Four Seasons in Ottawa — #amandrewontour

Ottawa (or “Addawaaaa” if you ask anyone with a Canadian accent) has been our home for two years. The locals will tell you that there are only two seasons in Ottawa - winter, and construction season.

But if you’re travelling to Ottawa, that’s not a very helpful sentiment. It is an amazing city to visit at [just about] any time of year… it just depends on what you want to be doing once you get here.

Let’s start with when not to travel to Ottawa.

As a general rule November is the worst. Everyone’s depressed coz the fall has probably ended quite abruptly. It’s cold, and rainy, starting to get icy. It’s not quite cold enough for your winter jacket, but you’re acting like a drama queen coz it was “ZERO FRICKEN DEGREES” and your ears are numb.

Similarly, April is also shitty because the snow is melting, and re-freezing, melting and re-freezing. The city is kinda covered in gross, brown snow-sludge. Then you have a few days above ten degrees so everything melts, then it rains for 4 days straight and the rivers flood. We’re in this phase now, and it ain’t pretty.

However, pretty much any other time of year is fair game!

Spring

They say April showers bring May flowers and in Ottawa that is definitely true. The Canadian Tulip Festival signals the true start of spring in Ottawa, and the city is packed with folks busting out their shorts and t-shirts for the first time in many, many months.

You should definitely rent a bike and cruise down the canal and check out the tulips around Dow’s Lake. Do it early morning so that you can get those great shots for the ‘gram without fighting with a million other keen beans. Wandering around Parliament Hill is lovely at any time of year, but in the spring you get to see the gardens in full bloom

Patio season is in full-swing (but take a light coat for the evenings). Tavern on the Falls typically opens in late-April and you can benefit from the cooler temperatures keeping the crowds away.

For a truly Canadian experience in early Spring, check out a local sugar bush (lol) and see how maple syrup is made. You can taste the sap straight out of a maple tree, enjoy hot pancakes for brunch and then buy a lifetime supply of maple syrup to take home. We went to Proulx Maple & Berry Farm, near Cumberland - about 30 minute drive from downtown Ottawa.

Tulips; Sugar Bush (LOL); Visit to Parliament Hill in the spring

Summer

Canada Day is July 1st, and is always a good time! The downtown core around Parliament Hill and the Byward Market turns into party central for the day, with live entertainment and fireworks to keep you busy. Definitely the busiest weekend to be in Ottawa, but a lot of fun.

To me, the best part about Ottawa in the summer isn’t Ottawa itself, but “cottage country”. Ottawa is surrounded by the most beautiful provincial parks and lakes, and summer is the perfect time to get out and explore. A few of my favourite spots are Sharbot Lake and Silver Lake (both near the town of Perth - you must try the Hopside IPA from the Perth Brewery), Mississippi Lake and Charleston Lake. All are within 2 hours of Ottawa and feature awesome hikes and canoe rentals for that classic Canadian camping experience.

Camping at Sharbot Lake is always a blast!

Fall

Autumn is my favourite time of year for hiking, and Gatineau Park is the most glorious place to be when the leaves start to turn. The lakes aren’t as busy, the bugs [mostly] leave you alone and the views are incredible. Check out Wolf Trail for a good workout and phenomenal lookouts. The Adventure Report has a very thorough list of recommended trails in and around Ottawa, which you should definitely check out when planning a visit.

If hiking isn’t really your thing, you can still enjoy Gatineau Park but from the comfort of a hot tub. Nordik Spa-Nature is worth a visit anytime of year, but there’s something special about going in the fall and enjoying the wonderful colours.

Fall also marks the start of the hockey season - and you have got to see a game! The Ottawa Senators (“the Sens”) play at the Canadian Tire Centre, about 30 minutes from downtown, and it’s much better value for money than trying to see the Leafs (Toronto) or le Canadiennes (Montreal). I’m very much a bandwagon hockey fan so I can’t tell you much about the Sens this season, but we got to see a couple of playoffs games towards the end of the 2017/18 season.

The Rideau Canal in the fall; Charleston Lake Provincial Park; Vincent Massey Park

Winter

Gatineau Park is also a great place to be in the winter. Many trails are groomed for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing, which is the best way to pass the cold winter days. There are many cabins with log fires to warm up and enjoy some snacks before rugging up and heading back outside.

Depending on the conditions, from January-February the Rideau Canal is open for skating. It’s truly amazing - they put changing room/toilet blocks down on the ice, as well as little huts where you can buy shawarma (so Ottawa!), beavertails and hot chocolate. Perfect to keep the cold at bay.

Yes, winter in Canada is cold - but as long as you dress warmly and keep moving it can be a lot of fun. It’s also a good time to check out the many museums around Ottawa - we had an annual pass to the Canadian Museum of History which taught us a lot about Canada and First Nations history.

If partying is more your thing, then the Canadian Museum of Nature does a monthly Nature Nocturne event in the Winter, transforming into a nightclub with live music, karaoke and DJs. House of Targ is another great spot for regular 80s Nights and arcade games.