Category: Ottawa

Imagine yourself walking behind a cloaked figure who bears only an old-fashioned lantern to light the way, and you have just pictured the scene that takes place on haunted walks through Kingston and Ottawa. Both cities are said to be home to haunts from ages past, and both cities are the site of haunted walking tours, during which guides take guests to haunted sites where spooky happenings sometimes occur. Not for the faint of heart, these haunted walks present historic buildings and other famous sites in a new and somewhat scary light. Let’s take a closer look. Haunted Walks in […]

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Beer was first introduced to Canada by seventeenth century European settlers, and until Prohibition reared its tea-totalling head, Canadian citizens enjoyed delicious frothy brew with meals and at celebrations, and exported it for other nations to savour. Despite a number of laws that forbade citizens from drinking, the government did allow several exceptions, with wineries being exempted from closure, and with a number of distilleries and breweries remaining open to support the export market. A few of these survived until Prohibition ended, and during the late twentieth century, a number of new breweries began producing quality beers of all kinds. […]

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Ottawa‘s most prominent landmark and one of the top tourist attractions of the city is Parliament Hill; home to the Parliament of Canada, and host to about 3 million visitors every year. Development of Parliament Hill started in 1859 when Ottawa was chosen to be the capital of the Province of Canada by Queen Victoria. The slightly elevated position of the hill, overlooking the Ottawa River, set the scene for this to be an impressive site, and they began building it in the popular (for the time) Gothic Revival architectural style. The original Centre Block was destroyed by fire in […]

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At Canada’s House of Commons in Ottawa, you can see for yourself where Parliament’s legislative process takes place. Featuring an incredible heritage collection located in several historic government buildings, right atop Parliament Hill, the House of Commons has several areas that are open to the public or which are open for guided tours offered by the Public Information Office. Art, architecture, artifacts, and more can be seen, making this a destination Canadians and visitors to the country alike should visit. Highlights of a Visit to the House of Commons Some of the most beautiful areas to see include the Peace […]

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Having visited the nation’s capital on several occasions I can safely say that I am very fond of Ottawa. There are many things that I like about it, but overall I like the fact that it’s such a calm place; almost peaceful and serene despite the fact that it’s home to close to a million people. Maybe it’s because Ottawa has been ranked highly in some of the world’s most renowned surveys – ranked second highest quality of living of any large city in the Americas by Mercer, and 14th highest in the world; or second cleanest city in Canada, […]

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The first time I visited Ottawa with my husband we stumbled upon the Fish Market Restaurant in the Byward Market district of the city. Both of us are fans of fish and seafood so this restaurant looked like a great choice, and judging by the number of tables that were occupied we weren’t the only ones who thought so! From the outside the Fish Market Restaurant has a friendly feel, and its styling seems somewhere between posh pub and bistro, mixed with heritage building! Having had a day of drizzling rain for sightseeing around Ottawa we both looked worse for […]

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I recently was on a business trip to Ottawa, my first chance to visit the nation’s capital.  I didn’t have high expectations but was pleasantly surprised by my visit.  I found every person that I had cause to interact with so nice, so helpful and friendly – so Canadian!  The weather was great, and you could see what an active city it is as everyone was out on their bikes, running or just walking. My favourite place was Byward Market.  It was a bustling place at 10 am or 10 pm, and it reminded me of being out on European […]

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Ottawa has been the Capital of Canada since 1857 when Queen Victoria chose a town half way between Montreal (the French centre) and Toronto (the English centre). Since then, the Capital has flourished as a blend of the two cultures offering a unique living experience. The houses of Parliament, dating back to the 1880s, have a stunning view overlooking the Ottawa River and the historic Rideau Canal, which winds its way 198 km to Kingston Ontario. In summer, thousands of boaters travel the Rideau Canal and, in winter, it is transformed into the world’s largest skating rink. Other historical sites […]

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Growing up on the West Coast, I had never experienced real winter and, when I did for the first time, I wasn’t so sure I liked it. I had moved to Ottawa for school and was gearing up for some cold temperatures and a lot of snow. I was also prepared to hunker down in the warm confines of the school library and wait out the never-ending storm I perceived as winter. The one winter activity I was willing to try was the winter celebration in Quebec City, Carnival, I had heard about as a child. Unfortunately, the hectic student […]

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Places to Shop in Ottawa Whilst there is plenty in Ottawa to keep even the most seasoned traveller occupied, the city is also a great place to shop. So whether you’re travelling with a culture vulture, a foodie or a seasoned shopaholic, there are a whole host of places to pick up some great souvenirs. The Byward Market area of downtown Ottawa is the city’s most popular and famous shopping district. Located in the oldest commercial and residential area of the city, the historic market was built in 1926, and after a $2 million renovation in 1997, now plays host […]

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