Making Horizons History: Travel Guide to Ottawa, Ontario

Looking for your next weekend getaway? Look no farther than Ottawa.

Canada’s national capital has a lot to offer from the worlds largest outdoor skating rink to the historic buildings that make Parliament Hill. Ottawa offers a variety of attractions in the city and in the nature surrounding the National Capital Region. Make Canada’s capital your next destination!

How to get here:

Ottawa is located 2 hours from Montreal, 4 hours from Quebec City, 4 hours from Toronto and only 1 hour from the US border. Ottawa’s international airport provides frequent flights to Toronto and US destinations.

Ottawa – The Capital of Canada – Located on the Ottawa River.

Where to Stay:

Ottawa’s downtown core is centered around Parliament Hill. Nearby are the attractions of the Byward Market, Rideau Canal and many museums. When looking for a place to stay in Ottawa, I recommend a few options.

For a reasonable price the Delta Hotel by Mariott located on Lyon St. N is a block away from the Hill. The Andaz Hotel located on Dalhousie St. is close to the Byward Market. The Andaz Hotel has a rooftop bar that is a great spot to catch sunset over the Ottawa River. Another convenient location is the Courtyard by Mariott Ottawa East off Vanier Parkway.

Some higher end hotels include the Lord Elgin on Elgin St. is across from Confederation Park and the Rideau Canal. There is of course the famous Fairmont Chateau Laurier that has hosted prominent individuals and many conferences.

Getting a photo with the RCMP. Parliamentary Protective Service (PPS) & RCMP are responsible for the security at The Hill

Where to Dine:

Ottawa has a great selection of restaurants. There are a few restaurants that offer the Montreal style bagels. You can see the bagels baked in a wood fire oven at the Ottawa Bagelshop & Deli in Westboro and Kettlemans Bagels in the Glebe.

Zak’s Diner in the Byward Market is a popular restaurant, from milkshakes to omelets it is a great spot for Sunday brunch. El Camino in the Glebe is a Mexican restaurant that has some great fish tacos.

If you are looking to get a cup of coffee in the morning or get some work done downtown try Happy Goat Coffee and Origin Trade are located in the Byward Market. Bridgehead Coffee, an Ottawa-based chain has several locations in the downtown core.

Dinner at Smoque Shack in the Byward Market

Bagel lunch at Ottawa’s Bagelshop

Brunch at Zak’s Diner in Byward Market

Origin Trade Coffee

Indoor Attractions:

For indoor attractions there are many options. Over the next few years, Centre Block at Parliament Hill is under renovations, however when this is completed you can get a tour of the House of Commons, Senate and the Peace Tower. Tickets are available at 90 Wellington St. across from the Hill. It is a first-come, first-serve system. While these renovations are underway there are tours for the West Block which was recently completed and is where the House of Commons is meeting currently.

There are many museums in the area, one that I enjoyed was the Royal Canadian Mint. Here you can see the manufacturing process from beginning to end for specialty coins. The coins that are in circulation are made at the sister plant in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Here at the RCM you can see the coils of silver & gold valued at several million dollars. You can also hold a gold bar worth approximately $680,000 (CAD).

At the Royal Canadian Mint holding a gold bar under the supervision of security!

The Aviation Museum at the former Canadian Forces Base/Rockcliffe Airport is home to many aircraft from the RCAF. From the Avro Arrow to the CF-18s and the CH-113 Labrador helicopters. From this airport you can get plane rides over the National Capital region.

The War Museum just down the street from Parliament Hill tells the story of the military history of Canada with many replicas. Across the river in Gatineau is the History Museum with interactive displays and has some unique architecture making it a landmark in the area.

Finally the National Gallery located on Sussex Drive is a comprehensive collection of Indigenous, European, American and Contemporary Art. There are other museums such as the Science and Technology Museum and the Museum of Nature in the south part of Ottawa.

At the Aviation Museum, the timeline of aircraft in Canada.

Governor General House in Rockcliffe Park neighbourhood. Across the street from 24 Sussex, the official residence of the Prime Minister.

Outdoor Attractions:

In the National Capital region there are many outdoor parks for both summer and winter activities. Rockcliffe park is along the Ottawa river where you can catch the sun setting over the river. Majors Hill park is adjacent to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, this park is close to the Byward Market. Dows Lake located in south Ottawa and is part of the Rideau Canal. Here at Dows Lake, you can rent paddleboards and canoes. The Rideau Canal goes through the heart of Ottawa, in the summer there are many recreational boats going through the locks. In the winter this transforms into the worlds largest outdoor skating rink.

In the summer there is a sound and lights show on Parliament Hill that goes through the highlights of Canadian history. This colourful show displays on the grand architecture of the Parliament buildings.

Gatineau Park is just across the river in Quebec. In the summer you can hike the many trails near Pink Lake, explore the ruins of Carbide Wilson house or go back in time to see the Mackenzie King Estate. Some of the lakes in the park have beach access. There are many lookouts along the trails and one that is accessible by car is Champlain Lookout. In summer, cyclists make their way up these challenging roads. If you are planning a visit in the summer or fall you might want to plan to arrive early. Parking can fill up fast as the fall colours are in their peak. In winter, there are activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on some of the trails.

About 30 minutes away is the town of Wakefield. Here you can find some restaurants, and the Moulin Wakefield Hotel + Spa which overlooks a local waterfall. There is also a covered bridge crossing the Gatineau River nearby.

Some attractions are the largest in Canada including the Nordik Spa, located in the town of Chelsea is the North America’s largest spa. Nearby test your courage at the Great Canadian Bungee, the tallest bungee jump in Canada.