Skating the Rideau Canal, Ottawa

Fondest memory: If you can handle the cold, then there's nothing more enjoyable to go skating on the world's longest skating rink, the Rideau Canal. It is usually open for a couple months during the winter months, and is the prime attraction during the annual event of Winterlude. It's great!!!

For more info on Winterlude, please visit the National Capital Commission's website at: www.capcan.ca

Favorite thing: ice skate along Rideau canal in the winter, it's the longest outdoor skatting rink in the world!it gets very cold especially if you ice skate at night so dress warmly. I used to wear my ski suit, looking like a complete idiot, but hey .. I'm a tropical girl, and I can skate for hours that way!

Fondest memory: ice skating along Rideau Canal and stopping for hot chocolate and beaver's tail

Favorite thing: Go skating on the Rideau Canal, in Ottawa, and include a stop for hot choclate and a beaver tail. Or check out Canada Day (July 1st) on Parliament Hill, with tons of entertainment and amazing fireworks. And be sure to go to the Hershey Factory in Smith Falls (south of Ottawa) - bulk food choclate store...yuuum.

Favorite thing: Ottawa is a great place. Navigate to the city center using the spires of the Parliament Building for direction. It’s easy to find (I did it, anyone can!!) The traffic was not at all bad, as I waited to arrive AFTER rush hour, and parking was easy. (Here's a GOOD photo of the canal I found from another site somewhere, to give you a better idea of how great this thing is in winter.)

Favorite thing: This is a bad pic of the canal when I was there. The problem with going to a place with a new camera is there just isn't enough time for good on the job TRAINING!! But, look through the crumby camera work and you'll see people skating all over the canal having a great time.

The weather when I was there was beautiful. Just a shade or two below freezing, clear, clean, crisp and wonderful. Everyone was out enjoying the break from the winds that can whip through you, but turned calm during my visit. The days I visited, life was very good for everyone! They enjoyed it, and so did I. I’m anxious to go back.