TRIP - Ottawa

It's another long weekend, which means another trip to somewhere. I decided on Ottawa as I have hotel points/free nights to use and overall it was a mostly free, fun, many things to see trip.

2013.08 Ottawa - Google Maps   http://goo.gl/maps/bLUAe

Friday Aug 2

• LUNCH @  Home
• Waterloo -> Ottawa (>> 6 hours. 5pm @ Waterloo; 9pm @ Napanee; 11pm @ hotel)
• DINNER @  on the road
• Crowne Plaza 2 Montcalm Street, Gatineau, Quebec
• • Street parking FREE from 5 pm on Friday until Monday morning - check
  • Ask for HIGHER room facing Ottawa river - check
  • Ask wi-fi code for Multiple devices- check

Saturday Aug 3

• BREAKFAST @  Cora 1 Boulevard Gamelin Gatineau,QC $35
• Gatineau Park Visitor Centre @ 33 Scott Road, Old Chelsea, QC
• • Champlain Lookout http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/places-to-visit/gatineau-park/scenic-lookouts 
  • Mackenzie Estate $8 parking fee
  • Pink Lake lookout http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/places-to-visit/gatineau-park/pink-lake 
• LUNCH @  Pataterie Hulloise http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/250/1156252/restaurant/Ottawa/Pataterie-Hulloise-Gatineau Poutine + chicken burger $10
• 4-5pm Canada Aviation and Space Museum (free 4-5pm)
• 5-6pm Rideau Hall @ 1 Sussex Drive. Street parking http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15031 
• DINNER @  Lotus Royal Thai  101 Rue Montcalm Gatineau, QC $45
• Crowne Plaza 2 Montcalm Street, Gatineau, Quebec

Sunday Aug 4

• BREAKFAST @ DIY
• Hotel check-out
• Byward Market
• Impromptu picnic in Major’s Hill Park or at Nepean Point (located behind the National Gallery) for a spectacular view. The point is a beautiful spot to take pictures of Parliament Hill, the Ottawa River, Victoria Island, Jacques Cartier Park, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
• • Notre Dame Basilica (across National Gallery)  385 Sussex Drive
• • Walking along Rideau Canal Locks (below Fairmont)
• LUNCH @  Byward Market/Beavertails $20
• 4-5pm Rideau Hall @ 1 Sussex Drive. 3-4:30pm Open house tour   http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15029 
• DINNER @  Fairmont $100+$25USD to use + dessert
• • Wilfrid's Dinner http://www.fairmont.com/laurier-ottawa/pdf/clh-wilfrids-spring-dinner-en/   
  • Zoe http://www.fairmont.com/laurier-ottawa/pdf/clh-zoes-spring-menu-2013-en/ 
• 9:30pm Mosaika 30-min Light show   http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/celebrate/mosaika 

Monday Aug 5

• Changing the Guard 10-10:30am http://www.ottawatourism.ca/en/visitors/top-attractions/changing-the-guard 
• • get Parliment 1-hr tour tickets from Hill Centre, 90 Wellington from 9am-5pm http://www.parl.gc.ca/Visitors/index-e.asp  15 min wait 10:30am >> 1:45 pm Centre Block
• LUNCH @  Fairmont Wilfrid's $56 >> gave $75
• National War Memorial @ Elgin St triangle
• Busker Festival @ Sparks Street http://www.sparksstreetmall.com/ottawabuskerfest.html  
• Parliment Tour = Outdoor 2-3pm; Centre Block 3-4pm
• Back to Fairmont and Check-out at 5 pm
• Ottawa -> Toronto, gas in Belleville
• DINNER @   天仁. Home @ 1 am

Expenses

• Hotel
• Crowne Plaza Gatineau - 5000+5000 points for 2 nights via IHG Points Break promo, booked while I'm in Taiwan, funny. That's about $35/night=$70 total
• Fairmont Chateau Laurier - free night + suite upgrade
• Food
• Cora's $35, Lotus Royal Thai $45, Poutine $10
• Byward $20
• Free $125 dining at Fairmont (Zoe's and Wilfrid's)
• Gas - $150 round-trip
• FREE attractions -  Parliament Hill Tours, Canadian Aviation Museum (free daily 4-5pm)