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Month: December 2019

Posted on December 16, 2019June 14, 2020

Christmas in Ottawa: 17 Things to Do Before the Holidays End

There’s still holiday magic in the air!

  • Ottawa-Gatineau Winter
 by ninanearandfar0 comment
Christmas in Ottawa: 17 Things to Do Before the Holidays End

Hi! I’m Nina, and welcome to Nina Near and Far – the Ottawa-based travel blog for people pursing career and academic goals. Nina Near and Far is about making the most of your time off, weekends, and vacation days by exploring you own city and taking short, adventure-packed trips.

Instagram post 2338219907639162334_56014037 Enjoying a new view of Ottawa from the water! Nick & I spent Sunday morning kayaking on Dow’s lake with @crowlandsphotos & @passportunities and it was the perfect activity for a hot summer day. Kayaking is my kind of water sport - on the water, but not actually getting wet 💦 SWIPE for a video! What’s your favourite water sport?⠀ ⠀ Here are some kayak / paddle board options currently open near and in Ottawa:⠀ ⠀ 🚣 @dows_lake for kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes starting at $24/hour.⠀ ⠀ 🚣 @expeditionswakefield offers kayaks for $45/3 hours if you’re up for a bigger adventure.⠀ ⠀ 🚣 @ottawasup on the Ottawa River rents paddle boards for $50/ day or $20/ hour.⠀ ⠀ 🚣 Ottawa Valley Canoe & Kayak starts at $35/hour.⠀ ⠀ 🚣 Eco-Odessey is a 6k water maze (how cool is that!) that you can tackle for $28. This is on our list, for sure.⠀ ⠀ #myottawa #ottawalife #apt613 #faceottawa #topottawaphoto #ottawa #yowcity #ottcity #apt613 #ottawaphoto
Instagram post 2335911135277340368_56014037 Happy first day of Summer ☀️ what are you most looking forward to this season?⠀ ⠀ Nick and I went to a patio last night and found it surprisingly normal. We’ll be going kayaking tomorrow morning and I’m keeping my eye on the drive in movies for a showing we would enjoy. And... Nick and I just submitted an application for an apartment downtown 😍 hoping to have some good news on that front next week!⠀ ⠀ P.S. Make sure to visit ninanearandfar.com if you need something to do this weekend or inspiration for a beautiful trail to explore! 📸 @splashofartistry
Instagram post 2334637986913012187_56014037 Took this photo in 2019 and intended to use it to recirculate my PEI blog posts this summer but now we can’t travel to PEI 🤔 maybe soon 🤞🏼 For now, here’s some cute background info instead!⠀ ⠀ Have you heard of Anne of Green Gables? It’s the story of an 11-year-old orphan who is mistakenly sent to live with a middle-aged brother & sister who intended to adopt a boy to help look after their family farm. They get Anne instead, with her lavish imagination and flare for the theatrics. Anne of Green Gables is the first book in a series about her life in Avolea, a fictional town in Prince Edward Island in the late 19th century. HOWEVER - the house is real and you can go there! Green Gables belonged to the author’s uncle and is now a heritage site. “Nina” is the Russian name for “Anne,” something I took great pride is as a kid! ⠀ ⠀ If you haven’t already seen it, I highly recommend the 1985 made-for-TV movie starring Meghan Follows 😍 it’s family friendly and actual very funny! Who else is an Anne of Green Gables fan? 🙋🏼‍♀️ You might also know the Netflix version which is VERY different! #discoverpei #explorecanada
Instagram post 2331067736636508526_56014037 Date night looks a little different these days! Fortunately there are still a lot of ways to enjoy a day or evening out in Ottawa with your s/o or a close friend while following public health guides.⠀ ⠀ Nick and I loved going to the @saundersfarmfun campfire a couple weekends ago. We’ve been going for walks at places like the Dominion Arboretum, and in the next couple weeks we’re planning to see a drive-in movie at @port.elmsley.drive.in . How have you been spending quality time with your s/o or close friends lately?⠀ ⠀ I’ve rounded up a list of 10 date ideas that actually do involve leaving your house! Check out ninanearandfar.com for the full list. SAVE this post to find it for future date nights!⠀ ⠀ #myottawa #ottawadatenight #ottawalife #ottcity
