So we decided to go to Ottawa to celebrate Grandma’s b-day and to help her check off an item on her bucket list. Grandpa also took the kid to our first NHL game together.
GENERAL
- We arrived on Friday and it was cold due to the wind
- The canal was closed and tentatively closed due to the warmer weather earlier in the week
- Driving in, the canal was not going to be open until Sunday afternoon, but the weather got cold enough so it opened at 8 am on Saturday
- We were in the Byward Market area staying at Les Suites
- Restaurants were extremely busy on Saturday so early reservations if you want to eat out
SKATING
- The canal skating was windy going in one direction but not in the other
- In general it was not as windy on the canal
- I needed to dress more appropriately for exercise in the cold
- There was a hut at the start of the skating 0 km, where you could put your skates on and leave your boots on a honour system
- There were benches and picnic tables where you could change your boots/skates also
- There was a large crack in the ice that you had to be worried about, but in general the ice was quite smooth
OTTAWA SENATORS
- Drive from downtown Ottawa was an easy drive
- Used Parking lot #4 and used Highway exit West of the Canadian Tire Centre
- Ottawa won 5-2
- Leaving from CTC using from the lot we used was easy