Q: I hear that Canada’s National Capital Region is a fabulous place to visit. Can you tell me more?
A: Year-round, the Ottawa Region www.ottawatourism.ca is a great place to visit. But as the weather outside gets a bit colder, the Nation’s Capital does indeed deserve to remain on your vacation radar screen. In fact, there is nothing I like better than booking accommodations at Les Suites Hotel www.les-suites.com, which is only steps away from the Rideau Canal, and go for a family skate in the great outdoors overlooking the Parliament Buildings.
Ottawa features a great Winterlude festival www.canadascapital.gc.ca/winterlude over the course of three fun-filled weekends in February (Feb. 2-18, 2007) , featuring spectacular ice carvings and amazing playgrounds made of snow. There is also the option of tubing at Edelweiss Valley www.edelweissvalley.com or snowshoeing and winter hiking in Gatineau Park. If you are looking ahead to next summer, I will share this first time experience. Ottawa also has some terrific beaches, notably Mooney’s Bay at 3000 Riverside Drive. There is a food concession, clean washrooms, warm water and plenty of shady spots.
Nestled at the junction of three picturesque rivers, Ottawa is considered one of the world’s most beautiful capitals. The city also borders (Quebec, creating a dynamic cultural milieu in which both French and English cultures are deeply rooted.) The result is a truly cosmopolitan experience-a North American city with a distinctly European charm and flair.
The city’s rich ethnic diversity also includes thriving German, Jewish, Lebanese, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Portuguese, and Asian communities, among others. Throughout the year, these communities celebrate their heritage in many colorful multicultural festivals and events.
The seat of Canada’s federal government, Ottawa is a major centre for the visual and performing arts. Yet the city retains the accessibility, atmosphere and charm of a smaller centre-rich in wide-open green spaces, parks and wilderness areas.
A four-hour drive north-east of Toronto and two hours west of Montreal, Ottawa presents visitors with a wide selection of sightseeing and outdoor-leisure options. In fact, with more than a dozen national museums and galleries-and a full calendar of festivals and activities-Canada’s Capital Region has something for everyone.
If you are looking for an excellent vacation option which is close by, offers plenty of attractions and does not necessitate the use of American dollars then Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region should top the list.
This is a terrific destination for the entire family. Just log on to www.ottawatourism.ca where Ottawa Tourism will respond to all your questions. They can also be reached toll free at 1-800-465-1867. Seniors who arrive by bus or train needn’t worry too much about transportation in the area. Those traveling among a small group of friends and families who wish to find accommodations together should try to base themselves downtown.
ACCOMMODATIONS: As a whole, the Ottawa-Gatineau Region has more than 10,000 hotel rooms. The appropriately named Les Suites Hotel www.les-suites.com is located only three blocks from Parliament Hill at 130 Besserer Street and next door to the vast Rideau Shopping Centre. And, you are within walking distance of the Rideau Canal, the Byward Market, an array of museums, entertainment, galleries and dine dining. The attractive one and two bedroom suites come with fully equipped kitchens and even washer and dryers. There’s a heated indoor pool, a whirlpool, an exercise room and sundeck patio. Young children will be delighted to receive a special Funtastic “kids” package of toys and coloring materials upon checking in. As a Child & Youth Friendly Accredited Hotel, Les Suites is dedicated to making their surroundings a welcoming and fun place for children. Kids are invited to enter a children’s coloring contest. Entries are judged by a panel adults and children, with the winning artist being awarded a complimentary evening’s stay for them and their family.
Les Suites really goes the extra mile for its clients, many of whom are regulars. A case in point is their full colour, attractive newsletter called en Suite. The bilingual publication features timely information for tourists, Ottawa trivia and some good reasoning for staying at their hotel.
