Five great attractions in Ottawa
- Ottawa Travel Guide
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- Monday, 24 December 2012 15:09
When it comes to travelling to Ottawa, there are a number of attractions to see. However, for those who are only spending a limited amount of time in Canada's capital, there are a few locations that are must-sees. Here are five attractions that travellers will certainly enjoy.
1. Parliament Hill
The home of Canada's federal government has a number of neat features that people can take advantage of. Those who are travelling in the summer want to make sure to stop here on July 1 for incredible Canada Day celebrations. On the other hand, visitors can also take a free tour of Parliament Hill or attend Parliamentary debates on a first-come, first-served basis.
2. Rideau Canal
The gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal turns into a massive ice rink every winter, and Canadians and tourists lace up their skates and enjoy the massive rink. Those who want to learn more about the construction of the canal can visit the Bytown Museum, which is open year-round.
3. Canadian Tulip Festival
Besides Canada Day, the tulip festival brings legions of people to Ottawa to enjoy this beautiful event. The festival started after Canada and the Netherlands began a relationship in 1945, which started with the Netherlands sending 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa as a thank you for Canada's support in World War II and the role Ottawa played in harbouring the Dutch Royal Family through the war. Now, the Netherlands still sends thousands of tulips to Ottawa, while the event draws about a half a million people to Canada's capital each May.
4. National Gallery of Canada
One of the most beautiful art museums in Canada, the National Gallery of Canada has masterworks by artists ranging from the Group of Seven to Andy Warhol. The museum celebrates not only amazing works from across the world, but also art created in Canada. Their focus is to preserve, study and teach people about the works of arts and their culture. There are currently 36,000 works of art as well as 125,000 images, which are in the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography section of the facility.
5. Bluesfest
Ottawa Bluesfest is one of the biggest celebrations of music in the country. It has been a must-see summer event since its inception in 1994. Even though the massive festival is not just about blues music anymore, it is still quite the party to attend come July.
