Hold on to your savings and have fun
Regina Palamar | Fulcrum Contributor
Photo by Mathias MacPhee
Summer is on its way, which means one thing: sweet, glorious freedom. But just as time-honoured as May flowers blooming is the dilemma that all students face when heading into the warmer months. No summer job = free time, but no money. Summer job = money, but no time. It can be hard to strike a balance. No matter where you fall on this spectrum, a few penny-pinching tips can’t hurt—so here’s a list of activities to do in Ottawa fo’ free.
Be a tourist
Ever look at all the tourists wandering around Ottawa and wonder, “Why?” Well, it’s because Ottawa is awesome and we all need to check it out some more. Put on a pair of comfortable shoes, bust out your camera, and hit up Ottawa’s downtown core. With buskers and free food samples, the ByWard Market is always buzzing with activity. Head on over to the Hill and sign up for a free tour of the Parliament buildings, or check out the massive spider outside of the National Gallery of Canada—unless you suffer from arachnophobia, of course. Being a tourist in your own city might seem silly at first, but looking at Ottawa from a different perspective will allow you to see things you would’ve otherwise missed.
Go to the beach
Sure, Ottawa’s beaches occasionally get shut down because of flare-ups of E. coli in the water, but sometimes you’ve just gotta live on the edge and say, “YOLO!” So do it—pack a lunch, a good book, and a Frisbee, and spend an afternoon soaking up the rays. There are a number of beaches to choose from; I highly recommend Mooney’s Bay because they sometimes employ attractive lifeguards. Can you say “winning?”
Go to a movie
Nowadays, if you want to go see a movie at your local Cineplex, you better be prepared to fork over your life savings, because ticket and popcorn prices amount to nothing less than absolute thievery. Personally, I would much rather sit outdoors in the comfort of my own lawn chair and watch a movie projected onto a giant screen whilst saving my money. Luckily, Centretown Movies, an organization in Ottawa, happens to host exactly this kind of event. Held every Friday night in July and August at Dundonald Park, Centretown shows both old school and recent films. Admission is pay-what-you-can, otherwise known as fo’ free.
Visit a museum
Museums get a bad rap, mostly because as kids we got dragged to them and forced to look at boring exhibits. But now we’re adults and can do whatever we darn well please, so why not give museums a second chance? Ottawa has a great selection of museums that are easily accessible to students and are even free on certain days. The Canadian Museum of Nature’s permanent exhibits are free every Thursday evening. Ditto for the National Gallery. And for all those naysayers who still think museums are for nerds, at least go for the air conditioning. You might learn an interesting fact or two while you’re there that you can impress your friends with later.
