Canada As You Like It Blog
Ottawa Is The Place to Explore
- by Canada As You LIke It
- •
- 24 Jul, 2023
- •
Ottawa is the place to explore.
With three different water ways and an UNESCO heritage site, Ottawa is the place to explore. Take a trip down the Rideau Canal or explore the ByWard market. Walk along Parliament Hill and through acres of woodland and royal trees planted by dignitaries.
Slip and slide
With so many waterways, it goes without saying that there are brilliant opportunities for water-based activities. If you’re keen for some leisurely activities and sightseeing, you could rent out a boat courtesy of Le Boat! This is a great time to see the sites from a new perspective or take the Rideau Canal boat cruise. A pirate’s life for me? A Pirate’s Life provides interactive ‘pirate life’ theatrical experience with a boat cruise in a look-a-like pirate ship. Join the scurvy crew and live the Pirate Life: Adventure, Theatre and Cruise. An interactive adventure, become a buccaneer with costumes, face paint and a pirate alias! Looking for something a bit faster? Ottawa City Rafting is the best experience for an adrenalin rush. This is very much weather dependent, of course, and can be subject to the time of year.
Land ahoy
Step off the waterways to the mainland. With numerous activities for everyone to enjoy, there is something for all to inspire creativity and wonder. Just 10 minutes away there is a Nordik Spa where you can relax and unwind. The indoor-outdoor Scandinavian-style oasis, which focuses on the benefits of thermotherapy, offers hot and cold pools, different types of saunas as well as relaxation areas. Add on a traditional spa treatment such as a massage or a facial. Although you don’t need to step in the water, go to the beach! With the sand beneath your feet and the scenery around you, this is the ultimate escape. See the Westboro Beach, Britannia Beach, and Mooney’s Bay Beach as great examples of what this city has to offer!
Escape the outdoors
Need a break from the outdoors? See the jail at the Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel. This is a great example to see the inside of a jail renovated into a youth hostel. You can even join a tour to learn about the history of the place. Go underground to the Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum. intrigued? This bunker was used for whole month in 1959 by various diplomats. With four levels including a cafeteria, dental clinic, and a hospital clinic for visitors to walk around and investigate. Feeling crafty? See the escape rooms that Ottawa has such as the Escape Manor Ottawa. Choose from a variety of scenarios and settings to solve puzzles. Take a tour of Parliament Hill and see where bills become laws or see Rideau Hall. If you’re keen to see some military horses, you’re in luck! Beautiful Hanoverian horses have been used by the RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and while only used for ceremonial duties now, visitors are able to see them on events known as musical rides and you can go on guided tour of the stables!
Museums
Canada has nine national museums and seven of the nine museums are located in the national capital region. These amazing buildings house some of the most important history of Canada. For the space enthusiasts among you, you should go and see the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum. This is not just amazing architecturally, but aeronautically! With helicopter and Vintage Biplane rides and simulations available this is fun for everyone. For the art lovers there is the National Gallery of Canada! This glass palace houses everything from contemporary art to photography with a collection of indigenous art as well. The Canada Science and Technology Museum inspires the younger generation and is on the forefront of innovation to create new and exciting discoveries. From pyrotechnic displays to camping demonstrations, the kids will be entertained. For the history buffs there is the Canadian Museum of History. This takes you back in time to gain new perspectives. From the First Peoples' Hall to Reasons for Hope by Jane Goodall.
Wilderness
Wanting to get out of the city for a break? See white water rafting Wilderness Tours. These tours encompass all levels of abilities from beginner to experienced. You can hike and bike as well to see the best of what Ottawa has to offer. The best place to hike is Gatineau Park, just ten minutes from Ottawa, with natural trails. This is great for any level of fitness, whether you are looking for a gentle stroll or a good march to dust of the plane journey jetlag. Explore as little or as much as you want of the 497 miles of picturesque multi-use pathways that wind throughout the Ottawa area! Share the paths with other walkers, cyclists, runners and even rollerbladers as you explore the cityscape and landscape. Some paths not to be missed are Ottawa River pathway, Rideau Canal pathway and Dominion Arboretum and Ornamental Gardens to see some stunning flora.
