See the sites and taste the delightful cuisines of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada
Ottawa is a lovely city situated on the border between Ontario and Quebec, giving it a blend of English and French-Canadian culture. The city offers some of the most delightful cuisines in the world, is rich in cultural sites and events, and reveals nature's beauty in captivating outdoor scenery.
About Ottawa and its history
Ottawa is Canada's capital city and is located on the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley. The population was estimated at 812,129 in 2006. The city's beginnings date back to the time of the Algonquin Indians, who first named the Ottawa River "Kichesippi" or the Great River. In 1759, the British ruled the area and people began to come from the United States to settle there.
In 1857, Queen Victoria was petitioned to settle a dispute about which city would be chosen as the nation's capital. Ottawa was chosen over the cities of Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, and Kingston. Despite a fire disaster in 1900 that destroyed a major part of the city, Ottawa was still able to grow over the next century into the modern and lovely city it is today.
Ottawa vacations
Ottawa is a great place to visit, whether traveling alone, as a couple, or with your entire family. The city has a variety of offerings for vacation fun and relaxation. You can tour museums, relax by a pool, enjoy winter events during the cold season, steal away to the beautiful lakes and rolling hills of The Gatineaus, or enjoy whatever suits you for the day.
If you're in town on certain dates.... don't miss the cultural activities such as the engaging bagpipe ceremonies, or festivals such as the Canada Day Celebrations, Canadian Tulip Festival, Canada Dance Festival, or the Ottawa International Jazz Festival.
Walking tours in Ottawa
There are a number of walking tours to give you a relaxed, unique view of the city. One popular walking tour is the Haunted Walk. It enables you to explore Ottawa history while hearing of local ghost stories and myths and legends about the city's historical sites. Then on Parliament Hill (www.parliamenthill.gc.ca/text/hillcam_e.html), you can see buildings and structures that make up Ottawa's political heritage such as Centre Block, House of Commons, Library of Parliament, and the Peace Tower. If you're not keen on walking, tour the city on a trolley at the Bytown Trolley Company.
Museums in Ottawa
Discover more about Ottawa at the local museums and galleries. These include the Museum of Civilization, National Gallery of Canada, Canada Aviation Museum, Canada Museum of Nature, Canada Science and Technology Museum, Billings Estate Museum, Bytown Museum, and the Canada War Museum.
Outdoor activities
In Ottawa, there's never a dull moment if you're an outdoor adventurer. The city offers parks, waterways, and forests with biking and hiking trails. Gatineau Park is a great place to take the family with beautiful trails and walkways through the forests. Other outdoor activities include golfing, skiing, whitewater rafting, and swimming on the nearby beaches. If you're a bit more daring, try bungee jumping, windsurfing, skydiving, scuba diving, or kayaking while in Ottawa.
The Rideau Canal (www.rideau-info.com/canal/) has romantic gondola rides during warm weather, and turns into an ice skating rink in winter. The canal is used by boaters during summer and eager local and visiting ice skaters during winter. It is a strikingly beautiful waterway that is about 126 miles long and connects the waters of Lake Ontario at Kingston to the Ottawa River. The Rideau Canal is also a vital part of Ottawa's history. It was built to serve for military purposes (though it never did), but became a major determining factor for the city's location.
Shopping and Dining
Ottawa offers several major shopping districts and centers. In the heart of the city is the ByWard Market (www.byward-market.com/), where there are eclectic shops and boutiques as well as a fresh open-air market for flowers, vegetables and fruits. There are specialty stores carrying merchandise for home and garden, health and beauty, and cultural souvenirs. In ByWard Market Square, there are clothing shops, jewelry stores, souvenir vendors, and a wide variety of grocery items. Other great places to shop in Ottawa include Downtown Rideau, Place d'Orleans, Snow Goose Limited, St. Laurent Centre, and the Rideau Center.
Dining in Ottawa is an exciting experience all in itself with the city bordering the English and French territories. The cuisines are a blend of both cultures with a variety of other foods as well. Some restaurants to try while in the area include Arome Seafood and Grill, 101 Cafe, Banco, Buffet des Continents, Courtyard Restaurant, East Side Mario's, Empire Grill, Le Baccara, Yangtze Restaurant, Nagina Indian Cuisine, Metropolitan Brasserie, and Merlot Restaurant.
Ottawa Lodgings
Ottawa has a wide variety of places to stay such as bed and breakfasts, hotels, resorts, and camping areas. You can book your reservations online to ensure that you'll have a place to stay when you arrive. Some lodging places to mention are Westin Ottawa, Sheraton Ottawa Hotel, Sam Jakes Inn & Spa, Rideau Heights Inn, Radisson Hotel Ottawa, Ottawa Bed & Breakfast, Southway Inn, Econo Lodge Downtown Ottowa, Embassy Hotel and Suites, Fairmont Chateau Laurier, and the Gasthaus Switzerland Inn.
Ottawa is a great place to relax, explore, and enjoy outdoor adventure. Take your next vacation to experience all that Canada's beautiful capital city has to offer.