Parliament Hill and other Ottawa, Canada Things to Do Tips

The Parliament Hill is a very beautiful place and it is very interesting as well. It has a history despite the country's young age and if you approach it from the front there is an open flame burning at the front yard 24/7 to commemorate the 100-th anniversary of the Pairlament. The building itself contains many rooms and a chamber of comments where politicians argue and give suggestions about the country's every day life.

Visiting the inside of the building with Groups of 10 or more, including school groups, must contact the Library of Parliament in advance to reserve tours: (613) 996-0896. When you visit the web site below, you'll see an in depth info about the place, it's history. Even about the renovation that's going on now.

Did you know the big Canadian flag on the top of the main tower is being changed every day for a new one? This is to keep it nice, bright and clean at all times. The waiting list is over 2000 people for the flags that come off the tower at the end of each day.

For more Parliament Hill images please visit my "Parliament Hill" Travelouge! Don't forget to enlarge all photos, also see the other photos here! Thank you.

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Phone: 1-800-0Canada
Address: Wellington street, Ottawa
Directions: Wellingngton street, right beside the Laurier Hotel.
Website: http://www.parliamenthill.gc.ca/text/hillcam-e.htm

The Canadian Tulip Festival is a must see activity in Ottawa. See thousands of tulips imported from Holland around the Parliament Hill and all over downtown. This is a tradition and an appreciation for helping out the queen of Netherland during the Second World War.

There are many activities around town. Concerts, Dows Lake Parade of Lights is a must also. Dows Lake is located on Carling Avenue at Preston St. Parking can be difficult during the festivities but you'll find one if you look hard enough. I personally recommend Dows Lake over Downtown Ottawa because it's free and easier to approach than downtown. The Tulips are planted at the first week of May and stay at their place even after the festivities are over. For a full schedule, see the website. For more photos, please view the travelouge. Have fun!

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Phone: (613) 567-4447
Address: Wellington St, Carling Avenue
Directions: Downtown Ottawa, Dows Lake Ottawa
Website: http://www.tulipfestival.ca/

Did you know that Ottawa Region has the highest concentration of museums of any region in Canada?
You must see the museum of Civilization in Hull which is almost right across the river at the parliament hill. I will not put a picture here because you will see that on my Hull page. Don't forget the Art Gallery, The huge spider you see on this image is right in front of the Art Gallery and it's over nine meters tall. The Museum of Nature and the Museum of Science and Technology. Canadian War Museum just opened in 2005 and it's also very popular. I highly recommend to visit the Canadian museum of science and technology. Especially if you go with children. They offer activities for the kids and let them participate in different science projects like building bridges, face painting or just painting Easter eggs on Easter. The CN Galley is also located in this museum. In there you will see old trains and railway related machines. Very interesting place. You can't miss it. There is a light tower right at front. This is a working 24/7 tower. Just like the ones you would see at sea coasts.

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Phone: (613) 990-1985
Address: 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
Directions: Downtown Ottawa, right at Alexandria bridge.
Website: http://www.gallery.ca/english/default.htm

If you like nature, wild animals and birds, than Ottawa is a place to be. Whether you are observing studying or photographing wild birds, you can find them almost everywhere around town. Large birds, small birds, water birds and migrating ones. Most common large birds are Canada geese, Ducks, Seagulls, Crows and Doves. If you venture into a forest or bush, you can easily spot red winged black birds, Robins, Cardinals, Chickadees, Finches, Sparrows, Nuthatches and more. Around water ways like lakes and rivers you'll see Mallard Ducks, Canada geese, Wood ducks, Herons, Cormorants, green Herons and more.

At some places and parks, little birds are so friendly with people they land on you hand when you stick it out with a few pieces of nuts or seeds in your palm. This is a fascinating experience, especially if you only see these birds from a distance.

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Address: Most parks and trails around and in Ottawa
Directions: Wherever you are, please do not feed the animals if it is indicated on a warning sign, especially not the larger birds.
Website: http://www.web-nat.com/bic/ont/hotspots.html

The Ottawa Ferrari Fest is another must see event in the Capital and the best part of this is FREE. Once a year, Usually in June Ferrari owners gather on Preston Street during the day and later in the same day a Ferrari drag-race is taking place. There is another street near Preston which is blocked off from traffic and this is where they race up and down. Ferraris are Italian sports cars and since Ottawa has a large Italian community, Preston street is the place where they meet. Preston street is part of little Italy, also known as Via Marconi. Preston Street starts at Carling Ave and goes up to Wellington ST, downtown. Keep in mind owners don't like folks touching their cars on display, but take as many pictures as you wish. Some car owners open their hood, so you can also see the engines of these cars. An interesting day to spend in Ottawa.

