If ever there was a year to head outside and embrace Ottawa’s coldest months, it’s 2021 – the year of the winter staycation.
Whether it’s urban adventures or rural getaways, there are many ways to stave off COVID cabin fever while knee-deep in January.
The tourism industry could use the boost, too. It’s been one of the hardest-hit sectors since the pandemic first checked into Ottawa last March.
Tourism spending plummeted by 63 per cent, from $2.2 billion to $800 million in 2020, according to Ottawa Tourism. Of the 43,000 Ottawa residents working in tourism, thousands lost their jobs or had their hours scaled back.