Anne-Charlotte PasseraWe’re going to spend two days in Ottawa with our family, how cool is that? Generally, people will raise their eyebrows at this idea. The most common answer: why?
Let’s face it, Ottawa is not a very exciting capital city. However, as an expat, you have to go there, even if it is only for a weekend. Moreover, going there with the family makes the visit a little more interesting, especially thanks to the many museums.
There aren’t many sights to see in Ottawa, but the buildings on Parliament Hill are beautiful. The site is a fine example of British Empire Gothic Revival architecture.
Ottawa became the capital of Canada in 1858 by a decision of Queen Victoria. Kingston, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City were fighting for the title. So the Queen chose Ottawa, formerly known as Bytown, which was located on a cliff, making it easier to defend and far from the American border.
While one day can be more than enough to visit Ottawa, an extra day will allow you to do some more in-depth sightseeing.
Staying in downtown Ottawa with your family
If you want to spend two days and one night in Ottawa with your family, it’s best to stay downtown. That way, you’ll be close to everything and won’t really need a car.
Although Airbnb might work well, it’s not necessarily the best option financially nor central.
A good option for a family stay in Ottawa is the Hilton Homewood Suites. Located a 15 minute walk from Parliament on Queen Street, you can easily explore Ottawa on foot. In addition, there are other benefits to staying at the Hilton Homewood Suites, especially with children.
Dogs are also accepted for an additional fee. Maximum of 2 dogs per room.
Breakfast is included in the price.
Served between 7am and 10am, you will have plenty of choices. Other than cereals and bread, you can eat eggs, sausages, potatoes and beans. However, we found the beans a bit hard and cooked in tomato sauce. Moreover, there was no bacon, too bad.
You are not required to include breakfast with your reservation.
A kitchen just for you
Since these are suites or what you might call a studio, you will have your own kitchenette in your room. This is convenient when traveling with children. You can save a little on food and eat at your own pace.
There are kitchen utensils, a large fridge, 2 hotplates and cooking equipment.
A restaurant is also located at the reception and you can have it delivered to your room if you feel like it. The prices are the same as in the restaurants around.
Pool
The pool is probably the place that kids will enjoy the most. Located on the 2nd floor, it is accessible from 6am to 11pm. Plus, if it rains, it’s a great place to hang out for free.
Right next door, you will find a laundry room, in case you need it.
Parking
Of course there is parking! You can leave your car there from noon on the day of your arrival until 6pm on the day of your departure. It costs 28$ per night of stay.
The advantage is that you can get in and out of the garage as long as you don’t lose the ticket.
You can access the underground parking lot before you check in. Then, give the ticket to the front desk and they will give you a new one for your entire stay.
Eating at the ByWard Market
The ByWard Market area is probably Ottawa’s hippest and liveliest neighbourhood. Although there is not much entertainment value in going there, if you want to eat, you will have plenty of choices.
Stop in one of the little stores around the Halle to get some cheap French cheese for a quick bite.
You will also find trendy stores in colorful streets.
It is difficult to park without paying. It costs about $15 for a few hours. On foot, it is about 15 minutes from the Parliament.
This market dates from the beginning of the 19th century. Walking around you can admire the diversity of vernacular building facades housing pubs, restaurants and stores.
Discover Parliament Hill
The Parliament and the adjacent buildings are the most photographed in Ottawa. Other than that, there’s not much else to see.
The Senate and the House of Commons are free to visit, but you must reserve your tickets online. You will be given a guided tour in your choice of English or French, lasting about 40 minutes. The first tour starts at about 8:45 am and the last tour starts at 4:45 pm.
Nicknamed the Hill, the parliamentary site sits on 25 acres of land atop a cliff.
As you look at the facades, you will notice the stone composite. 25 different stones, quarried locally, were used to create this architectural quilt.
For a more in-depth visit, you can reserve your tickets HERE.
At the top of the hill, to the left of the Parliament, you can admire the site and also have a beautiful view of the majestic Ottawa River.
From there, there is a high staircase that takes you down to the Ottawa River Trail and the Rideau Trail that allows you to follow the river and complete the loop.
Visit different museums
Other than the Parliament, Ottawa is best known for its various museums. There are 7 national museums to visit. The most suitable or interesting for children and within walking distance of downtown is the Canadian Museum of Nature and the Museum of Canadian History.
Museum of Nature
The Canadian Museum of Nature is located about a 20 minutes walk from Parliament. Inside this historic building you will find dinosaurs, different sections on the elements (water and earth), interactive parts, etc.
85% of the dinosaur skeletons are real and very impressive. The water part will interest the little ones with the big skeleton of a whale and a water basin with starfish.
Then, there are also living creatures and a beautiful part on the Arctic with interactive games.
To fully enjoy it, it takes about 3 hours.
You can bring your lunch and eat on site. It is not recommended to visit with a stroller so as not to have to wait for the elevator which is rather slow.
Cost: $17 for adult and $13 for children under 12 years old. Free admission on Thursday from 4pm to 7pm.
To visit, you must reserve your tickets online HERE.
Canadian Museum of History
The Canadian Museum of History is actually located in Gatineau, across the river from the Parliament. You can get there on foot, about 25 minutes, or by boat, see below.
This museum is the most visited in Canada thanks to its sumptuous collection of totems, the history of the natives and Canada. You will also find a museum part especially dedicated to children making them travel around the world while allowing them to dress up and touch everything.