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Address: Preston Street
Directions: Preston Street starts at Carling Ave and goes up to Wellington ST, downtown, while crosses Somerset St.
Website: http://fcaottawa.com/1.html

Watch the screaming water below as you are standing on millions of years old ocean rocks at Hogsback Park and Locks. This is a must see activity and tourist attraction. Hogsback is a park, lake area that is part of the Rideau river and Rideau Canal water way system. This is the place where one river becomes a river and a canal. (Rideau Canal)
What you see there is a man made dam to control the water levels of the Rideau river. The history of this place goes back as early as 1845. The upper part of the river is very wide and it is part of Moonies bay.

The gates of the dam is usually closed in the summer time and they are wide open in the winter. When they close the gates, one or two still remains open. Partially anyways. The tremendous water pressure from the upper part blows the water through the gates and creates huge mist and noise.

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Address: Off Riverside Drive
Directions: Between Chateau Laurier and Parliament Hill in the centre of Ottawa.
Website: http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/history/locks/h11

This is my favorite part of Winterlude. The Crystal garden at Confederation park. You see many beautiful ice sculptures there carved out of ice. The artists come from all over the World to show the visitors their talent.

You can see a nice sculpture on my Home page, at the very top. The statues are lit at night and each have a sign in front of them representing the statue and introduce the artist and the country where they are from. Don't miss this when coming to Ottawa during the Winterlude.

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Phone: 1-800-465-1867
Address: Ottawa / Hull
Directions: Elgin Street, Laurier
Website: www.canadascapital.gc.ca/winterlude
Other Contact: 239-5000

The Crystal garden is one of the highlights of the Winterlude in Ottawa. This is the 17-th International Ice-Carving Competition in 2004. The artists usually start carving their creations like a week before the main event opens it's doors on February-15. The artists are given a few tons of ice in a form of huge mega-blocks. They have special tools to move and lift these cubes due to their weight. As you can see on the image (Please enlarge) the statue is made of layers of ice. In some instance the artists work free hand and in some case they draw on the slices already placed on each other.

Please go and take a look at the travelogue I've created with more pictures of the Crystal Garden. One more thing. Please be aware of parking in downtown during the Winterlude activities. It is very difficult to find (No pay) parking. Especially on week days. Use public transportation if you can. Once you are in downtown, you can take the "Snow Bus" operated by OC Transpo. This is free with a bust ticket transfer. The Snow Bus will take you around from one activity to the next. Only operates during the Winterlude. OC Transpo Info line: 613 741-4390. I really hope you find these tips useful and we'll be glad to have you as a visitor in Ottawa. Dress warm and have lots of fun! :)

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Phone: 1-800-465-1867
Address: Confederation Park
Directions: Laurier & Elgin St

The Alcatel HOPE Volleyball Beach-Fest summer's best event! This is huge. Thousands of people and players and bands playing and girls and food, music, sun, fun, heat, shade, and all the good stuff put together. Highly recommended activity for younger people. Especially for folks who like sports and party, all at the same time.

Entrance to the park is $5- as a spectator. Washrooms are inside the fenced beach. Which beach? Moonies Bay, Of course. This is part of the Rideau river water way and the water is very clean, So when you get hot, just dip in. No risks. Thanks to the state of the art filtration system this beach has in the water. Check out the web site for tons more info.

BTW: Mooneys Bay beach is open to the public all summer. See you there! :)

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Address: Moonies Bay Beach
Directions: Riverside Drive, Close to Valkley Road
Website: http://www.hopehelps.com/events.html

Once you're in Ottawa during the spring or summer times, you must see the Aboriginal experiences on Victoria Island. This island is right behind the parliament building and can be approached from the bridge that takes you across the Ottawa river.

This Native, Indian reservation is owned and ran by the aboriginal people of Canada. Their history goes back much longer than any other culture in this country. Did you know that Ottawa means = Clean water? Ottawa was a name of one of the Indian tribes living around the area and the river was their corridor for transportation, fishing, hunting and of course clean water.

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Phone: 1-613-564-9494
Address: 12 Stirling Avenue, Ottawa
Directions: Turn right on Booth and pass Lebreton Campgrounds to Chaudiere Bridge. As you cross the bridge, “Aboriginal Experiences” is on the right on Victoria Island.
Website: http://www.aboriginalexperiences.com/index.html
Other Contact: In downtown Ottawa