Ottawa: Tells the Story of Canada A unique combination of Urban Convenience and Accessible Nature Canada s Capital, fourth largest city with 1.

Transcription

1 Ottawa: Tells the Story of Canada A unique combination of Urban Convenience and Accessible Nature Canada s Capital, fourth largest city with 1.3 million people Located in the province of Ontario, across the river from Gatineau, Quebec Walkable city core with a blends of 2 cultures; 2 languages (English and French), 2 provinces, perfect for individual or family exploration Ottawa Landmark capital sights, a rich collection of cultural attractions, and a beautiful green natural setting all wrapped in a relaxed urban vibe. 1

2 Ottawa acts as a convenient hub for trips to: Montreal and Kingston (both 2 hours by car), Toronto and Quebec City (4 1/2 and 5 hours respectively) U.S.border 1 hour drive Direct international connections by air to: Ottawa London Ottawa Frankfurt 2

3 Ottawa Three rivers: Ottawa River Gatineau River Rideau River Rideau Canal runs thought the urban center of downtown Ottawa Ottawa River separates the two provinces, Ontario and Quebec and the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau 3

4 Parliament Hill Open year round for public tours, free admission, allow 1 ½ -2 hour for visit due to security checks; tour must be there 15 minutes minimum before the tour; tour one hour Summer months: leisure visitors can book a timed visit to allow for more free time to explore; pick up free tickets directly across the street from Parliament Hill. House of Commons Visitors will experience the most comprehensive tours when the House of Commons and the Senate are not sitting which makes summer the ideal time to tour Parliament Hill Another great activity on Parliament Hill is observing a session of the House of Commons or the Senate from the Parliament Hill public galleries. Sound and Light Show Projected on the front of the Parliament Buildings Nightly from July September; thirty minute presentation, free admission Features the story of Canada through sound and light Changing of the Guard ceremony In front of Parliament Hill, 10 am daily, end of June to end of August Peace Tower Enclosed observation deck offering great view of the city; visit takes 30 minutes; elevator has limited space to access deck 4

5 Bus Tours (April October) Lady Dive Tours - double decker, trolley, amphi-tours (land and water) Gray Line Ottawa - double decker, hop on -off Air Tours Heli-Tremblant - in association with the Canada Aviation and Space Museum is offering helicopter flights from the museum. Discover the nation s capital from the air, departing from the museum (Rockcliffe Airport) and discover the Ottawa River, the city of Gatineau, the Casino du Lac Leamy and various tourist attractions including the Parliament Buildings. Central Aviation - Experience adventure and history on a vintage opencockpit biplane ride! Tour includes ride in cockpit of a Waco biplane and tour of the Aviation and Space Museum and behind the scenes of the Reserve Hanger. 5

6 Boat Tours Ottawa is uniquely located at the juncture of three rivers: the Ottawa River, the Gatineau River and the Rideau River. Ottawa River separates the two provinces, Ontario and Quebec and the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau. Ottawa River Boat Tours (May-October; scheduled tours and charters available) World Famous Paul s Boat Line Capital Cruises Lady Dive Amphibus Tours Au Feel de l eau Water Taxi transfer on the Ottawa River between Ottawa Gatineau; Rideau Canal Rideau Canal Cruises 1000 Islands Boat Tours 1000 Islands Cruises Rockport Boat Line Gananoque Boat Lines 1000 Island Tour 6

7 7

8 National Gallery of Canada Centrally located; 10 minute walk from Parliament Hill and the ByWard Market World s largest collection of Canadian art New Canadian and Indigenous galleries Attraction is popular for groups and individuals; café and cafeteria offer scenic location to view downtown Ottawa Tours are offered in English and French and multi language floor plans (5 languages) 8

9 Canadian Museum of History (formerly the Canadian Museum of Civilization) 1,000 years of Canadian history World s largest indoor collection of totem poles Tells the story of Canada and it s people from the dawn of habitation to present day Ultimate family experience, something for everyone Cine+ Theatre Home to the Canadian Children s Museum Suggested visit of 3 hours or more; cafeteria and restaurant on site 9

10 Canadian Museum of Nature Canada s national museum showcasing Canada s flora and fauna Exhibits include: The Water Gallery Vale Earth Gallery Talisman Energy Fossil Gallery RBC Blue Water Gallery Mammal Gallery Bird Gallery Discovery Zone Animalium Opening Canada Goose Artic Gallery largest Arctic museum of it s kind in the world 10

