Old Ottawa South
Carleton University is slightly out of the city. Most restaurants, bars, shops, etc are on Bank Street, a 20-min walk from the physics building. The closest neighborhood is called Old Ottawa South. Local volunteers can give you many recommendations for dinner! Paper Tiger and Table Sodam are just two of our favorite dinner spots. Quinn's is a cozy neighborhood pub with a nice ambiance and live performances.
The Rideau Canal and Dow's Lake
The campus is next to the Rideau Canal and Rideau River, with trails running along both. On the other side of the Canal is a beautiful arboretum. A 15-20 min walk along the arboretum takes you to Dow's Lake. You can have food and refreshments at The Umbrella Bar and watch kayakers.
The Rideau Canal is one of the most famous sites in Ottawa. In winter it turns into a 7.8km skateway, connecting Downtown to Carleton University. In the summer it is a popular spot for kayaking and walking along.
Downtown
There are many places to explore in downtown Ottawa. If you have any time, you can try to catch a (free) tour of the parliament buildings. The Parliament Hill is open during the day and you can always walk around the buildings. It is situated on the Ottawa River and has a very nice view of the river and Quebec on the other side.
The National Gallery of Canada is quite beautiful. It has an extensive permanent collection of Canadian art and many rotating exhibits. Entrance is free on Thursdays, 5-8pm.
ByWard Market is a very popular tourist spot with cute old shops and restaurants. You can get a beaver tail and also find indigenous artisans.
Elgin Street is another busy street with many options for food and drinks.