Spend a day on Sparks Street in Ottawa

Ottawa Travel Guide

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Thursday, 28 February 2013 08:27

Those who are planning on travelling to Ottawa will quickly find that there is a lot of history in Canada's capital, and besides the must-see attractions such as the National Gallery of Canada, Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill and ByWard Market, there are plenty of sites to see. Sparks Street is a fun place to go while in Ottawa, as this street has an array of restaurants and boutiques that will be enjoyable for anyone who visits Canada's capital. Here is some basic information about Sparks Street:

History of Sparks Street
Tourists can find Sparks Street in the Parliamentary Precinct, just one block south of the Parliament Buildings, and it is one of Ottawa's must-see heritage streets. It was first founded back in the 1800s, when one of Ottawa's most prominent citizens, Nicolas Sparks, cut a path through the woods and gave it its name. It started to develop and thrive in the 20th century, and eventually it turned into the bustling shopping centre that it is today, and anyone who makes their way to Sparks Street will find great shopping and eateries.

Restaurants on the iconic street
TThere are a number of restaurants to choose from in this area, and those who are ready to shop until they drop will likely want to grab a quick bite to eat. One place to go is D'Arcy McGee's, which is perfect for those looking for upscale pub food. This establishment has everything from buffalo chicken meatball skewers to smoked chicken with onions, red peppers, Swiss cheese and peppers on a grillbread pizza. Tourists who just want to stop in and get a salad or sandwich will find what they want at Pep and Nino's Italian Bar and Grill, but these are only two of the many places to dine on Sparks Street.

Shop around this beautiful area
Visitors who love to shop will find their own little paradise on this street, as there is everything from high-end boutiques to chain stores that people can find across the country. The area is broken up into four different blocks depending what part of Sparks Street the person is on. On each block, there are anywhere between six and 10 stores, some of which shoppers will have heard of and others that will be a new experience. Either way, Sparks Street offers a great deal to those travelling to Ottawa no matter what the time of year.