11 Canadian War Museum One of the three most impressive war art collections in the world Canadian military history from the earliest times to the present; Canada s story of it s contribution in the British Empire Stunning architecture, the museum is in the shape of a bunker which points to the Peace Tower at Parliament; sod roof See military equipment: Hitler's car, jet, tanks The Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War museum offer a combination pass 11

12 Canada Agriculture and Food Museum The Canada Agriculture and Food Museum is a unique combination of modern demonstration farm and museum Public programs, special events, live demonstrations and displays interpreting the museum's national collection of artifacts Animal barns open year-round, exhibitions are on view from March to October. Canada Aviation and Space Museum One of the best aviation museums in the world, the Canada Aviation Museum presents the history of Canada s aeronautical legacy, from the pioneer era to the jet age Guided tours available Over 130 aircraft chronicle the ancient dream of flight and the significant part played by Canadians in the development of aviation Canada Science and Technology Museum (expected to re-open in late 2017) Explore artifact-rich exhibits featuring marine and land transportation, astronomy, communications, space, domestic technology, and computer technology, and how they ve transformed Canada from the period of early exploration and settlement to the country it is today. Guided tours available. 12

13 Royal Canadian Mint Produces hand-crafted collector and commemorative coins, gold bullion coins, medals and medallions Tours are available to show how silver and gold are made into coins Coin boutique is popular for visitors Guests can hold a $ pure gold bar that weighs 28lbs 13

14 Aboriginal Experiences Offers native experience of drum, dance, story telling and interpretation of Canada s first people as well a traditional meal; May to October; for groups only. Located on Victoria Island in the Ottawa River (behind Parliament Hill); between the cities of Ottawa and Gatineau Tour product includes Voyageur canoeing on the Ottawa River at the base of the Rideau Canal, combined with trading, legends, dancing and dining with the First Nations. (1-4 hour) Other First Nation Experiences National Gallery of Canada Indigenous Walks Parc Omega Canadian Museum of History Aboriginal Experiences 14

15 Casino du Lac-Leamy Located in Gatineau, only 5 minutes from downtown Ottawa with a casino, a performance hall, and an ultra-modern convention centre Gaming: the Casino du Lac-Leamy features over 1,700 slot machines and 60 gaming tables, non-smoking environment, smoking rooms available 15

16 Nordik Spa Nature Largest day-spa in North America Located 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa/Gatineau 16

17 Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute is Canada's only campus for Le Cordon Bleu Located in the heart of Canada's picturesque capital, Ottawa's rich history in gastronomy and flair for French architecture Offers short courses (3-4 ) hours where you can learn and have a hands on experience The Ottawa campus is also home Signatures Restaurant at Le Cordon Bleu, a restaurant which offers exceptional cuisine, a unique setting for group or FIT culinary experience Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Institute is a Destination Canada Signature Experience 17

18 Rideau Canal Ontario s only UNESCO World Heritage Site Rideau Canal links Ottawa and Kingston, 202 km (125 miles); system of lakes, rivers and 47 locks at 24 stations Rideau Canal remains the best preserved example of slackwater canal in North America and it is the only canal dating from the early 19th century to remain operational with the most original structures in tact Rideau Canal runs through the centre of downtown Ottawa Boat tours (May-October) operate on the Rideau Canal; Canoe, paddle boats and kayak rentals available at Dow s Lake, Rideau Canal May 18-October 8, 2018: NEW! Le Boat offers luxury self-drive boat rentals along the Rideau Canal, from its headquarters in Smiths Falls Rideau Canal in winter: In winter becomes the world s largest skating rink: 7.8 km / 4.8 miles Many Ottawawans skate to work Skate and sled rentals available Winterlude festivities take place on the canal during the 1 st three weekends in February 18

19 Culinary and Dining International foods are found in the ByWard Market restaurants and surrounding neighborhoods Savour Ottawa is an initiative that encourages local farmers and chefs to do business together with the end result of having more local produce on the menus C est Bon Cooking guides will lead you on epicurean excursions through Ottawa s neighborhoods Craft Beer Breweries As Ottawa, Ontario has quickly become a hub for Canada's craft brew scene, people who travel to Canada s capital may be overwhelmed by the options before them; crowd pleasers to choose from including Beau's All Natural Brewing Co., HogsBack Brewing Company, Cassel Brewery and Les Brasseurs du Temps. Over twenty-five local breweries 19