In the northwest of Canada where eighty percent of the area
is wilderness, lies the Yukon. With friendly locals, wildlife to observe,
activities to immerse yourself in and fascinating history to explore, this destination makes
for the perfect fly-drive holiday.
Lace up your boots and hit the back country. With trails at your doorstep for exploring, hiking is the best way of seeing the province on a fly drive holiday. There are areas suitable for all levels of hiking, from the congenial leisure walk to the avid hiker. Head to Saskatoon at the Meewasin Valley, this area offers over 105 km of trails across 67 square km of land. It provides year-round adventure and sightseeing opportunities in the heart of beautiful Saskatoon. Benefit from the well-maintained, multi-use pathways to cycle, jog or walk the scenic riverbank trails. Sections of the Meewasin Trail are also part of the Trans Canada Trail which extends almost 24,000 km across Canada from coast to coast. Keen for a challenge? Look at some of the best back country hiking at places like Prince Albert National Park, Lac La Ronge, Meadow Lake- and Narrow Hills Provincial Park in the north or Grasslands National Park and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in the south.
Imagine swimming thousands of miles to find that special someone. Whales complete this every single year, known as a whale migration, to find suitable habitat for feeding and reproducing. In British Columbia, these stunning orcas, also known as killer whales, are a prominent site and seeing them is a once in a lifetime experience. As well as orcas, expect to find humpback whales, grey whales and minke whales. These amazing creatures call BC their home from April to October. When the sun is out the whales come to play. From tail flukes to pectoral slaps, go for a whale watching trip and you can bask in their playful nature and enjoy the sunset with a relaxing drink, perfect for families and solo travellers. You can also go paddleboarding with orcas for a unique perspective from the water to see these magnificent creatures. You must, of course, always keep four hundred metres away from them for their safety and yours.
Welcome to the province of Saskatchewan, Canada – a place of breath-taking landscapes, wide-open spaces and hospitality that is second-to-none. This province is big – 651,900 km2, in fact, and has nearly 100,000 lakes and waterways. Natural beauty is not the only thing this province is known for though. Join us on a culinary journey of Saskatchewan, where food and drink abound, and you will find something good to eat around every corner!
Welcome to the fourth largest province in Canada. With five National Parks and six UNESCO Heritage sites, Alberta is a wonderful and varied place to visit. This blog will explore this great province and expose you to the unique qualities that make this area a location sure to be your next travel destination. A playground for outdoor adventure, popular summer activities include hiking, biking, horse riding, rafting, and fishing. As the seasons change and snow begins to fall, head to Alberta for world-class winter activities including skiing, snowboarding, dogsledding, snowshoeing, heli-skiing, ice climbing and more. From wildlife in the Rockies to Waterton Lakes National Park, and art and culture to explore, Alberta is a wonderland packed with options for every traveller.
Atlantic Canada is famous for its fresh and abundant seafood, from succulent lobster, to scallops, mussels, oysters and cod – but it offers so much more. Dine at a seaside restaurant, take a stroll through a local farmers' market, or take in one of the many culinary festivals. It’s truly a foodie’s paradise.
Here's a round up of a few amazing foodie events and experiences that we thought you might want to try:
Head to Northern Manitoba for a wild and exciting trip. Waterways provide refuge to an abundance of wildlife and the land holds the stories of Indigenous peoples.
Bear viewing
Reconnect with nature in BC and experience spectacular wildlife viewing in stunning landscapes.
Search for grizzly bears, black bears and the rare spirit bear in pristine river valleys in the Great Bear Rainforest. Spot whales, porpoise, sea lions and much more while exploring the Great Bear Sea.
Cubs emerge from their dens in early spring and by August they will be sniffing the beginnings of the great salmon run. Autumn is a feeding frenzy for wildlife. Eagles, seals, sea lions, wolves, whales and bears fill up on salmon for the long winter ahead.
Situated 70 kilometres north of Campbell River, and accessible by floatplane, Glendale Cove is home to one of the largest concentrations of grizzly (brown) bears in BC. In the peak autumn season when the salmon are returning to the river, it’s not uncommon for guests to see up to 40 bears from the viewing platforms. In spring and summer bear viewing is done from the water for a good view of the bears feeding and this is often the best time to see small cubs.