Ottawa is anything but the stereotypical, sleepy government town and there is a lot to do for everyone from millennial to senior. As the nation’s capital, Ottawa remains recession-proof and the city’s well-defined and unique neighborhoods (The Glebe, The Byward Market, Elgin Central, Kitchissippi, Kanata, Nepean and Copeland Park, etc.) have a thriving restaurant and food selection scene, including Le Baccara, one of only a handful of Canadian restaurants awarded the CAA-AAA Five Diamond distinction.
Then there are the numerous music clubs, rock clubs, dance houses, bars and other unique attractions that open to visitors daily…and nightly. If you are visiting the city and looking for things to do at night, there are a bevy of activities waiting to be explored. If you visit the city during the popular Winterlude festival (the largest outdoor winter carnival in the world), you can spend your day skating on the city’s 7-km canal, visiting the ice sculptures at Dow’s Lake, eating BeaverTails – a local deep-fried pastry treat – or take part in one of the many pickup hockey games being played out each day on the 100+ outdoor rinks that are spread throughout city neighborhoods. You can also go snowshoeing in the Gatineau Hills close by or take an afternoon stroll through Ottawa’s historic Byward Market, where you can visit the many shops while darting in and out of local pubs for a hot toddy or hot chocolate.
After a day of interlude activity, you can retreat to your hotel room and decompress by watching a movie or ordering room service. A popular option that you may wish to consider is UK’s top slot games provider – William Hill, which offers unique chances to win money and have fun or play free bingo at gamevillage.com. Online gambling has become incredibly popular, and will ensure that you remain entertained and relaxed while resting up for the next day’s adventures in the city. Alongside traditional methods of gambling, you can discover new and exciting possibilities.
However, if you are one of those travelers who wants to keep going night and day while visiting, Ottawa offers all kinds of winter Evening Attractions. Fifteen minutes from downtown Ottawa, you can hit the popular Camp Fortune ski hills which offer skiing or snowboarding until 10pm. If you like theatre, visit the National Arts Centre (NAC) on Elgin Street. The NAC presents over 600 performances on four stages every year and offers something for everyone – Music, Theatre and Dance. The NAC is home to the world-renowned National Arts Centre Orchestra, led by internationally famous violinist/violist, conductor and educator Pinchas Zukerman. The “Get a Live Rush” program (www.liverush.ca) allows students (ages 13-29) to purchase two last-minute tickets (for themselves and a guest) on the day of selected performances at the special rate of $10 each. The Ottawa Little Theatre is Canada’s oldest community theatre and presents a great mix of comedies, mysteries and dramas to entertain diverse audiences. If you are a museum buff, the Canadian War Museum (CMW) focuses on military conflicts that occurred on Canadian soil, involved Canadian forces, or had a significant effect on the country and its people. The CMW is open till 8pm every Thursday. The Haunted Walk of Ottawa continues to be popular with locals and tourists alike who are fascinated by the city’s darker history and the many tales of the “haunting” of the nation’s capital. Visitors can choose from the Original Haunted Walk, the Crime and Punishment Jail Tour (at the Old Carleton County Jail) and the Naughty Ottawa Pub Walk (for those 19 years or older). All stories are thoroughly researched and will delight even the skeptics in the group! These are just a few of the many options available to people visiting the capital – and we did not even mention the Parliament of Canada Tours or the hugely popular Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill. However, part of the fun of exploring Ottawa is to learn about its many treasures on your own during your stay.