A Canceled Anniversary and Christmas Trip

Last Updated on April 25, 2019 by JaimeSays

It has been a sad weekend in the Mazur house. In the larger scope of things, it’s not major. We have our health, our families, and a roof over our heads. But, we also had our first anniversary and Christmas trip cancelled. If you need a refresher as to why we got married so close to Christmas, check it out here. We were heading to the great city of Ottawa for a winter getaway! Instead of four days in a Canadian winter wonderland with a healthy dose of Francophone culture, we have been home all weekend. I’ll tell you what happened.

My husband Eddie and I are winter people. I love to ski, we both skate, and our closets are overflowing with long underwear and fleece lined underthings. When we decided to stay home for Thanksgiving, it was because we would be taking a four day Christmas and winter wonderland trip instead. With my office closed on Christmas Eve, we could have four full days in Ottawa and still be home before 10 AM on Christmas Day to spend time with our families.

Why Ottawa?

You might be thinking that we are crazy for going to quite a cold weather location for Christmas, but Canada knows how to take advantage of cold weather. We thought about going to Montréal, but wanted to go somewhere that neither of us had been.

Another Francophone Destination (My Favorite!)

Québec is just across the Ottawa River from Ottawa. If you know me or have been around for a while, you know that I love a Francophone destination. While Québec City is a popular Christmastime destination, both Eddie and I have spent a considerable amount of time there in the past. Plus, we were scheduled to stay in a castle! Ottawa would be a new destination for us, with the best of Ontario and French Canadian cultures.

All the Winter Wonderland Activities

Winter in Ottawa — Cross country skiing in Major’s Hill Park. Photo c/o Ottawa Tourism

Just twenty minutes from Ottawa is Camp Fortune, a ski mountain and adventure park open year round. Skiing not your thing? There is snowshoeing right across the river in Gatineau Park and Major’s Hill Park. Want to skate? How about a nearly 3 Km loop through the forest at Patin en Forêt?

Beaver Tails, Hidden Speakeasies, and Poutine

Have you ever had a Beaver Tail? After a nearly hour discussion of what was the deal with this hard cartilage appendage, I found out the truth. You’ll have to read my next post on Ottawa to learn of it yourself. Like any city that is cloaked in a harsh winter, the restaurants and speakeasies of the town are downright enviable. I had made reservations months in advance for a few of them.

Stay Tuned for Ottawa!

We will be spending Christmas with our families, but stay tuned for when we reschedule our winter wonderland trip to Ottawa. I have my Roku, my passport, and my skates ready for the trip! If you have been, leave any suggestions in the comments.