Instagram post 2328813638872559016_56014037 🍃 HIKING, CYCLING, & WALKING TRAILS IN OTTAWA 🚴‍♀️ ⠀ ⠀ Who else has been spending a lot of time cycling or going for walks this spring & summer? 🙋🏼‍♀️ It’s such a great way to exercise and enjoy the nice weather safely. I nearly sold my bike last year 🙈 because I never got out but I have gone cycling 6 times in the last 2 weeks and am loving it! ⠀ ⠀ Check out ninanearandfar.com [LINK IN BIO] for an exhaustive list of hiking, cycling, and walking trails in the Ottawa area! ⠀ ⠀ The following information is provided for every trail: Map l Distance | Type | Parking | Washrooms |⠀ ⠀ Here’s a preview! SAVE THIS POST⠀ ⠀ HIKING TRAILS (CURRENTLY ACCESSIBLE)⠀ 🏔 Wolf Trail⠀ 🏔 Luskville Falls⠀⠀ 🏔 Rock Dunder⠀ 🏔 Manitou Mountain⠀ ⠀ CYCLING TRAILS⠀ 🚲 Ottawa River Pathway⠀ 🚲 The Rideau Canal⠀ 🚲 Experimental Farm Pathway⠀ 🚲 Voyageurs Pathway⠀ 🚲 Greenbelt East⠀ 🚲 Greenbelt West⠀ 🚲 Gatineau Park Pathway⠀ ⠀ WALKING TRAILS⠀ 🍃 Dominion Arboretum⠀ 🍃 The Ornamental Gardens⠀ 🍃 Pine Grove Trail⠀ 🍃 Hog’s Back⠀ 🍃 Jack Pine Trail⠀ 🍃 Major’s Hill Park⠀ 🍃 Mer Bleue⠀ 🍃 Conroy Pit⠀ 🍃 Andrew Hayden Park
Instagram post 2328005796359922112_56014037 ‘The good news is that racist and antiracist are not fixed identities. We can be a racist one minute and an antiracist the next. What we say about race, what we do about race, in each moment, determines what -- not who -- we are.’ - Ibram X. Kendi, How to be an Antiracist⠀ ⠀ I think this quote so beautifully articulates what we all face moving forward: in our efforts to be allies, to be antiracist, we will so often get it wrong. The important thing is that we continue trying, continuing educating ourselves, and continue growing. For me, the past week has brought a realization that despite a lot of learning already there are more actions that I can take to be antiracist both in my role as a research and teaching assistant and through Nina Near and Far. ⠀ ⠀ It will take conscious and continual effort for this to be more than a phase. I will take the book lists that I made this week and weave them in with my existing (massive) reading list; add the Netflix recommendations to my list and watch them in between watching other things; subscribe to the podcasts and listen to those along with my previous favourites to keep learning. On an action front, some things are clear. Within the university I am fortunate to be in a couple of roles where I can clearly address racial injustice and I am committed to doing exactly that. On Nina Near and Far I can add more diversity to the narratives that I share and be more conscious of the brands and companies that I partner with. ⠀ ⠀ Growing up, I always thought that racism was going to fade away. I thought that my generation saw it, knew it was wrong, and therefore would not do it. That was hopeful but so, so naïve because what I am understanding now is that passively not being racist (by not being blatantly cruel or openly discriminating) is not enough - antiracism is an active process. It takes work, work that I believe we can do ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿
Instagram post 2321536496140953783_56014037 Campfire Date Night 🔥 Nick and I spent yesterday evening at Saunders Farm for a campfire date night! Would you try this?? 🤩⠀ ⠀ It was such a nice way to get out. Going somewhere and actually being able to sit outside and enjoy our food felt amazing. Our night happened to a bit chilly but other than that it was perfect (and we just bundled up accordingly).⠀ ⠀ @saundersfarmfun has a set up where up to 12 groups can enjoy a campfire at a time (spaces 30ft apart). Each campfire site includes the fire, a plastic fold out table, a portable washroom, and a garbage. Campfires are available Wednesday - Sunday evening.⠀ ⠀ 🥂 Our date night package included meats, cheeses, bread, a bottle of wine, and s’mores for 2.⠀ ⠀ 🌭 There is also a family pack available that includes hot dogs, chips, water & soda, and s’mores for 5.⠀ ⠀ 🍉 We’re looking to book the countryside picnic lunch next! Baguettes, watermelon, hard boiled eggs, vegetables & dip, and cookies for up to 5 people. Countryside picnics are available Saturday & Sunday. #MyOttawa
Instagram post 2320193182305200688_56014037 THINGS TO DO IN OTTAWA RIGHT NOW ☀️ YES REALLY!⠀ ⠀ Things certainly look different these days but there are still some fun things to do around the city and from the comfort of your own home. Hit SAVE!⠀ ⠀ 🚲 Gatineau Parkway, Champlain Parkway and Fortune Lake Parkway are open to cyclists and pedestrians.⠀ ⠀ 🌳 Hiking trails outside of the closed roads in Gatineau Park can be accessed including Wolf Trail P13, Carbide Wilson Ruins P11, and Luskville Falls - ⚠️ no washrooms.⠀ ⠀ 🚴‍♀️ Queen Elizabeth Drive, Sir John A Parkway, Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway all have sections open to cyclists and pedestrians only (closed to cars).⠀ ⠀ 🍃 Walking trails like Jack Pine Trail and Mer Bleue (any @ncc_ccn operated trail) are now open - ⚠️ no washrooms.⠀ ⠀ 🔥 Plan a campfire night at @saundersfarmfun - I am doing this tomorrow - I’ll report back!⠀ ⠀ 🧩 Staying in? Try the online Escape Room ‘Taken’ by @escape_manor ⠀ ⠀ 🌸 Go out in search of cherry blossoms along the canal, at Lincoln Fields, or the Dominion Arboretum.⠀ ⠀ 🛶 Get out on the water! Non-motorized boat rentals are available at @dows_lake (kayaks, canoes, etc.) and Ottawa SUP for paddle boards.⠀ ⠀ 🍦 Your favourite ice cream spots are doing take out / orders including @pinkberryottawa @piccolograndeottawa @slgelato @lacigale.chelsea⠀ ⠀ 🚘 @ubereats_canada yourself something delicious from a local business on Saturday night.
Instagram post 2309225430639773557_56014037 LET’S PLAY A GAME. What is a super silly made up rule that you live by?⠀ ⠀ I’ll start:⠀ ⠀ 🌷 Overtime, I gradually developed this really strong preference for whatever photo I post on Instagram to match the season outside.⠀ ⠀ 🚗 I always set the dial on the car radio to an even number or a multiple of 5 (except 15). My car radio dial is 0-30.⠀ ⠀ 📝 There are certain letters / letter combinations that I don’t like beginning sentences with. I majored in creative writing in high school and during a poetry unit the teacher encouraged us to pay attention to the shapes of the letters and visual structures letters created in our poem. This is what stuck with me from high school 😂 and yes, I am thinking about it right now. It can be super, super inconvenient for academic writing. ⠀ ⠀ OK YOU GO!⠀
Instagram post 2307038296650704811_56014037 My own little tulip festival! 🌷 ⠀ ⠀ Right up until May not much had actually changed for me but now things are quite different; academia and pandemics both involve a lot of staying inside alone all day 😅 May is really different though. Originally I was teaching a one-week course on leadership to high school students the first week of May and was then off to Denmark > Croatia > Hungary for almost 3 weeks!⠀ ⠀ Now instead I’m taking a course on Social & Emotional Learning and Leadership at a Distance, finishing up my thesis proposal this week and then submitting the ethics approval, and doing some reading for another research project 🤞🏼 I’m hoping Mother Nature gets her act together soon so I can go for morning walks without being chilled to the bone!⠀ ⠀ #cdntulipfest #myottawa #ottawalife #apt613 #facesottawa #topottawaphoto #ottawa #yowcity #ottcity #apt613 #ottawaphoto
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