Discover Ottawa
& Surrounding Area
Discover Ottawa
& Surrounding Area
West Ottawa Has So Much To Offer...
We love living here, and as third generation Ottawans, we continue to be in awe of our beautiful city and all the amazing things it has to offer.
Ottawa changes dramatically from season to season and there is no shortage of things to do, whether you're visiting in the summer, winter or the seasons in between!
Even though there is no possible way to mention it all, below is a list of all our favourite places to visit, as well as a fun video we created for you.
We hope you enjoy!
Wendy & Nancy
A Fun Tour of Some of Our Favourite Places
in Ottawa!
Top 15 Things To Do In & Around Ottawa
1. Parliament Hill
The Parliament Buildings are where the seat of Canada's Government resides, where federal laws are made, and where Members of Parliament sit regularly to debate changes to Canada's laws between the various political parties running the Nation. The Parliament buildings were destroyed by fire in 1916, except for the Library of Parliament. Reconstruction began later that year and was completed in 1927. The main Parliament Building is currently closed for rehabilitation, but you can visit the Senate of Canada building, the House of Commons at West Block, the East Block, and the Centre Block. Please note that separate tickets are required for each building.
2. Peace Tower
The Peace Tower is the dominant feature on Parliament Hill, and at a height of 92.2 metres, probably the most widely recognized symbol of Canada after the flag. In 1927, the Peace Tower clock was given to Canada by the United Kingdom. The gift marked the 60th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. The original clock no longer works and has since been replaced. Normally, the large clock on the Peace Tower chimes every 15 minutes but its silent with the current restoration and modernization the Centre Block. Did you know that the Peace Tower flag is changed each day from Monday to Friday and on days when it’s flown at half mast. The flag is not changed on statutory holidays or during poor weather.
3. Bytown Museum
The Bytown Museum, also known as the Commissariat, is Ottawa’s oldest stone structure, perched on the edge of the National Capital region’s very own UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Rideau Canal. The museum explores the stories of a thriving city and its people, from the early days of Bytown to the Ottawa of today. The Museum is located near the Ottawa Locks on the Rideau Canal, between Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier Hotel and offers a breathtaking view of the canal and its surroundings, with an exciting and diverse schedule of activities, bridging history and nature in an unforgettable scenic setting.
4. Fairmont Château Laurier
The Château Laurier National Historic Site of Canada is an early-20th-century hotel located across from the Former Union Railway station in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. It sits atop the banks of the Ottawa River, overlooking both the river and the Rideau Canal. This picturesque hotel, constructed in the Château style is a commanding presence in Confederation Square, a national historic site of Canada encompassing some of the most recognizable historic buildings in the downtown core of the capital. Official recognition consists of the hotel building on the legal property on which it sat at the time of recognition. It’s been host to political leaders, film stars, and royalty for over a century and is considered an icon in downtown Ottawa.
5. BeaverTails
An Ottawa original, the BeaverTail is a fried dough pastry that is sold in a variety of flavours. Created with whole wheat flour and fried to soft, crispy perfection, BeaverTails trace their origins from bannock, a non-rising dough stretched over two sticks that early settlers cooked over a fire, taking after how Indigenous people flame-cooked beaver tails to access the meat inside. Most flavours of BeaverTails are topped with sweet condiments and confections, such as whipped cream, banana slices, crumbled Oreos, cinnamon sugar, and chocolate hazelnut. BeaverTails are also made in savoury variations, such as with poutine or hotdogs.
6. National Art Gallery
The National Gallery of Canada is Canada’s largest art museum and it's known for the massive, 30’ sculpture of a spider in front of it. With over 93,000 works of art, the National Gallery of Canada is home to one of the finest collections of Indigenous and Canadian art in the world, representing several artistic movements and eras in art history. The Gallery has a large collection of paintings, sculptures and photographs. The museum's collection has been built up through purchases and donations. The museum organizes its own travelling exhibitions to exhibit its collection, travelling across Canada and abroad. The National Gallery is the largest lender of artwork in Canada, sending out approximately 800 pieces a year.
7. Britannia Beach
Did you know Ottawa has four sandy public beaches on the shores of the Ottawa and Rideau rivers? They’re beautiful spots for swimming, barbecuing, picnicking or simply relaxing on a summer day. All are easily accessible by car or bike, feature washrooms and other facilities, and have daytime lifeguards during peak season (generally, June to late August). You can even borrow a beach wheelchair at no charge. Grab the sunscreen and towels, and hit the sand at one of these four riverside gems! Our favourite though ... is the Britannia Beach. It offers some of the most spectacular sunset experiences!
8. ByWard Market
The ByWard Market, famous for its 'Ottawa sign', is Ottawa’s premier destination for shopping, dining, arts, entertainment, and professional services for residents and visitors alike - making it the number one tourist attraction in the National Capital Region. The area is home to a year-round public market packed with artisans and culinary delights. With over 600 businesses in the district and an average of 50,000 visitors per weekend during the high season, the ByWard Market has something for everyone. Small business owners gather outside the historic building, turning the area into a bustling outdoor market metropolis. Music and art can be seen and heard throughout the area, delighting the senses of all who experience it.
