A Capital Place For Tourists: Ottawa, Canada

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 96
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Tourists to Canada''s capital city, Ottawa, can be forgiven if they sometimes think they might actually be in London, England. The British influence is easily seen in the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill, where a Big Ben look-alike clock (called the Peace Tower) presides at Center Block. Red double-decker tour buses tackle the hustle and bustle of downtown''s Byward Market where shops and outdoor cafes line the roads, then follow the Rideau Canal, a mostly natural waterway that bisects the city for some five miles from the parliament buildings to a man-made lake (called Dow''s Lake) where paddle boats can be had. The British-looking buses give visitors to the city a tour of the Experimental Farm too. This is a national historical site and actual working farm, with the large expanse of greenery and ornamental gardens attracting nature-lovers, wedding parties and picnickers alike.

Museums abound in the city, and a long-time favorite is The Museum of Science and Technology. Kids of all ages climb onto huge steam trains, peer into working periscopes, and stagger through the ?Crazy Kitchen?. For the more sophisticated, ...
... The National Gallery, housed in an impressive glass and steel structure on Sussex Drive, is home to works by Monet, Rembrandt, van Gogh and Picasso. Dinosaur aficionados should look for The Museum of Natural History, housed in a century old heritage building off Elgin Street. You can''t miss it really ? keep an eye out for a castle with woolly mammoths outside!

An attraction that''s just a block from Parliament Hill and across the street from Ottawa''s performing arts venue, The National Arts Center (where you can see plays, concerts and musicals), is an outdoor pedestrian mall called The Sparks Street Mall. You''ll meet and mingle with the locals here in summertime; office workers pour onto the mall for a bit of sun and a bite to eat at lunchtime at one of the many eateries in the area, enjoying street performers and getting some shopping in before rushing back inside.

If a bit of sand and sun sounds just about right, Mooney''s Bay on Riverside Drive in Ottawa'' south end might be just the ticket. You''ll be swimming in the Rideau River, which is monitored for water quality and supervised for safety. Playgrounds, picnic areas and concession stands make this a great place for a family outing. For more watery fun, there''s a small outdoor water park off Bronson Avenue, across from Carleton University. It''s called Brewer Park and is a favorite to residents with children of all ages.

About an hour outside the city, there''s a living 19th century village, complete with costumed interpreters who are happy to answer questions about what daily life was like over 150 years ago. To do it justice, you''ll need a half day to explore Upper Canada Village. It''s pretty extensive covering 60 acres with more than 40 heritage buildings scattered throughout. On your way back to Ottawa, don''t miss The Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary for picture-taking opportunities as you look for loons, herons and (of course) the Canada Goose. Bonny Kominek wrote this article while on a holiday booked with Dialaflight who provide flight to Canada and other desinations.