"Coming to Ottawa" Topic

I'm visiting Ottawa at the beginning of February. I already have a trip to the war museum and air museum planned. What else should be on my "must see / do" list if I have a spare day over a weekend? (apart from keeping warm, that is!!)

Fandom II and the Hobby House if you're a wargamer and model builder :)

Definitely Fandom II.

Hobby Center is more gamer centric that hobby house but they are near the airport so not as easy from downtown so I am not sure if that works for you. Still it is Ottawa so it is 20 minutes by car.

Fandom II is the main game store in the city so if you hit one place that is it.

If you ice skate, the Rideau Canal might well be frozen and that is apparently a lovely thing. Indoors, the Museum of Civilization (across the river in Gatineau) is interesting, but less so than the War Museum.

Yes come see the Rideau Canal because it is something else and the new $750,000.00 USD shacks to change into your skates, couldn't help throwing that in… LoL.

Is the Museum of Civilization still named that, or is the change forthcoming?

To help keep warm, there are some stops in the Byward Market (aka the Market) that'll help, not far from Fandom or Museum of Civ.

There's an alright used bookstore on Bank St., the Book Bazaar; bunch of Ospreys and Squadron Signal publications are usually there in a pile. But beware of the book store on Bank Street called Stonewall's something – not a military history book store despite the name! The rainbows in the window give it away (not that there's anything wrong with it – just not the spears I was looking for…).

I actually love the city and think touring the Parliment building is pretty interesting as well. I don't know if the changing of the guard happens in the winter months but my kids loved marching with the band and guard up to the Parliment grounds and actually being able to see what happens compared to Buckingham Palace with the fence and the crowds. We also visited the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Barracks, which was interesting to see their history and how they train. Really a beautiful City with the river and the canal. Enjoy

Scott (an ugly American)

Thanks for the ideas chaps :)

No changing of the Guard in Winter -usually starts mid June
Make sure to ask about combination entrance tickets to save some money. I know there is one for the War and Civilization museums

Links
Canada War museum
warmuseum.ca/home
Civilization
civilization.ca/home
Aviation
aviation.technomuses.ca
The national gallery is a great art museum and right downtown
gallery.ca/en
Otawa Tourism
ottawatourism.ca/en

NHL Hockey is back so a Senator game is possible Ticets are easy to find but the arena is far out of the downtown area No football ( either version) or baeball in Winter

Seriously bring a warm coat, head cover, gloves and boots suitable for very cold weather. The average temperature should be around minus ten and possibly colder. Ottawa is great for clearing snow so getting arund will be OK.

IIRC, Fandom II isn't open Mondays…is that still the case?

Scott;
You're not an Ugly American… Just Ugly

Hope you're well. I'm freezing my arse off in Wisconsin right now…

Eric

Does Fandom II have a web site My wife is going to Ottawa in a weeks time and I want to see if they carry what I am interested in.

As of my last visit to Ottawa in December, yes, Fandom II is closed Mondays (made sure I went Saturday!).

@Belisarius, link

I don't know if it shows all they carry, there's some interesting old stuff buried in corners. Mainly GW, Spartan, FoW from what I remember of mini's. Some Dust Tactics/Warfare too. Lots of rules and Ospreys.

@ Belisarius. As far as I know Fandom II does not have a website.

Don't forget The Mint, if they still offer tours.