Ottawa, Ontario 9 minutes / Windows Media Player

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Canada's capital city is the country's fourth largest metropolis and is home to more than 1 million people and over 100 embassies.

It is conveniently placed on the 401 between Toronto and Montreal, but is also less than 500 miles away from Quebec City, Rochester, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Syracuse.

Parliament Hill offers daily tours that offer insight into both the history and the current workings of Canada's capital.

In winter, it is true to the perception the world has of Canada: it's absolutely freezing!!! But that doesn't stop people from enjoying the great outdoors, so bundle up and join everyone else on the longest ice skating rink in the world, the Rideau Canal.

Our visit happened to be in the summer though, and this is a great town to spend a few days seeing government in action, taking a peek at lots of Canadian history and browsing through the shops and markets of a bustling downtown.

Ottawa is for the most part a centrally-located city, so a downtown hotel comes in handy and often will let you see the sights on foot. We stayed at the Ottawa Marriott and were an easy walk from Parliament Hill, the Galleries and the Byward Market.


If you're feeling super-adventurous, the Ottawa River is known for its white water rafting. For some adventure, you might check out Wilderness Tours, located in Beachburg, about an hour away. Not that you'll be at a loss for things to do.

The view of Parliament Hill from the Peace Tower

The National Gallery of Canada

The Canada and the World Pavillion is a neat, free attraction located on Sussex Drive nestled among Embassies and near the Prime Minister's Residence. It's a great chance to take a look at Canada in a global perspective and see some of the accomplishments that have made Canada unique. The museum is divided into Spirit, Mind and Body and showcases humanitarian efforts, artistic, athletic and technological feats. Couple that with a neat riverfront location, and it's well worth the visit.

If exercise isn't your cup of tea at all, you can always take a tour of the Agricultural Museum and see a real-life operating Experimental Farm, right in the city!!. Here you can see many of the animals that make up Canada's agricultural landscape and get to know more about just what life is like on the farm.

Or go to the Science and Technology Museum, the largest of its kind in the country, and attend an evening astronomy program.

The Governor General's Residence on Sussex Dr.

The Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec is Canada's most visited museum.

There's also the National Art Centre, where you can catch shows, exhibitions and performances from around the world, or the National Gallery which houses world-famous art exhibits. Their permanent collection is always free, and there are also complimentary guided tours. In addition, there are always world-class special exhibits that change constantly, so check with their website before you head to Ottawa.

The Rideau Canal is in the centre of the city and is the world's longest skating rink in the winter.

The Byward Market has indoor and outdoor stalls to buy local items year-round.

As you can see, you'll have plenty to do for a weekend or maybe more. We spent a very enjoyable few days in Canada's capital and would highly recommend it to anyone from Eastern Canada or the Northeastern U.S. who is looking for a city with a unique multicultural flair and an amazing look at Canada's past and present.