Wife and I are headed to Ottawa and Quebec City for our 10th anniversary. We have lodging downtown in both cities. Plan is to spend aboot a day in Ottawa, and one or two in Quebec. So far we have this:
Ottawa: Art Museum, Parliament, Beavertails?
Quebec: Old city, citadelle, terrasse dufferin, fancy dining somewhere, Morrin centre? Montmorency falls? Ile d Orleans?
Depends on what kind of stuff you like. I'm from Ottawa, so I know it fairly well.
In Quebec City, check out the Cirque du Soleil free show. http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/events/chemins-invisibles/show.aspx
As for Ottawa, I like the National Gallery best of the museums - the building alone is fantastic. Beavertails for sure. If you're near the Byward Market you'll want to go check it out. Especially on a Friday/Saturday night, it's a lively place, grab yourself a seat on a patio and watch the show.
Would suggest you have both locations well covered...although you might find yourselves rushed to cover everything in the time given
Lots of food establishments inside the walls of Quebec City... For traditional French Canadian fare - there is the restaurant "Aux Anciens Canadiens" on St Louis street http://www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/ My disclaimer - it has been many years (20+) since I ate there...
There is also an Italian restaurant on the same street that crowds people in tightly (expect to share tables with others) with memorabilia from Gilles Villeneuve's early days in F5000...
Plan on taking good walking shoes, as you will find you are walking a lot.
Enjoy...
Keith I didn't know you are from Ottawa - cool stuff!
I'm also from Ottawa. Events around town really depend on when you'll be in town. http://www.ottawastart.com/ has helped me find events in the city when I didn't really think anything was going on.
If you're into performing arts, one of the parks on the river had "Sunset Dances" at the beginning of July last year. You were escorted to multiple performances/skits throughout the park against the back drop of the sunset on the ottawa river. Made for an awesome first date (boo ya!).
Again, depending on when you'll be going, there is a light show projected against the main block of parliament that depicts the history of Canada. It was a pretty cool show.
Also worth checking out Downtown is Sparks Street Mall. It's our "outdoor" mall.
Check out the Byward Market for sure. Also check out Little Italy (Preston St.). I would suggest Pub Italia. Nice patio and an extensive beer bible. There's also a great gilato place up the street but the name escapes me.
Walk along the Canal/Dows Lake, check out a museum, and check out Parliament.
...If you find yourself in the west end, look up www.mco.org and see if there's an auto-x that day hehe.
Have fun!
Oh! Also check out the Aviation museum in Vanier.
I've been to Quebec. Baie-Comeau, Quebec. I suggest you stay home.
For Quebec City, pick a hotel inside the walls. I've stayed here - it was quite nice: http://www.manoirdauteuil.com/.
Take a caleche tour, well worth it:
http://www.calechesquebec.com/en/
Ottawa has plenty of museums, and we're getting more brew pubs:
http://apt613.ca/local-beer-map-2/
I've been to most of them, feel free to pm me if you have specific questions.
Cheers!
If you were single I would tell you that there's a theory about Quebec city. When boats full of immigrants came over from Europe, explorers who had already settled in the area claimed only the most beautiful women for themselves. All others were shipped down river to other stops along the way through the province. To this day, Quebec city (and Montreal - but that's another story) have some of the best looking women around.
But since you're married, I'll tell you that there are some cool old buildings to look at and fries covered in cheese curds and gravy. Enjoy!
bastomatic wrote: Wife and I are headed to Ottawa and Quebec City for our 10th anniversary. We have lodging downtown in both cities. Plan is to spend aboot a day in Ottawa, and one or two in Quebec. So far we have this: Ottawa: Art Museum, Parliament, Beavertails? Quebec: Old city, citadelle, terrasse dufferin, fancy dining somewhere, Morrin centre? Montmorency falls? Ile d Orleans?
Ottawa:
Add the war museum to the list in Ottawa. Quite the impressive slice of history, and if nothing else the transportation hall is there for the hopeless motor-head.
I realize that you wont have time, but the white water rafting is a good day out and not too extreme.
As to Quebec city, between the locals, the restaurants and the walled city, you will find enough to stay amused. Try the local driving if you need an adrenaline rush.
Protege2886 wrote: Keith I didn't know you are from Ottawa - cool stuff!
I knew when he was talking about two red Miatas with stripes in the same town 
If you're in Montreal (since you should be passing through), try and get a reservation at Joe Beef. It's rated as the top restaurant in Canada this year. I was there in April and the food was amazing.
QC and Montreal do have very attractive women, but they're all nuts.
If you do want to go rafting, go with Esprit. Smaller rafts, more rapids and professional guides. I love the river. But it'll eat up a whole day of your trip.
I haven't been to the War Museum since it moved. But I do remember it definitely being worth the visit.
