Attractions of the Ottawa Region
• A WorldWeb.com Travel Guide for Ottawa Region, Ontario.
In Canada's capital city of Ottawa, visitors can appreciate a wide range of attractions such as the historical Parliament Hill or dozens of interactive museums. Whatever one's interests are, visitors will have no problem finding an attraction in Ottawa and the city's surrounding areas that will pique and captivate their enjoyment.
OTTAWA
A good place to start exploring Ottawa is at Parliament Hill, where the parliament of Canada is located. Here, visitors can marvel at the Gothic Revival-style of architecture then head inside for a free guided tour that touches on the country's history and political system. During the summer months visitors can watch military drills and listen to marching music at the daily Changing of the Guard Ceremony. While the parliament buildings are a must see, the city boasts plenty of other top-notch attractions. History lovers will be in awe of the city's museum scene, which features such gems as the Canadian War Museum, Canada Aviation Museum, Canadian Museum of Nature and the National Gallery of Canada. Shoppers and foodies can browse the large ByWard Market, one of Canada's oldest public markets. ByWard Market attracts thousands of visitors with its collection of restaurants, bakeries, bars, shops and art facilities. The Rideau Canal, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a popular boating spot in summer and ice-skating destination in winter. Though tourists are not permitted inside 24 Sussex Drive (the Canadian Prime Minister's Residence), a drive past the historical limestone home that has housed Canadian prime ministers since 1951 is worthwhile.
THE SUBURBS
Although Ottawa's city centre is filled with attractions that should keep visitors busy for days, the city's suburban areas are definitely worth visiting as well. Southwest of the city centre, the large suburb of Kanata encompasses a variety of attractions, including the Ottawa Senators NHL team's home arena Scotiabank Place, Hazeldean Mall and the Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool.
In the late 1950s, the rural village of Carp was selected to house an Emergency Government Headquarters known as the Diefenbunker—named after Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker—that would protect government officials in a Cold War nuclear attack. This once secret four-storey bunker now operates as a museum on Canada's Cold War history. Visitors in the suburb of Nepean can stop by at an assortment of attractions such as the Nepean Museum for a quick history lesson on the area and the Valleyview Little Animal Farm to see adorable barn animals like bunnies and goats. Gloucester, Vanier and other communities are only a short distance from Ottawa and offer great dining and shopping opportunities.
OTTAWA
A good place to start exploring Ottawa is at Parliament Hill, where the parliament of Canada is located. Here, visitors can marvel at the Gothic Revival-style of architecture then head inside for a free guided tour that touches on the country's history and political system. During the summer months visitors can watch military drills and listen to marching music at the daily Changing of the Guard Ceremony. While the parliament buildings are a must see, the city boasts plenty of other top-notch attractions. History lovers will be in awe of the city's museum scene, which features such gems as the Canadian War Museum, Canada Aviation Museum, Canadian Museum of Nature and the National Gallery of Canada. Shoppers and foodies can browse the large ByWard Market, one of Canada's oldest public markets. ByWard Market attracts thousands of visitors with its collection of restaurants, bakeries, bars, shops and art facilities. The Rideau Canal, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a popular boating spot in summer and ice-skating destination in winter. Though tourists are not permitted inside 24 Sussex Drive (the Canadian Prime Minister's Residence), a drive past the historical limestone home that has housed Canadian prime ministers since 1951 is worthwhile.
THE SUBURBS
Although Ottawa's city centre is filled with attractions that should keep visitors busy for days, the city's suburban areas are definitely worth visiting as well. Southwest of the city centre, the large suburb of Kanata encompasses a variety of attractions, including the Ottawa Senators NHL team's home arena Scotiabank Place, Hazeldean Mall and the Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool.
In the late 1950s, the rural village of Carp was selected to house an Emergency Government Headquarters known as the Diefenbunker—named after Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker—that would protect government officials in a Cold War nuclear attack. This once secret four-storey bunker now operates as a museum on Canada's Cold War history. Visitors in the suburb of Nepean can stop by at an assortment of attractions such as the Nepean Museum for a quick history lesson on the area and the Valleyview Little Animal Farm to see adorable barn animals like bunnies and goats. Gloucester, Vanier and other communities are only a short distance from Ottawa and offer great dining and shopping opportunities.
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