In anticipation of my next trip to Ottawa next week, I’ve started some research and contacted Ottawa Tourism. Ottawa, Canada’s capital, is one of the most popular destinations in Canada and has a variety of objectives, activities and events to offer.
I had the opportunity to work with Jantine Van Kregten of Ottawa Tourism, who was kind enough to see a good overview of things to do in Ottawa and was the speech.
1st Please give us some general information about Ottawa. What is the place where you are, what time?
Ottawa is the capital of Canada and its fourth largest city. With the neighboring city of Gatineau, Province of Quebec, the region has about 1.2 million people. Ottawa is located in eastern Ontario, in the northeast for about four hours from Toronto, two hours west of Montreal and an hour north of the border with New York State.
Ottawa has four distinct seasons, with higher temperatures and high humidity in the days in July and August, a warm autumn with beautiful fall colors, winter and spring cold and snowy, and rainy.
2nd How can you go to Ottawa and what is the best way to move to Ottawa?
Ottawa can be reached by direct flights from the major centers in Canada and in several U.S. cities including New York, Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta and more. Ottawa is an important step on the Quebec-Windsor corridor, VIA Rail and bus service connects the city with other Canadian cities.
The car belonging to the main road Highway 416, which runs from Ottawa to Highway 401. Highway 417 runs through the city while the highways 5, 50 and 148 are the main highways in Quebec side of river.
3rd Ottawa is the capital of Canada and played an important role in the history of this country. Please tell us more about it and the Department of Canadian Heritage provided experience in Ottawa.
Ottawa story begins with the construction of the Rideau Canal from 1826 to 1832 by Lieutenant-Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers and, above all, thousands of Irish workers. The canal stretches 202 km (126 miles) east of Ontario in the St. Lawrence River and was built to a supply line for the case of an American guarantee to attack (which never came). The canal was never used for military purposes and its 49 locks still in the same way as if they were built operated. In fact, the Rideau Canal named a candidate for World Heritage Canada, which is scheduled for 2007, the 175th Anniversary of its construction.
Queen Victoria in 1857 ordered that Ottawa, the capital of the country, which has arrived Canada. Majestic Parliament Buildings were built shortly thereafter and will remain a “must see” attraction in the capital. In the capital, Ottawa is also home to 24 Sussex Drive (Prime Minister’s residence and not open to the public) Rideau Hall (home Governor General, are available with guided tours of the house and gardens), and dozens of high commissions and embassies Governments around the world.
Do not miss Laurier House, the home of Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King, two former prime ministers, and the Mackenzie King Estate, King’s summer residence in Gatineau Park
4th Tell us about some of the major sights, museums and galleries in the Ottawa area.
The latest addition to the scene is the impressive Museum of the National War Museum, which opened its doors in May 2005 in a wonderful location beside the Ottawa River. The most visited museum in Canada, Gatineau, Canadian Museum of Civilization. The National Gallery of Canada offers the largest collection of Canadian art and European and American masters. Other cultural institutions include the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, the Museum of Flight Canada, Canada Museum of Science, Technology, the Canada Agriculture Museum, the Royal Canadian Mint, the currency museum of the Bank of Canada and Canadian Museum of Nature, now in the middle be completed in a massive renovation in 2009.
Other museums, including the Museum Bytown, the history of the early days of Ottawa, says including the Rideau Canal, the Billings Estate Museum, the history told by a local family, and the funky Diefenbunker Canada’s Cold War Museum, a four-story underground bunker was built from 1959 to 1961, where the military and political elite of Canada to the time effects of a nuclear attack.
5th Our readers want to know about parties and special events in Ottawa.
The festival scene in Ottawa is a strong argument for the entire year. The year began with the Winterlude, a winter festival instead of high in the first three weekends in February. In March, the Irish community celebrates Week of Ireland, and in March and April, the season of maple syrup creates a number of festivals and events celebrating this delicious treat.
Owned by Canadian Tulip Festival in May – three weeks after the celebration of the favorite flower of Ottawa. During World War II, took the Dutch royal family shelter in Ottawa and Princess Margriet was born in a hospital room designated Dutch soil for the event. Canadians played an important role in the liberation of the Netherlands, where the royal family home after the war, has as a gesture of friendship, respect and appreciation, sent thousands of tulip bulbs. Lamps have been monitored each year since now 3,000,000 tulips in the capital of Canada.