When exactly are you going? If you can, Ottawa is a fantastic place to be on July 1st. It's a big giant street party with bands all over the place.
Early June, so we miss a lot of events - Cirque, July 1, etc.
I have been to Ottawa once before, the wife has not. Not sure we'll have time for the War Museum. Plus it's an anniversary trip.
I had a hard time finding good food in Ottawa. We are staying the the Jail hostel. National Gallery, Parliament, maybe Notre Dame are on the schedule there.
For Quebec, I really just want to know if the Ile d'Orleans and Montmorency falls are worth the day trip.
We will be hitting Niagara on the way back.
Seems to me that the "first date" suggestion from Jeff above would work pretty well for a 10th anniversary date too 
Not sure if the dates work. That's too bad you'll miss Cirque, it was one of the highlights of my trip to QC a few years back. Early June, I'd be really tempted to go rafting as the water's pretty high. The Ottawa has a LOT of water running through it, it's a great rafting river. Lots of hydraulics, not so much rocks.
There is good food in Ottawa, but it depends on what you're looking for. I remember a pretty good take-out Indian place in the middle of the Byward Market building and the French bakery at the end makes proper pain au chocolat. A bit further afield are some great thai and vietnamese places in the more asian parts of town. I can tell you that there's no real Mexican food, but that shouldn't be a surprise in Canada
Never been to the Quebec falls, so I can't comment there. I found the old town was more than enough to keep me occupied. Walk walk walk.
We may bring bikes.
As one of the few Quebekers on here, I guess I should contribute.
Skip the falls and the island. The falls are nice and it really is special to go on the suspension bridge above them, but if you're going to Niagara, I don't see the point. And the Île d'Orléans is a place were you really have to spend a few days. The attraction is that it's a place that time seems to have forgotten. Were everything happens slowly. Not something you do quickly as part of a day trip.
That part about the Quebec women is actual historical fact, but Keith is right. They are nuts. But very fun. Married one.
If you want the full French flavour, skip Montréal and go straight to Québec city. In Québec city, if you stray from the tourist areas, you have a good chance of not being to speak to anyone in english. Montréal is pretty much all bilingual.
The rest of the suggestions are pretty good.
NOHOME wrote:bastomatic wrote: Wife and I are headed to Ottawa and Quebec City for our 10th anniversary. We have lodging downtown in both cities. Plan is to spend aboot a day in Ottawa, and one or two in Quebec. So far we have this: Ottawa: Art Museum, Parliament, Beavertails? Quebec: Old city, citadelle, terrasse dufferin, fancy dining somewhere, Morrin centre? Montmorency falls? Ile d Orleans?Ottawa: Add the war museum to the list in Ottawa. Quite the impressive slice of history, and if nothing else the transportation hall is there for the hopeless motor-head.
+1 to that!
The War Museum is cool. You can also check out the Canadian Aviation Museum
As for Niagara, On the Canadian side, check out the botanical garden and butterfly conservatory. Check out the falls and walk around Clifton Hill for a larf. Not much else is worth the $$.
The food is waaaaaaaay better on the US side. If you have to eat in Canada and don't want to spend $$$, get away from the touristy area. Lundy's Lane between Dorchester and Drummond have fast food of all types for sane prices. My favorite place to eat on the Canadian side is Frijoles on Portage Road north of Thorold Stone Road. It's actually tucked in behind Portage on O'Niel.
On the US Side, there's a lot of choices on Military Road between Packard and Niagara Falls Blvd. If you're in that area for lunch, Try Viola's for a steak and cheese sub or Mighty Taco. If you're STARVING, Wegman's makes a killer massive sub for a great price.
Pizza is also great on the US side. Try Buzzy's (popular) or Jaco's (local favorite)
On your way from Ottawa to Quebec City take the north shore route east from Montreal and stop in Berthierville for the Gille Villeneuve Museum.
You never gave a date, but what better way to celebrate your 10AE then to go to the Baie Des Chaleurs rally at the end of June in New Richmond?
HiTempguy wrote: You never gave a date, but what better way to celebrate your 10AE then to go to the Baie Des Chaleurs rally at the end of June in New Richmond?
He said early June 
This is especially sad since they are returning to downtown New Richmond this year. Don't know yet if they will run the downtown special. It probably the best asphalt special in NA.
Are you driving from Niagara to Ottawa to Quebec? There are some must-sees enroute if you are. What dates?
Detroit to Ottawa to Quebec to niagara to Detroit.
Well, I'm hosting a track day enroute on June 3 at Shannonville Motorsports Park. Feel free to drop in.
Thanks for the tips everyone. The weather was lousy but we made the best of it. Quebec was great- the old city is just packed with great sights. Plan on going back sometime, taking VIA rail and maybe bring the bikes for a tour along the green ways.
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