20 Canadian Tulip Festival (May) Over 3 million tulips bloom in Ottawa in May; ten day festival Legacy of a gift of tulips from the Dutch Royal Family after the Second World War as a thank you to the Canadian government. During the war, the Royal family were in hiding in Ottawa. Canadians played a pivotal role in liberating Holland. Tulip bulbs continue to be given to Canada annually TD Canada Trust Ottawa International Jazz Festival (June-July) located in in Confederation Park located next to the Rideau Canal and City Hall; dynamic jazz artists; traditional to avant garde music RBC Ottawa Bluesfest (early July) one of Canada s largest music festivals 11 day, multi-stage in a set up along the Ottawa River next to the Canadian War Museum; 300,000 fans Music and Beyond: More Than a Music Festival (July) Music and Beyond is dedicated to enhancing the enjoyment of classical music and the arts in general in the Ottawa region by providing excellent concerts Ottawa Chamberfest (July-August) largest chamber music festival in the world presented mostly in downtown churches 16 days with approximate 130 events CityFolk Festival (September) CityFolk Festival is a five-day celebration of music, dance, visual arts and community featuring an eclectic mix of musical performances at Lansdowne- TD Place; located in Ottawa downtown. 20

21 TD Place is Ottawa s exciting urban sports and entertainment destination. Located alongside the beautiful Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site Surrounded by retail, restaurants and beautiful open plaza space Featuring a 24,000 seat, outdoor stadium and newly refurbished 10,000 seat indoor arena. It is the home of the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Ottawa Fury FC of the North American Soccer League (NASL). 21

22 Bike Tours 600 km of recreational paths RentABike for an environmentally friendly way to get around (bike rentals and guided tours). Escape Bike Tours (guided tours) Walking Tours Ottawa Walking Tours Haunted Walks C est Bon Cooking Click! (Student program) 22

23 Activity seekers: Calypso Waterpark- Canada s largest themed water park; tallest free standing waterslide in North America; located 25 minutes South-East of Ottawa on the way to Montreal. Camp Fortune s tree-top walking and zip lines are 15 minutes from the heart of downtown Ottawa. Arbraska Lafleche Park: -largest cave in the Canadian Shield offering tours as well as different treetop aerial courses. Rafting: Rafting in the region can range from soft to high adventure, with class 5 rapids in the early spring run-off to family float trips in the late spring and summer. Rafting with Owl Rafting, RiverRun Rafting, Rafting Momentum and Wilderness Tours. Recognized as one of the best whitewater rafting destination in the world from May to September. Wilderness Tours/ Ottawa City Rafting offers rafting in downtown Ottawa; 20 minutes west of Parliament Hill 23

24 ByWard Market 350 boutiques, pubs and restaurants One of Canada's oldest and largest public markets; farmer s produce, authentic Canadian gifts including maple syrup Easily accessible on foot, by transit or by car BeaverTails The delicious whole-wheat pastries are hand-stretched, then float cooked and served piping hot, topped with butter and your choice of delectable flavours. Proudly satisfying your sweet tooth since CF Rideau Centre Ottawa s premier shopping destination; home to 180 biggest names in fashion, food and services; 3 levels of shopping Located downtown next to ByWard Market Tanger Outlet Mall- factory outlet mall with 80 brand names stores opened in 2014 in the west end of Ottawa Shopping at Lansdowne- newly renovated retail shopping at TD Lansdowne Place( location where professional football, soccer, and hockey is played); located next to the Rideau Canal within downtown Ottawa 24

25 Fulton s: Maple Syrup Season March and April, maple trees are tapped for maple syrup Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario-Lanark county, located 1 hour drive west of Ottawa Learn cooking using maple products; maple gift shop also includes maple spa products Traditional meals served with maple syrup; an Ontario rural agriculture experience Open daily March and April for groups and FIT s; off season groups require reservations 25

26 Ottawa Tourism Contacts: Ottawa Tourism Elgin Street Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2P 1L4 Phone: Fax: Toll Free: Website: Facebook: Twitter: 26