End of May brings Canada’s largest marathon in Ottawa on the weekend races. During the summer months, swarms Festival: Open Doors Ottawa, the built heritage is available, Italian weekly Ottawa Fringe Festival, TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival, the Nortel Ottawa Dragon Boat Race Festival, Cisco Systems Bluesfest of Ottawa (Canada’s largest), Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival (the largest in the world), Sound of Light Fireworks Festival, Busker Festival Ottawa, Ottawa GreekFest; CKCU Ottawa Folk Festival, Canada and Central Exhibition Pride Week.
On Parliament Hill, two free summer activities are daily: 10:00 Changing of the Guard and the sound and light in the evening.
In that case, the Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival of colors of the sky, while the lure of the Harvest Festival Vendemmia the palate of the visitors. The Ottawa International Animation Festival presents artists from around the world, while the Ottawa International Writers Festival provides a forum for the discussion of living authors. Fall Rhapsody celebrates the colors of autumn.
Lights of the capital for the holidays with Christmas lights in the Canadian program.
6th What about restaurants and nightlife / entertainment in Ottawa?
Several districts offer entertainment options in Ottawa. The ByWard Market is one of the oldest parts of Ottawa and also acts as entertainment district with more than 100 foods and beverages in an area of four square blocks. Whether in romantic restaurants, a good restaurant, a bistro or café, you can find in the “market”.
Elgin Street is another popular night life area, with an eclectic selection of bars, restaurants and cafes a few blocks. Bank Street offers three or four different areas named on its entire length, including a popular area as the reason. At the western end, near Westboro is also a good option for dinner and drinks.
Of course you can also choose different options in the Casino du Lac-Leamy explore – when the tension of the game or show at the popular theater or a dinner in his five restaurants Le Baccara diamond. The region of another preparation of five diamonds (two of only 11 in Canada) is Le Cordon Bleu Signatures Ottawa.
7th Please give us an overview of the performing arts in Ottawa.
The National Arts Centre is the first Canadian Performing Arts, with performances in English and French theater, dance, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Many small theaters are also numerous in English and French, including the Great Canadian Theatre Company, La Nouvelle Scene, Ottawa Little Theatre, Theatre Company third wall, Odyssey Theatre (with performances outdoors along the river Rideau), a company of fools, and many productions at the Arts Court, municipal facilities.
From May 18 to June 11, Cirque du Soleil its production of Quidam is to bring in Ottawa. Festival de Danza in Spain, every two years (2-10 June 2006) in Ottawa and the Ottawa Fringe Festival (in June) is one of the best ways to see new products and new innovations. In
Centrepointe Theatre in the West End offers a variety of actions, such as the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.
Major events are usually held at Scotiabank Place and the Ottawa Civic Centre.
8th What are some shops in Ottawa?
Some large shopping centers that exist in Ottawa, including Bayshore Shopping Centre at the west end of downtown Rideau Centre, St. Lawrence Centre, the end is near, and the Place d’Orleans at the eastern end. These centers offer the best known brands.
For more eclectic range of market offers a wide ByWard fashion and home, such as the Glebe, Westboro, and some small towns in Ontario and Quebec side of the Ottawa River – inclouding Merrickville, Manotick, Perth, Chelsea and Wakefield.
9th What are the outdoor recreation and sports in the Ottawa area?
From a professional perspective, the Ottawa Senators were mainly from the residents of Ottawa, where she fell in March to the Stanley Cup! The Ottawa ’67s offer a window into the OHL. to supply the Ottawa Renegades CFL, and the enthusiasm of the Ottawa Lynx is part of the International League Baseball (these are the Triple A farm team is the Baltimore Orioles).
But sport in Ottawa are much more than participatory. The home of hundreds of miles of recreational trails, Ottawan such as cycling, skating and hiking. The Ottawa River offers incredible whitewater rafting and kayaking and adventure for the adventurers.