The building itself is beautiful architecturally. You won’t find any right angles for fear of evil spirits getting trapped in it.
There is not much around to eat or see.
The cafeteria is a good place to eat with a nice view of the river and the Parliament. You can bring your lunch or enjoy a good pea soup.
Cost: $53 for a family of 4. Admission is FREE on thursday from 5pm to 7pm.
Reserve your tickets HERE.
Floating on the water
Who doesn’t love the feeling of floating on water? Thankfully, Ottawa has a lot to offer in that regard, or else it would be boring as hell.
Between the rivers, the canal and the lake, you’ll find something thats suit you. It’s a great way to discover Ottawa from another angle, have fun with your family and without too much effort.
Kayaking and Pedal Boating
One hour trip on Dow’s Lake:
- Single kayak $25
- Double kayak $33
- Canoe $30
Dow’s Lake is surrounded by beautiful homes that we can’t really afford and is located on the Rideau Canal.
If boats don’t tempt you, you can bike there.
After the effort, some comfort food. Next to the boats you will find three restaurants, including Mexis. It is a Mexican restaurant with prices between 16-22$ for a main dish. The setting is nice, the service is good and you have a nice view on the lake.
Boating
If you like boating, you can take a cruise on the Ottawa River or the Rideau Canal or both.
The guided tour lasts 1h30. There are toilets, a small snack bar, and a place to leave a stroller.
Boarding is at the base of the locks or on the other side of the river next to the Canada History Museum (Gatineau-Hull).
The ride will take you past the Parliament, the Rideau Falls, the city of Hull. You can listen or just enjoy the ride.
The first departure is at 10:30 am (Gatineau) and 11 am (Ottawa). A good option would be to walk to the Canada History Museum, visit the museum, have lunch and then take the boat ride down to the Ottawa side.
Cost: $40 per adult and $19.50 for children under 11. It costs 20% less if you book the combo.
Book your tickets HERE.
Aqua Taxi
Another water-based option in Ottawa that is less expensive for a family is the water cab. Departures are between 11am and 7pm.
- 1 round trip $14 adult, $10 child – 12 years old, 40-50 minutes
- 2 round trips $28 adult, $20 child – 12 years old, 1h30
You must arrive 10 minutes before departure.
Stops:
- Canada History Museum (museum and Jacques-Cartier Park)
- Ottawa Locks (Locks, Rideau Canal, Parliament, ByWard Market)
- Pirate’s Wharf
- Rockcliffe Boathouse
Aqua Taxi (short trips)
- 1 round trip $6 adult, $5 child – 12, 10 minutes
- 2 round trips $12 adult, $10 child – 12 years old, 20 minutes
Reserve your tickets HERE.
Bring your walking shoes
A new city is always best appreciated on foot.
Converted in 1967 into a pedestrian street, Sparks Street allows you to observe old buildings and enjoy street performances. This street runs parallel to the street in front of the Parliament and will lead you directly to the Rideau Canal.
Ottawa Free Tours
How about a free 2-hour guided tour (plus tip)? As the name suggests, Ottawa Free Tours allows you to discover the city and its nooks and crannies for free.
Having already done this kind of tour, it’s a great way to get a glimpse of the city in a short period of time.
Book your tickets HERE.
Unesco Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007 and stretches over 202km.
It is best known in the winter as the world’s longest natural outdoor skating rink (7km).
In the summer you can take a boat ride or walk along the green pathway that leads to the locks and the Rideau Trail. It is 300km long and takes you to Kingston through several historic villages and early settlements.
This trail follows the Ottawa River and gives you access to Parliament Hill via a staircase. In May, you can also observe the new generation of geese.
More information on this trail HERE.
The Locks and Bytown Museum
Between the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal there are 8 locks.
You can cross them and walk down or up the zig-zag hill that rises 24m.
The Bytown Museum is next door. Before Ottawa got its name, it was called Bytown. This museum will take you through the history of the construction of the Rideau Canal and of this city that became the capital. It is located in the old stewardship building, the oldest building in Ottawa.
Dow Lake
Dow Lake is located in the path of the Rideau Canal. You can kayak, bike or take a leasurely stroll there.
In May, the Tulip Festival takes place. It lasts about ten days and it is free.
This festival is a symbol of gratitude and friendship between the Netherlands and Canada.
Canada was one of the countries that liberated the Netherlands and was the refuge for Princess Juliana during World War II. In 1940, with her two children, the Princess went into exile in Ottawa and tried to live the most ordinary life as possible. Can you imagine a Princess doing her own cooking and cleaning?
In gratitude for her hospitality, she gave Canada 100,000 tulip bulbs after the war. Every year since then, the Royal Family has shipped 10,000 tulip bulbs.
Dow Lake is located 30 minutes from downtown. To get there, go through Chinatown to see some murals and eat dim sum.
Biking
Another way to discover Ottawa is on a bike. Vélocation offers a variety of services, including:
- 1.5 hour guided tour of popular sites;
- The beautiful homes and embassies along the Ottawa River (2h)
- In nature (2h)
If you wish to visit at your own pace, there are hourly or daily bike rentals available.
Discover all the options HERE.
Out of town getaway
While the goal of visiting Ottawa is to explore the city, there are some great things to do in the surrounding area about 30 minutes away that the whole family will enjoy. Since Ottawa can be explored quickly, it would be easy to add these stops to your itinerary before heading home.
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