Besides standard stuff, like museums, what should I see in Ottawa?

What's off the beaten path?

If you like reptiles and birds, go to Little Ray's.... it's a hoot, but I'm not sure what they do in winter so visit their website
http://www.ottawaentertainment.ca/family...
and ask.
they always answer email.

Everything famous is pretty much packed in the downtown core. The lazer light show at Parliament Hill is a MUST (again, if it's on in winter). If you get a hotel near downtown, you can walk everywhere. We got our hotel across the river in Hull,Quebec and we could STILL walk everywhere. It's lots of walking but all good. In Hull, right across from the pariliament, is the museum of Civilization. It's really nice too. the 4th floor is set up like a walk through time in Canada, and they have an IMAX, but if you do IMAX, choose the movie carefully, cause some of them are corney.
When are you coming? If it's now, it's pretty cold.
We only spent 2 days there and we were exhausted but didn't see nearly everything we wanted to. http://www.ottawatourism.ca/ is a good site for stuff, and I think they do "off the beaten path" somewhere.

have fun. It's a nice town. If you are renting a car when you get there, make sure to watch the streets as many of them are one way.

blessings ((((dude))))

websites: http://www.ottawakiosk.com/
http://www.ottawavalley.org/
http://www.best-of-ottawa-tourism.com/Ot... (this one looks good)

That's one place I've always wanted to visit!!

I'll star the question for my Canadian friends and contacts, hope they can help you :)

Never been, sounds like fun though. I poked around and here are the "off the beaten path" places I would go:


http://www.primecrimebooks.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Clement...
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/visit...

Parlament Hill duh. Plus Ottawa is the capital of Canada, so u will see much more than museums in Ottawa.

Must sees are the Parliament Buildings and to walk along the Rideau Canal. Drive to Hull in Quebec so you experience a little French culture. Notre Dame Basilica and the Royal Canadian Mint are worth a visit.

This link may give you more ideas.

It depends on what season you are planning to visit. But the Canal is B-e-a-utiful year round. In the summer you could bike/walk on the path beside, and in the winter of course skate on it, even if you can't skate its an amazing experience. The Byward market is also very beautiful and it is in walking distance from Parliament. I live in Ottawa and we sometimes drive over to Quebec. Of course Little Italy and Chinatown are pretty cool. Other "off the beaten path" stuff could be going to a hockey game, even if its just a 67's game. If you're a nature lover Mont Cascades or Camp Fortune aren't that far and have a water park(MC) or the Aerial Experience (CF) is amazing- I absolutely recommend it. Yeah so thats about it try sites like: the Ottawa Kiosk. There is often festivals happening and they are always fun to attend ex: Tulip Festival, Winterlude, etc... Have a good trip!