Welcome to Winterlude in Ottawa! Bienvenue au Bal de Neige à Ottawa!
By Danielle Zehr Perspectives – Sales Associate
A few weeks ago, Ottawa Tourism welcomed Travel Trade workers for 4 days (plus a weekend, in the case of this Perspectives Rep!) to come and see the attractions that Ottawa has to offer when the cold and snow have arrived and Winterlude is in full swing. I had the pleasure of attending, and here are some of my experiences.
Highlights included a walking food tour with C’est Bon Cooking, the Nature Museum, Snow Slides at Jacques Cartier Park with the obligatory BeaverTail. We also checked out a lot of hotels to get a better idea of what is around to offer clients, as well as tried out many different and delicious food spots.
A favourite activity is hard to choose, but my top three have got to be Parc Oméga, Escape Manor and the Aviation Museum. (Wait, top four: Le Nordik Spa!)
Here are some photos of the week:
Selfie snapped in front of the Artic Wolf pen at Parc Omega. This wildlife safari park features Canadian wildlife only and you can even feed carrots to some of the animals right from your hand! (Sorry, you can’t feed the wolves!)
A busy day skating on the Rideau Canal, but a gorgeous day for it!
Careful of the dinosaurs! You never know which fossils might come alive!
I snuck a peak at a baby polar bear, trying not to get eaten. This was also at the Nature Museum.
Okedou wanted a bit of the selfie action at the Nature Museum
How about having a red deer come up beside your bus? Would you feed him a carrot?
Checking out the East Block from a snow pile in true Ottawa fashion.
Yum! Try the Cupcake Lounge in the ByWard Market to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Surprisingly, I discovered that the perfect place to spend a cold winter’s evening is outdoors, in the water! Hot water, that is. And we had plenty of pools to choose from at Le Nordik Spa in Chelsea, only a short drive north of Ottawa.
Bye, Ottawa! A breathtaking and slightly chilly-looking view from the sky, thanks to the aviation museum!
