My $22/night AirBnB room was 8 miles west of downtown with a bike path in the back yard that led to the larger Ottawa River path. Trust me, the car never moved! I was also a 15 minute walk to the nearest sandy beach along the River which had live music and a cafe. This is living!
Ottawa is wonderful, and offers a lifestyle of city spectacles combined with rivers and green space galore. While I did tour my "must see" spots, I could have spent another week here cycling, people watching at cafes, visiting the National Gallery of Art or The Royal Canadian Mint (no pennies in Canada). I completely understand the pride and joy that Ottawans feel (and show) for their city. In 2017, Canada celebrates 150 years as a nation, and Ottawa will be ready.
I took more than 250 photos but here's the Cliff Note version of my Ottawa experiences!