually there the 26th I think but I'm underage =( __________________ Se eu te pudesse abraçar. Written no book of this life, I am a mere pamphlet who thinks that I am a best selling novel.

20th Mar 2011, 05:46 PM	#8
TheRoof True Blue Full Member Gender: genderqueer Orientation: I like who I like. Location: NY Age: 20 Posts: 1,459 Join Date: Nov 2008	Re: Ottawa Trip Wow InaRut thanks for the plenty of info the food here is really amazing btw )) tomorrow im going to lunch to apparently famous restaurant place in bymarket area....can't waitttt

20th Mar 2011, 06:37 PM	#9
InaRut EC's Nu-Disco Walrus Full Member Gender: IRL Yaoi Character Orientation: (｡◕‿◕。) Out Status: ㅎ_ㅎ Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Age: 22 Posts: 7,111 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Ottawa Trip Oh oh oh! Is it the heart and crown? __________________ "The first duty of every Starfleet Officer is to the truth. Whether it's scientific truth, historical truth, or personal truth. It is the guiding principle to which Starfleet is based. If you can't find it within yourself, to tell the truth about what happened, then you don't deserve to where that uniform."

22nd Mar 2011, 07:23 PM	#11
InaRut EC's Nu-Disco Walrus Full Member Gender: IRL Yaoi Character Orientation: (｡◕‿◕。) Out Status: ㅎ_ㅎ Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Age: 22 Posts: 7,111 Join Date: Oct 2007	Re: Ottawa Trip Well it is Canada's captial. You expect us to respect both of our languages Glad you had fun though! What did you do? __________________ "The first duty of every Starfleet Officer is to the truth. Whether it's scientific truth, historical truth, or personal truth. It is the guiding principle to which Starfleet is based. If you can't find it within yourself, to tell the truth about what happened, then you don't deserve to where that uniform."

22nd Mar 2011, 08:09 PM	#12
Fintan EC Addict Full Member Gender: Male Orientation: Gay Out Status: My Family & some Friends! Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 28 Posts: 540 Join Date: Aug 2010	Re: Ottawa Trip You two are making me miss Ottawa!

22nd Mar 2011, 08:15 PM	#13
RedState The Grendel to Everyone's Beowulf Full Member Gender: Male Out Status: 2 Location: The Southeastern Conference Age: 30 Posts: 1,448 Join Date: Aug 2008	Re: Ottawa Trip Montreal is MUCH better! God I love Montreal. __________________