Ottawa

Ottawa, the capital of Canada, was the second stop on a recent trip across Canada. Before going there, I knew the basics (i.e. that its the capital) but couldn't really have pointed out any landmarks. I have to say that I was very impressed by what I saw and would definately recommend a trip here to anyone. HISTORY: Ottawa was first inhabited by Native people. After its colonisation is became a fur trading post and later a lumber centre. It was chosen as the Canadian capital in 1857 by Queen Victoria, which was controversial as it was small in comparison to other Canadian cities. It is now the centre of Canadian government and houses the ...  Read the complete review

We had visited Ottawa for the day three years before, but this year we decided to stay there for 3 nights. On arriving from Quebec we had a short stop in Hull (or now Gatineau) and although things to do were limited here there was a lovely park near the Ottawa River, that gives great views across to Ottawa and the Parliament Buildings. Ottawa itself has loads of things to do, a lot of things indoors too, which is good if you visit in the winter! I would definitely recommend the comprehensive tour of the Parliament buildings which are free. I also thought the National Gallery well worth a visit. There are lots of government related buildings open for tours ...  Read the complete review

This is by no means a definitive guide to Ottawa, but some jottings based on a couple of visits. I always feel with places that you are likely to go to again, that there’s no point in rushing to see it all, and to date, I haven’t! ********************************************* “Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now 500 miles east of our capital, Ottawa” said our Air Canada captain, as if having to remind himself that a city this size is the capital of one of the world’s largest countries. Touching down in Ottawa does indeed give the impression of having landed somewhere more akin to Norwich if the airport is anything to ...  Read the complete review

I have spent a total of two weeks of and on, in Ottawa. It is definitely quieter than the livelier cities of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, but I found it had a definite charm. It is on the banks of the Ottawa River and the gateway between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. There are actually two cities next to each other, Ottawa which is in Ontario, and over the river, Hull, which is in Quebec, and you cross between the two on a number of road bridges. This puts the city in the unique position, both culturally and geographically as the link between French and English Canada, and probably one of the reasons it was chosen as the federal capital. ...  Read the complete review

Ottawa is pretty, and surprisingly small for a capital city. I would recommend only staying here a day or two as there is not a great deal to see. The centre of town has quaint little shopping streets with many very american/canadian type shops such as Christmas shops, which are worth going into just to see the tackiness of some of the decorations, the shops themselves are done out like snow scenes or santa's grottos. The must see attraction in ottawa is the changing of the gaurd (think thats what its called) at parliment hill, and the buildings at parliment hill are worth a look too. The river is another nice attraction with about 26 locks in the space ...  Read the complete review