things TO DO
Yoga on Parliament Hill
Credit: Ottawa Tourism
There’s no need to stray too far from the center of Ottawa to get a
taste of some of the city’s hippest neighborhoods. The ByWard Market
district is as charming as a place can get. Small shops, places to eat
and trendy nightspots are part of what makes this one of the most
popular areas of the city. Adjacent to ByWard Market, steps from
Parliament Hill is the fashion/arts/theatre district of Rideau Downtown.
This is where you’ll find many of the festivals, a concentration of
award-winning restaurants, upscale shops, as well as the National Arts
Theatre and Little Ottawa Theatre.
Bank Street, heading south from Parliament Hill, makes for a leisurely
stroll among boutique shops and cafes. It leads to The Glebe, a trendy
neighborhood that has become something of a hipster hangout
in Ottawa. Just south of The Glebe is Old Ottawa South, which is
experiencing a spillover cool effect from its neighbor to the north.
If you want to venture a bit further afield, Westboro Village is also
worth a visit. A roughly 10-minute taxi ride from downtown, the “urban
village” gets less tourist traffic than the more central areas, but with
more than 200 shops, restaurants and businesses, Westboro Village is a
pleasant piece of Ottawa to see.
getting THERE
Arriving at the Ottawa International Airport (YOW) is a breeze,
especially with multiple daily nonstop flights on United Airlines and
Air Canada from both Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Reagan
National Airport (DCA).
YOW is not a large airport and it’s easy to navigate in both official
languages (English and French). Arrivals and access to transportation
are all on one level, with just 18 gates and 5 baggage claim carousels. A
taxi ride into downtown will cost less than $40 (CAN) and many hotels
offer a shuttle for guests. For the budget and eco-conscious traveler,
public transit busses run regularly into the downtown core for a cash
fare of $3.50, or buy an unlimited ride day pass for $10.50. Car rentals
are available at the airport, but a car rental is not necessary to make the
most out of your visit. Attractions which are not within walking distance
or on a bus route, are generally an inexpensive taxi or UBER ride away.
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Credit: Ottawa Tourism
SUMMER 2018 49 FLYWASHINGTON.COM