The free-fall bungee the highest in Canada is located north of Ottawa, Gatineau Park just outside. Throughout the year, Gatineau Park offers something for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether camping, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking or swimming in the summer, or snowshoeing or skiing in winter, the park has a lot of everyone in the region.
As evidence of the diversity is a goal for Ottawa is the only place where you can skate rink in the world’s largest and play in the biggest tournament in the world of beach volleyball?
10th What type of accommodation is located in Ottawa?
More than 11,000 rooms in the Ottawa-Gatineau. The major chains (Hilton, Fairmont, Westin Marriott, Delta, Novotel Sheraton, Holiday Inn Best Western, Comfort Inn) are represented as well as some unique offerings such as the bug or THE.HOTEL Brook Street Resort Shop.
City locations are within walking distance of many attractions. Some providers Bed and Breakfast offers a good alternative to hotels.
For a complete list of options is http://www.ottawatourism.ca
11th What are some important events and big news coming in 2006 and Ottawa?
The Canadian Museum of Civilization is celebrating its 150th Birthday in 2006. Started in May 1856 as part of the Geological Survey of Canada. Young Museum, the National Museum of Canada, and the National Museum of Man until 1986 he was made available to the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau entering its magnificent buildings three years later and more informative and entertaining presentation for a broad range of interests.
The Casino du Lac-Leamy celebrates 10 years continual stimulation March 2006. Originally opened as the Casino de Hull, has become one of the biggest attractions of the capital of Canada, which offers every day from Paris by 9.00 bis 3.00 clock, five-diamond dinner at Le Baccara, a morning and provides access to theater, music programming and a variety of entertainment of all kinds, berthing facilities, a Hilton hotel next to the spa and conference facilities. Casino is celebrating with a series of thematic activities, including promotion of the famous Lucky 7 days, another promotion offers every day of the week.
Emily Carr is the exhibition from June 2 to September 3, 2006 at the National Gallery of Canada. His paintings of First Nations people and landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, including many images of totem poles, to help define Canadian art, especially that of 1900.
In the third Indiana Jones film, the climatic scene took in a spectacular desert dug into the side of a cliff. This site is part of Petra in Jordan and 7 April 2006 to 2 January 2007, you can learn more at the Canadian Museum of Civilization exhibition PETRA: City of Stone.
The Seven Years War is the subject of a new exhibition at the Canadian War Museum, the new cultural attraction in Ottawa, which opened to great fanfare, May 2005. The exhibition Clash of Empires: The war that stretches from Canada, to 18 Be issued November 12th
Outdoor activities are an essential part of life for residents of Ottawa. This summer, the inhabitants enjoy the benefits of others, such as Ottawa hosts more than 3,500 athletes and coaches during the 2006 Olympic Summer Games in Ontario, August 9 to 13 2006th
Quebec Scene is April / May 2007: The National Arts Centre hosted the previous two “scenes” – Atlantic Scene in 2003 and Alberta Scene in 2005 – and 2007, Quebec time to shine, as his best theater, music, dance, comedy , cuisine, literature and film forms the basis of this cultural festival.
Treasures from Beijing 11 to 30 September 2007: The Canadian Museum of Civilization, you will learn more about the development of Chinese civilization, while selected treasures from the National Museum of China. It also tries to give an overview of the recent history of China, including economic reforms and the Olympic bid.
Renoir Landscapes: June 8 to September 9, 2007: One of the most popular of all the Impressionists Renoir at the center forward this summer at the National Gallery of Canada.
FIFA World Youth Championship 2007: 1-22 July 2007: Ottawa was chosen as one of the six host cities for three weeks, players from 24 countries, 52 games in the tournament with the best young (under 20) in the world of football. It is the largest event of FIFA seconds after the FIFA World Cup organized.
Rideau Canal World Heritage Site by UNESCO are: World Heritage Rideau Canal, which extends 202 km from Ottawa to Kingston, Canada is the entrance to the name of World Heritage by UNESCO. The order must be time for the 175th Anniversary of the completion of the canal in 2007, be received.
Portrait Gallery of Canada: After opening last spring of the new Canadian War Museum, the other major cultural institution planned for Ottawa is the Portrait Gallery of Canada, which begins in front of Parliament Hill end of 2007.