Gatineau, Quebec, Canada -- Recommendations?

Looks like I may be spending a few weeks in Gatineau, Quebec for a combination business-vacation trip and was wondering if anyone had specific 'must see' destinations for that city.

I must say, the area is overwhelming with possibilities from just a simple perusal of the Internet, and I'll have no lack of possible image making opportunities, but thought there might be some out of the way place, restaurant or other unique aspect to the city that would be hard for the first time visitor to find.

Luckily, I should have most of the afternoon and evening for photo opportunities, so I am eager to go! I plan on taking my MF Kiev 88 kit for sure, but am uncertain about my 4x5 or 5x7 camera. Maybe, I should just stick to the MF kit...

I'll be in The Preservation Centre of Gatineau (the Canadian National Archives) for the business part of the day, so that much I have covered.

Any and all recommendations welcomed!

Well, I'm not from Gatineau, but I heard that the National Park nearby is to die for. I'm still planning on going at some point, just not now.

Otherwise, you're close to Ottawa, so you can go see the Museum of Photography, which hosts the entire NFB archives--you probably already have buddies over there!

There's some nice countryside near Wakefield... very pastoral... and a nice pub (The Blacksheep Inn) where a lot of indie bands head out for informal gigs when they're in the area.

Cheers,

There's also the Moorside Tea Room on the Mackenzie King Estate which allows you to have tea and scone in the middle of the park:
http://www.ottawaplus.ca/bars_restaurants/moorside_tea_room_mackenzie_king_estate/1051872

Been there, done that for the National Archives last September. Fun place to photograph. On Sundays, there no one so it's all peace and quiet.
Recommended: make some nightime shots of downtown Ottawa, really nice and full of possibilities.
Be obvious: tripod, filters, lightmeter, camera, Big Camera, Really Big Camera that scream "Hey, I'm a photographer for chriss' sake" and you'll probably have your mugshot taken by some of those three of four letter agencies.
That happened to me and that the reason that I'm a good boy since then

You can take the Ottawa skyline from Gatineau.
The Byward Fish Market
The School of Photographic Arts located at the same place (on my list of places to visit next time I'm there)
At last, the photog museum is open (it wasn't last year, grrrrr) so you'll have an intersting place for you to go.
National Museum of Transportation may be interesting also.
Also the steam train ride to Wakefield

Really, it's so full of possibilities that it won't be a problem for those creative juices to start flowing

Have a nice trip !
Cheers
Marc

Well... the Wakefield train is currently a no-show. Gatineau Park is definitely worth a visit (there's a ruined mill somewhere in there in the woods, which used to be a field trip destination for photography students of a local college).
The Canadian Museum of contemporary Photography I can't talk much about - the last time I visited it some years ago it wasn't exactly an inspiring experience.
Interesting places (other than the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield) would be the Museum of Civilization (also a good spot to photograph the Parliament Hill skyline), the War Museum (interesting architecture), the Chateau Laurier (for it's collection of original Karsh prints in the lobby area), before mentioned Parliament Hill of course (although it's somewhat overrun by tourists during the daytime), the Science and Tech Museum is nice (they do have a running logging steam train in the summer), the Aviation museum is nice, the Diefenbunker (cold war bunker for the government ca 1960), Rideau Hall .... Further away are plenty of locations around the Rideau Canal (Merrickville, Smiths Falls, Manotick (Gristmill), Jones Falls (black smith), Kingston (fort), Upper Canada village on the St. Laurent, ... Oh and don't forget about the local festivals; Bluesfest must be coming up soon, Perth hosts a FREE music festival in mid July (Stewartparkfestival), ...

In short, there's plenty to do and visit - have fun.

Krockmitaine said:

You can take the Ottawa skyline from Gatineau.
The Byward Fish Market
The School of Photographic Arts located at the same place (on my list of places to visit next time I'm there)
At last, the photog museum is open (it wasn't last year, grrrrr) so you'll have an intersting place for you to go.
National Museum of Transportation may be interesting also.
Also the steam train ride to Wakefield

Really, it's so full of possibilities that it won't be a problem for those creative juices to start flowing

Have a nice trip !
Cheers
Marc

Click to expand...

Krockmitaine said:

Be obvious: tripod, filters, lightmeter, camera, Big Camera, Really Big Camera that scream "Hey, I'm a photographer for chriss' sake" and you'll probably have your mugshot taken by some of those three of four letter agencies.
That happened to me and that the reason that I'm a good boy since then

Click to expand...

Errr... that's not good...

Maybe I should take a sketch pad and a fifth of rum... :confused:

Hey what a coincidence. I work at Library and Archives Canada, which you will be visiting (Gatineau Preservation Centre). The Preservation Centre is a great place to photograph in and of itself, but if you are a landscape photographer, Gatineau Park is one of THE most photogenic places I have ever been. Don't think "grand vistas"; think of dense but intimate forest interiors with very soft light and delicate foliage. You will love it. Downtown Ottawa can be very interesting too, depending on what you are used to. It may strike you as quite Victorian in places, and there are also some "big landscapes" along the Ottawa River.

Send me a PM and I would be glad to talk to you about specific locations in the area.

Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions! I am sure I will have no problem now emptying my film reserves!

Don, I will send you an email; thanks!

Frank

Go to www.cameraclubottawa.ca/photospots ,for more informations on photospots in Ottawa area.Call me if you are in Ottawa(I am in the phone book),I may be able to show you around,but I am off to Japan and not avaible until mid Aug.I can even take you to our club's summer BEER SIG meetings at Whisper on Tuesdays for a brew.