After a long, snowy winter, Victoria Day long weekend marks the unofficial start of summer.
It was worth the wait for Marjorie Lauger and her family, who will be cruising the Rideau Canal this weekend.
"It's so nice. We have been waiting for this for nine months because we just bought a boat," explained Lauger.
It will take two-and-a-half days to travel home to Laval, Que. and filling up their new boat is costly.
But it's also expensive to drive. The Victoria Day long weekend also marks when gas prices traditionally spike. By Saturday, gas is expected to hit $1.24 in the Capital.
For drivers like Alan Crozier, who came to Ottawa from Sault Ste. Marie, this long weekend is a pricey one.
"It's a big hole in your pocket ... just for the weekend. It's $100 to get here and another $100 to get back. When you're with family, it's always expensive," he said with a shrug.
At Fitzroy Provincial Park, fuel prices haven't stopped Dan Foy and Shirley Rogers from going on their first camping trip of the season. But the North Gower couple is staying a little closer to home this time.
"I love it, it's a great spot. It's the only way you can get out. You can't go anywhere because you can't afford it," said Foy.
Gas prices in the Capital, though, may be lower than the price in other cities this holiday long weekend.
A litre of regular gasoline in Ottawa averaged $1.23 Friday morning. In Toronto, the price of gas is about one cent higher. In Montreal, gas was more than 10 cents more per litre with prices sitting at about $1.35.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Catherine Lathem
