City


PROFILE Capital choice


OTTAWA


government, the city is easily accessible via daily direct flights from Heathrow and Frankfurt – and its diverse hospitality industry has plenty to suit all visitors. At the heart of the city, both literally and figuratively, is Parliament Hill. Here, free daily tours explain the workings of government and take in the magnificent Gothic-revival buildings where it meets. Recommend your clients head to the top of the Peace Tower for 360-degree views; if they are there at 10am (June- August) they will catch the Changing the Guard ceremony, weather permitting. Each evening (July-early September)


O


they can also marvel at the free nightly sound and light show called 'Mosaika', which sees Canada's story portrayed in


“Ottawa is a city packed with quirky stories and special interest activities.”


Clockwise from left: Yoga on Parliament Hill; Changing the Guard; and totem poles at the Canadian Museum of History


30 SUMMER 2014 • SELLING CANADA


ttawa, Ontario, is Canada’s capital and its fourth largest city. Home to the federal


mesmerising images projected on the Parliament buildings. The grounds around Parliament Hill house striking monuments and provide sweeping views of the Ottawa River and Gatineau Hills. Or, for something different, suggest the free yoga classes held on Parliament's front lawn every Wednesday at noon (May-September). Elsewhere in the city, museums and galleries abound. Top stops should include the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Museum of History (across the river in the province of Québec), the Canadian War Museum and the Canadian Museum of Nature. These are all walking distance from


downtown and offer hands-on fun and engaging family-friendly activities. Or there are museums focused on agriculture and food, science and technology, and aviation and space. For those hiring a car, recommend the 30-minute drive west to Diefenbunker, Canada’s Cold War Museum, a four- storey under-ground bunker built to withstand a nuclear attack. Active types might prefer a little pedal


power. Bike hire is readily available and during Sunday Bikedays scenic roads are closed to traffic so cyclists, inline skaters


and runners can have free rein. As the city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River, it also offers plenty of fun-fuelled adventures on the water. The three-hour whitewater rafting trip run by Ottawa City Adventures, for example, launched in spring 2014 and offers a gentle rafting ride from Britannia Park. Participants may get splashed but they


only end up in the river by choice – when the operator allows them to jump out of the raft to swim in the current. For more high-adrenaline options, huge rapids can be found 90 minutes out of town, with a variety of operators standing by to provide white-knuckle excitement on day trips. Alternatively, visitors can take boat cruises on either the Ottawa River or the Rideau Canal, or hop aboard the electric Aqua Taxi that shuttles across the Ottawa River between the locks of the Rideau Canal (Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the Canadian Museum of History (Canada’s most-visited museum). The ride costs just $5 and provides some amazing views; because it’s an electric boat the impact on the environment is minimal.


Ottawa is a city packed with quirky stories and special interest activities. Check out the Haunted Walk for


scary ghost stories or encourage clients along the Time Travel Trail – the city’s newest offering offers a journey into Ottawa’s past. Duel, anyone? For a true taste of Ottawa, a guided culinary walking tour with C’est Bon Epicurean Adventures through the ByWard Market district is enlightening. Home to one of Canada’s oldest and largest farmers’ markets, the neighbourhood has over 120 places to eat and drink and plenty of quirky shopping at owner-occupied boutiques. Learn more at: www.ottawatourism.ca


STAR DEAL


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EXPLORE the eclectic cities of Eastern Canada by train on an 11-day trip priced from £1,855pp, including international flights. The deal includes two nights in Ottawa plus time in Toronto, Montréal and Québec City.


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