And there is something you need to know about what makes Ottawa special - its tourism professionals. With this in mind, Les Suites GM Steve Georgopoulos is one of the key players behind the very unique Stars of the City program www.starsofthecity.ca which recognizes customer service excellence in Ottawa and Canada’s Capital Region. Georgopoulos points to his hotel’s own assistant executive housekeeper Rosie Arruejo who assisted a young guest in his search for a lost teddy bear, including the posting of “lost” posters in the hotel. When she was shopping a few weeks later she saw a bear that matched the description of the lost bear, so she bought it and sent it to the little boy. She was among those honored in 2005. There is a gala awards evening held each fall . Georgopoulos, meanwhile, organizes a conference and trade show in the spring at which time some 20 organizations participate as a means to promote their product and/or service to key front line staff.
ATTRACTIONS: Only a few blocks from Les Suites is the swank National Arts Centre. The Canadian Museum of Civilization www.civilization.ca, a half hour walk or five minute drive from Les Suites, is located across the river in Gatineau, it features the Canadian Children’s Museum, the Postal Museum and the world’s first combined IMAX/OMNIMAX theatre. Screens here surround the audience and allow the viewer to feel sensations of being part of the action.
The Canadian Children’s Museum has a permanent collection of over 15,000 artifacts, props and hands-on items for use in its exhibitions and programs. This unique collection includes toys, games, clothing, art, photographs and objects that testify to historic and contemporary aspects of children’s lives. Young visitors can take on the role of a ship captain and load cargo into port, shop for food and goods in the cosmopolitan marketplace, join in the preparations for a wedding in the Northern Indian home and experiment with drum beats in the Nigerian home. At other stops, children can design and learn about clothing from around the world, play chess with an authentic Arabic set, serve tea in a Bedouin tent, write in hieroglyphics, make an Indonesian shadow puppet and perform with it, do origami at the Japanese house or engage in an endless variety of creative activities that teach children about themselves and the world. Kids can travel by tuk-tuk, motorcycle, bike-taxi or camel, or climb aboard the spectacular Pakistani bus that was one of the first artifacts installed in the Museum and is a favorite of more than one generation of visitors.
There are a number of other museums worth putting on your “to do” list: the Canadian Museum of Nature, the National Aviation Museum, the Canada Science and Technology Museum, the Currency Museum, the Agriculture Museum, the Canadian War Museum and Canada’s Cold War Museum ( a.k.a. the Diefenbunker). Sightseeing tours are offered by Grayline and Capital Double Decker and Trolley Tours. The heart of Ottawa, of course, is Parliament Hill where tours are available. The Byward Market is home to a variety of restaurants, shops and a farmer’s market.
The Canada Science and Technology Museum www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca is located approximately some 10 minutes south-east of downtown Ottawa. Just Exit the Queensway (Highway 417) at “St Laurent South” and drive 2.6 km to Lancaster Road, then turn left. The largest of its kind in Canada, this Museum fulfills its mission through its collection, permanent, temporary and traveling exhibits, special events, school programs, workshops and demonstrations, publications, loans, conferences and lectures, expert advice, and joint action with other museums and organizations with similar goals and interests.
Dining Out At Red Lobster After The Museum
For a great meal afterwards, right next door at 1499 St. Laurent Boulevard is one of the best Red Lobster locales I’ve dined at. The menu features a wide selection of succulent fresh fish, seafood, beef, chicken and combination platters, as well as salads, appetizers, desserts and cocktail service. Start off with the signature Red Lobster rolls, baked piping hot and some clam chowder. Veteran General Manager Ian Forrester notes that their own Chef Laura puts together her own menu as well. Here staff like kind waitress Jennifer greet children with an activity guide, crayons and lots of enthusiasm. The children’s menu has plenty of appetizing choices, at very low prices. For mom and dad, the selections seem endless: their famous lobster (broiled or stuffed), salmon, trout, arctic char and tilapia. There’s a host of salads, yummy clam chowder, pastas, shrimp, steak, chicken and even pizza. Try the decadent chocolate wave cake for dessert. At the St. Laurent Blvd. location, the kitchen will go the extra mile to cut the lobster up for you, making for easier work at the table And like in the United States, there are free refills on soft drinks.
