Canada’s capital city: Ottawa has the highest per capita concentration of residents with PhDs in Canada
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Out and about:
The MacDonald-Cartier International is Ottawa’s main airport with regular flights from most major Canadian and many American cities.
The city is connected by several bus routes with regular service to Montreal, Toronto and other cities in North America. Passenger train service, run by Via Rail, is also an option while coming in to the city. And if you prefer the water, then you could always sail up the Rideau Canal, now recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.
The city’s public transit includes an efficient bus service and the O-Train light rail system. The network also includes the Transitway, a bus rapid transit system. However, if you have the time and the energy, Ottawa is great city to explore on foot with pedestrian friendly streets and a high density of attractions on the walking trails. Guided walking tours are available. Ottawa is also very accessible to cyclists with over 170 km of bicycle paths.
Sights around town: Billings Estate Museum: The imposing structure gives you a glance into the social life during the 1800s, when Braddish Billings, head of one of Ottawa’s founding families, oversaw its construction. It was turned into a museum in 1970. Come here for a nice picnic and stroll the 8-acre grounds. A great way to spend a lazy summer afternoon with your family.
Bytown Museum: the museum is housed in the city’s oldest stone building built in 1827, which served as the Commissariat for food and material during construction of the Rideau Canal. The museum displays possessions of Lieutenant Colonel By and other artifacts that reflect the social history of the pioneer era along with a number of changing exhibits.
The Byward Market: Located east of the Rideau Canal, this is one of the most popular shopping districts in the city. In the summer, stalls selling fresh produce and flowers line the streets, and even in peak winters, some tough vendors brave the cold to see maple syrup and other produce.
Canada Aviation Museum: it has a collection of 115 aircrafts and is one of the best in the world. It traces aviation history from the start of the 20th century through the two world wars to the present. The main attraction here is the Silver Dart, a biplane built by a consortium headed by Alexander Graham Bell.
Canadian Museum of Civilization: The exhibits within this impressive building take you through the history of Canada beginning with Aboriginal migration across the Bering Strait through European settlement by the Vikings around 1000 BC, and the British and French in the 1500s. The museum houses the Children’s Museum, one of the largest in the world, and the Postal Museum. It also contains the world’s first combined IMAX/OMNIMAX theatre.
Science and Technology Museum: The several displays such as massive locomotives and electricity demonstrations are a great hit with kids and adults alike.
Canadian Museum of Nature: the exhibit halls trace the history of life on earth from its beginnings 4,200 million years ago. The dinosaur hall with fossils, skulls, and the intact skeleton of a mastodon is the star exhibit. It houses five million specimens, including dinosaurs, exotic animals and precious gems. The museum is also home to the Viola MacMillan Mineral Gallery and even has an authentic reconstructed gold mine.
Canadian War Museum: The museum has changed venues through the years since its inception in 1880. On display are examples of uniforms, military equipment, and antique and modern weaponry. The Museum also holds the second largest publicly owned art collection in the country, with almost 11,000 works.
Laurier House: It is a comfortable 1878 brick home of two Canadian prime ministers, and is now a National Historic Site filled with mementos of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Canada’s seventh prime minister and William Lyon Mackenzie King, who held the same post for 22 years.
National Gallery of Canada: This beautiful rose-granite crystal palace gleams from a promontory overlooking the Ottawa River and commands glorious views of Parliament Hill. The museum displays about 800 examples of Canadian art, European masters, and contemporary artists.
Parliament Hill: Overlooking the Ottawa River, the building a fine example of the Gothic revival style. The centre block includes inside views of the House of Commons, the Senate, and the newly renovated Library of Parliament. The National Capital Commission has also developed a 30 minute Sound & Light Show about Canada projected on the centre block of the Parliament Buildings.
During the summer, Parliament Hill hosts the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony, a military tradition dating back to the 19th century. In December and January, Parliament Hill, Confederation Boulevard and the downtown area are ablaze with a dazzling display of lights in time for Christmas.
Sparks Street: It is a common tourist thoroughfare for sightseeing and shopping but it also has some of the best views from the observation deck of the Peace Tower. On the lawn facing the Centre Block is the Centennial Flame, lit in 1967 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation.
Canada Agriculture Museum: It is actually a working animal farm where you get to visit animal barns, see various demonstrations and exhibitions, and ride on a horse-drawn wagon.
The Rideau Canal: The longest outdoor skating rink in the world during the winters and a great place for boating in the summer. It is the oldest continuously operated canal in North America and it celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2007. The 202 km long canal was originally supposed to be a military project to protect from invading Americans. It is also the best place to try out the beaver tail, a deep-fried pastry topped with cinnamon, sugar, icing and sugar.
Cultural highlights:
Ottawa is host to over 60 festivals and events per year and some of the more popular ones are:
The Ottawa Jazz Festival
The Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, one of the largest in the world
Bluesfest, the largest blues festival in Canada featuring rock, pop and world music
The Fringe Festival, a theatre festival
Winterlude, a winter carnival featuring ice carving and snow sculptures
The Tulip Festival, a spring spectacular of flowering bulbs also featuring concerts by Canadian music groups
Canada Day, on July 1st
Carnival of Cultures, explores the city’s multicultural heritage
The Ottawa Busker Festival, brings performances into the streets
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