Since Ottawa is a forest city, the best times to see this place are when the leaves on the trees are out - especially during the Spring bloom, or in Fall. Winter is fine and dandy, but everyone here waits for the heat to start cooking and the leaves to return to the trees. It's a real game-changer when that happens around here - it's like everyone's Winter depression is traded for a relaxed Summer attitude...
Practically anywhere you go in Ottawa, there is a park not too far away. There are bike trails through the city that I walk on when I feel like exploring a little further out than usual...
The downtown core is tightly packed together, which could make driving a hassle... But for pedestrians, Ottawa is really a great experience both for the sake of convenience and adventure. Not far from the park I'm sitting in here, there's the Byward Market, Rideau Centre, Elgin Street, and a little further on, Bank Street - great places to shop.