9. Golf
Canada’s capital region is a premier golfing destination with dozens of public golf courses perfect for a guys’ trip, girls’ getaway or the whole family! There is a total of 68 golf courses and most courses are open from roughly early May to late October, and some are conveniently located just outside the downtown core. Our favourite is Cedarhill Golf & Country Club, ranked # 4 best conditioned Golf course in 2010 Flagstick Reader poll. Nestled amongst one of the region’s most distinguished residential communities, the mature, well-maintained, par-70 layout with three tee decks ranging from 5,135 to 6,316 yards, provides an enjoyable experience for golfers of all skill levels.
10. Ornamental Gardens
The Ornamental Gardens are an 8-acre showcase of all sorts of perennials and shrubs developed in Canada and collected from around the world. The Ornamental Gardens are composed of a number of different areas: perennial collection, rock garden, rose garden, annual garden, Macoun sunken garden, Macoun Memorial Garden and hedge collections. Features of the Gardens include: 100 types of irises, 125 different lilac varieties, 65 different plant species in the two hedge collections. The “old” hedge collection contains plantings dating to 1891, while the “new” hedge collection dates from 1965. The Explorer series of roses developed at the CEF and renowned for its winter hardiness. The Gardens are open, free of charge, to the public.
11. Ottawa Festivals
Did you know that Ottawa is home to 35 major festivals? We have the Canadian Tulip Festival in May, which is the largest event of its kind in the world, in the summer time we have outdoor music festivals, spectacular Canada Day celebrations, The Hope Volleyball Tournament, the annual Dragon Boat Regatta on Rideau Canal, Fall Rhapsody, the Christmas Lights Across Canada Festival! In the winter, the Canadian capital celebrates its snowfall with one of the nation’s biggest festivals, known as Winterlude! Prepare to be astonished by stunning ice sculptures created by artists from around the world, skate on the world-famous Rideau Canal Skateway (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and play around in a gigantic snow playground called Snowflake Kingdom! Only in Ottawa!
12. Ottawa Farmers Market
The Ottawa Farmers’ Market is a producer-only organization that features over 150 vendors from within an area of 100 kms from Ottawa. Providing an opportunity to buy the freshest local products the season has to offer directly from the people who produce them, the market is also a great place to meet friends, have lunch and enjoy the market musicians, buskers and special events! From their first market at Lansdowne Park in 2006, they have expanded to their five current locations including Main, Westboro, Orléans, Barrhaven, and the year-round home at Lansdowne Park. Bringing local food to our community as their motto says: From the heart of the land, to the heart of the city!
13. Rideau Canal Historical Site
The Rideau Canal is North America’s best-preserved “slackwater” canal, and the only one from the great 19th century canal-building era that still operates along its original route with most of its original structures intact. Today, Parks Canada welcomes visitors to experience travel along an iconic route. Pleasure boaters and paddlers fill the locks, while other visitors come by land to marvel at the historic locks in action. Each winter, the NCC transforms the historic Rideau Canal into the world’s largest skating rink. The Rideau Canal Skateway winds its way through the heart of the National Capital over a total length of 7.8 km. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal in winter becomes a treasure that is the pride of the National Capital and a signature destination.
14. Canadian Museum of History
There are more than 14 major museums in Ottawa, but the Canadian Museum of Civilization, which was renamed as the Canadian Museum of History in 2013, is the most visited museum in all of Canada. It has the largest and most comprehensive exhibition on Canadian history ever created. The purpose of the museum is to promote the heritage of Canada, as well as support related research. The museum is situated on a 24 acre plot of land, formerly known as Parc Laurier. The museum site is the first Canadian national museum to be located on the Gatineau side of the National Capital Region, and the first to be located adjacent to the Ottawa River.
15. The Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica
The basilica is the oldest and largest church in Ottawa and the seat of the city's Roman Catholic archbishop. This Gothic revival structure is the oldest surviving church in Ottawa. Its twin steeples were erected in 1842. In 1848 it was named the Cathedral of the Diocese of Ottawa, then, later was granted the title Basilica. Its chief glory is its carved and painted interior which truly is breathtaking. The church was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990 and is definitely worth a visit.
Land Acknowledgement
The Ottawa region is the traditional and unceded territory of the Anishinaabeg Algonquin, who have stewarded, travelled and inhabited these lands for millennia. We acknowledge the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit on this land.
Land Acknowledgement
The Ottawa region is the traditional and unceded territory of the Anishinaabeg Algonquin, who have stewarded, travelled and inhabited these lands for millennia. We acknowledge the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit on this land.
© 2024 - Current by Wendy Bell and Nancy Dellin, Keller Williams Integrity Realty, 2148 Carling Avenue, Units 5 & 6, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1H1. All information provided is deemed to be reliable but cannot be guaranteed. It is represented subject to errors, omissions, changes, or withdrawal without notice. Not intended to solicit properties currently listed for sale. A World-Class Agent Website by Schumacher Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.