Travel And Vacation Show Ottawa - Although many people wouldn't think of Ottawa as an interesting place to travel to, it really has a great many things to see and do. It is a city rich in architecture, museums, history, is full of Canadian culture and is home to many sporting activities. If you are interested in a vacation that is more than just sitting around on the beach, Ottawa is definitely a place to put on your list of experiences.
Ottawa is Canada's capital city and is the fourth largest city in the country. The population is approximately 859,704 (from 2005 figures). It is located in the province of Ontario on the banks of the Ottawa River, 400 kilometres (250 miles) north-east of Toronto and 190 kilometres (120 miles) west of Montreal. Ottawa is where the country's federal government sits. Ottawa has a significant Francophone population and by city government policy, all municipal services are available in French and English.
As I said, Ottawa has a large number of national museums, official residences, government buildings, memorials and heritage structures. Some of the museums/sites I feel are worth mentioning are: The Canadian War Museum, The National Gallery of Canada, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The Canada Science and Technology Museum, The Canada Aviation Museum and The Royal Canadian Mint. All are informative, interesting and should appeal to every traveller.
The most notable and famous site to visit is probably the Parliament Buildings. Parliament Hill, or "The Hill" as locals call it, is a scenic spot on the banks of the Ottawa River on Wellington Street in the downtown area. The architecture is impressive in its Gothic Revival style, and the suite of buildings has served as the home of the Parliament of Canada since 1857. The best known building is the Centre Block with its national symbol of the Peace Tower. This building houses the House of Commons and the Senate. Visitors can watch either chamber in action from the visitor galleries, take a tour of the building, or go up the Peace Tower for a spectacular view of the city. The Peace Tower also houses the Memorial Chamber which honours Canada's war dead.
The East Block of the Parliament Buildings looks much the same now as it did in the time of Confederation. You can tour the restored offices of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. MacDonald, and other early statesmen, and you can interact with historical characters from that period.
The other building, the West Block, which houses offices for members of parliament is closed to the public.
One of the best times to visit Parliament Hill would be on Canada Day, July 1st, where many activities take place, including street parties, live music, performing and athletic shows, an air show performing aerial manoeuvres over Parliament Hill, the RCMP Musical Ride, and a major fireworks event. There are children's activities from face painting and crafts to poster competitions, as well as cooking demonstrations, art shows and comedy reviews. It is a fun grand event that is well worth attending.
Other spectacles that are offered for visitors to enjoy at Parliament Hill are the Changing of the Guard ceremony and the Sound and Light Show. Parliament Hill also offers guided walking tours of the grounds and special activities and groups for children, all geared to learning more about the history of Canada.
Another site to visit in Ottawa is the famous Rideau Canal. This National Historic Canal dates back to the 19th century and links lakes and rivers for a distance of over 200 kilometres from Ottawa to Kingston. The Rideau Canal is North America's oldest operating canal and most of the locks are still cranked open by hand. It was one of the greatest engineering feats of the 19th century with 24 dams and 47 locks. Its original purpose was to provide a safe supply route from Montreal to the Great Lakes in case of attack from the United States. The Canal appears much the same way today as it did over 150 year ago, with its limestone locks, hand-operated cranks, wooden lock master houses and stone supply buildings. There are many exhibits available to inform visitors of the history and evolution of the Canal from a military route to the recreational waterway it is today.
The Rideau Canal is one of Ottawa's most popular recreational areas where one can see the Canal by either driving alongside of it or travelling by canoe and motorboat on the Canal itself. Boat tours are offered. There are pathways for joggers, walkers, cyclists and in-line skaters, but probably the most famous feature is in the winter months when the Canal is turned into a gigantic ice skating rink. Skaters are able to skate down 7.8 kilometres (4.8 miles) of the Canal, which is cleared for this purpose. The Canal becomes the largest outdoor ice-skating rink in the world. A benefit here is that you won't even have to bring your own skates, as skates are available for rent.
If you are a winter-lover, the best time to see the Rideau Canal would be during the Winterlude Festival that takes place every February for three fun-filled weekends and is considered North America's greatest winter celebration. There are spectacular ice carvings, an amazing playground made of snow, and many other activities. Visitors can treat themselves to a "Beaver Tail", a fried dough pastry, as well as other snacks and hot beverages situated along the skateway. It is truly a fun and exciting event for the whole family.
Ottawa offers many other activities year-round for the traveller to enjoy. There is the Fall Rhapsody, where visitors can experience the majestic fall colours in Gatineau Park. There is the "Gift of Tulips" event that celebrates the friendship between Canada and the Netherlands, where one can view the magnificent array of tulips at Commissioners Park and Major's Hill Park.
Another great feature about visiting Ottawa is its proximity to Quebec. Literally, if you cross a very short bridge you are in a different province, into Hull in Quebec. So, in short, you can cover two provinces for the price of one, and experience a totally different culture. Everything in Quebec is in French so be sure to brush up your high-school French!
I love to learn about the history and culture of interesting places and Ottawa did not disappoint. I travelled to Ottawa during the winter and observed the Rideau Canal in action. I visited the Parliament Buildings and a few of the many museums (there were too many that I wasn't able to see them all). As I said before, if you are looking for a vacation that is more than just sitting in the sun, Ottawa is full of things to see and do - in any season. I would recommend attending one of the various festivals for a really fun and exciting time.
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