Things to do in Ottawa
At the head of the city, rising dramatically on a bluff overlooking the Ottawa River are the stately Parliament Buildings, seat of the government of Canada.
Central among the city's attractions is the Rideau Canal; a lazy cruise is a delightful way to travel through the heart of the city, and in winter, the canal becomes the world's longest skating rink. The Rideau Canal skateway has a virtual tour -http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/skateway
Inspect the Changing of the Guard, talk to a Mountie, and retrace Canada's history at the Canadian Museum of Civilization (in neighboring Gatineau, Québec). Discover Canada's military history at the Canadian War Museum, plunge into a gold mine at the Canadian Museum of Nature, and investigate the National Museum of Science and Technology where exhibits profile space, computer, astronomy and communications technologies.
Visit Byward Market for wine bars and farmers' stalls loaded with flowers and fresh produce. Snack on a "beavertail" (a deep-fried sweet pastry shaped like a beaver's tail). During the Canadian Tulip Festival in May, the city's gardens blaze with over three million tulips commemorating Canada's aid to Holland during World War II. And there's no better place to be than the country's capital for the July 1st celebrations of Canada Day.
