Ottawa

by Carol and Cliff Morris | Homelink International

We have prepared this page for anyone who may be thinking of planning a summer 2008 trip to Ottawa.  We trust that what follows may be helpful.  Email us if you wish personal images or information.  Please excuse the repetition.

Canada's capital region, recently renamed Ottawa-Gatineau, was initially a rendezvous point for fur traders, explorers and lumbermen. History tell us that Samuel de Champlain established a base camp here in 1613 for his future expeditions.  The first settlers arrived around 1796 and were later joined by veterans of the Napoleonic and American Revolutionary War.  The construction of the Rideau Canal (1826-1832) brought pulp and paper mills to the region.  This prosperous lumber village eventually became known as Ottawa, named after the Outaouac Indians.

A normal drive to the downtown core takes us approximately 20 minutes.  If you prefer to use public transportation, a 3-minute walk will take you to the nearest bus stop.  During rush hour, an express downtown bus passes The Hazeldean Mall, a large local shopping centre.  It takes us about 2 hours to drive to Montreal, approximately 4 hours to Toronto, and around 1 hour to the USA.

About the City

1. Image Gallery of Ottawa
2. Municipality of Ottawa
3. Ottawa
4. Ottawa - Art Museums
5. Ottawa - Conventions et al
6. Ottawa - Historic Buildings
7. Ottawa - Historic Houses
8. Ottawa - Historic Monuments
9. Ottawa - History Museums
10. Ottawa Tourism

Airports

1. Ottawa International Airport
2. Montréal International Airport

Cultural Centres

1. National Arts Centre
2. Ottawa Public Library
3. Canadian Museum of Civilization
4. Canadian War Museum

Day-Trips

1. By-Ward Market
2. The Diefenbunker is a privately-funded museum buried deep under a hillside at 3911 Carp Road, just past the Carp fairgrounds.  The 100 000 square foot, four-floor underground nuclear bunker was designed to house crucial elements of Canadian government if there was a nuclear attack
3. Family Fun
4. Gatineau Park is a giant wedge of land measuring 363 square kilometres to the northwest of Ottawa.  In the Park, the National Capital Commission protects plants and animals and manages facilities and trails so that the public may enjoy outdoor activities in every season.
5. More One-Day and Extended Trips
6. Government of Canada
7. Hull-Wakefield Steam Train
8. Ontario Parks
9. Parliament of Canada
10. Royal Canadian Mint
11. RCMP
12. Upper Canada Village
13. City of Ottawa Maps
14. Province of Ontario Maps
15. Wonderland
16. World of Maps

Outdoor Activities

1. Algonquin Provincial Park
2. Bicycling around Ottawa
3. Ottawa Family Vacations
4. Rideau Canal

Services

1. Currency Converter
2. Hospitals
3. Local Services for our local city of Kanata
4. Ottawa - Carleton Transpo Bus Service
5. Weather Network

Swimming and Parks

1. Leisure Centre and Wave Pool
2. Mont Cascades Water Park
3. Sandbanks Provincial Park
4. Water Skiing