OTTAWA: Culture in the Capital (7th annual visit)

(ONE spot left...PLEASE read the entire posting over FIRST) as of May 1.

In the times we are now in--it seems perfect to get our annual Ottawa trip organized.

'Local' travel is in!! "Elbows up"

(Of note: As of March 15, 2025--this trip is mostly FULL. If you have serious interest in joining us--I could possibly add 1-2 more if I knew asap)

Can you join us in Ottawa?

For our annual culture weekend! Our 7th year.

As optimism builds for a better year (more comfortable) in 2025 then we had in previous years--we will continue to explore the culture scene in some of our favorite Cities. A deep dive/below the surface.

Each year we bounce back and forth between Montreal & Ottawa.

This will be our 7th 'long weekend' Ottawa trip since 2015. (--not the sleepy city you think it is--)

Very important, PLEASE read all the information over before you RSVP.

You must contact me first. There is a non-refundable fee to join us. Emailed/payable when you are confirmed.

Our 2025 Ottawa trip will be built around--ART Bank tour (Government of Canada art collection), our favorite contemporary galleries, architecture, The National Gallery, and its Doors Open Ottawa weekend +++ (We will enter British Embassy, French Embassy, Rideau Hall--more)

Plus our other usual favorite stops, and a Group dinner.

All in 2 1/2 days!!

We are on the go each day from 10:30am-9pm, and walk everywhere.

Ottawa is the least expensive of our trips--perhaps $1000 all in?

What else do we do? Some combo of:

-visit other private/public galleries
-architecture tour/talks/walks
-Indigenous exploration
-public outdoor art
-food/drink
-other things which we don't yet know about

Note: there is so much going on in Ottawa with regards to ART and CULTURE--don't think otherwise!

This is a 3-night trip. The dates of this trip are AFTER the Ottawa Tulip Festival.

How these trips work:

YOU look after your travel and accommodations (everyone has own personal budgets), I look after everything else. I plan ALL our activities on the ground while we are together. From first night drink/gallery visit (Thursday), to last night's group dinner (Saturday). You leave as you like on Sunday.

1. 3 nights (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) We meet as a group on Thursday at 5pm SHARP.
2. VIA train is currently showing $150 round trip ticket. How will you get there, where will you stay? Drive, bus, train, fly? (Your Presto card works in Ottawa--on public transit!)
3. Will you drive your car? Use 'points' for accommodations? Airbnb, B&B, Hotel, other? Do you need any insurance? You should aim to stay within a 15 mins walk of downtown/Byward Market. We walk everywhere!
4. There is a NON-refundable fee sent to me when you signup/RSVP--due within 2 days. I organize everything on the ground, discounts, tours, reservations etc. TRIP FEE for 2025 is $125 per person.
5. We will start with 10 people..until we know more about group sizing. But no more than 12 people.
6. Build into your trip budget: $75 for tickets/tours/entry, and $125 for our famous last night group dinner--we always find someplace special/memorable. Excellent OTTAWA food scene.
7. And of course, with all our trips there are always special/vip type surprises.
8. Agenda/schedule/Details in due course. You want to be in Ottawa and able to MEET up by 5pm on Thursday June 5th.

Please read everything over before signing up. We have a large group confirmed so far! I keep you in the loop as per our planning, with a final schedule sent to you a few weeks before.

Thank you for your interest.

You can connect with me (Greg) at
torontoisculture@gmail.com