Ottawa: A Family Vacation Guide
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Sleep in style and travel with ease without busting your budget.
It’s easy to go crazy with the list of what Ottawa has to offer, vacation-wise. The capital of Canada has everything a tourist dreams of—from fun family attractions and outdoor pursuits to commercial and cultural immersions. Located on the Ottawa River’s south bank, the capital is the perfect destination for almost every type of vacation one can ever dream of. There’s so much to see and do that it has been ranked to have the America’s second highest quality of living and is Canada’s best community to live in.
Practicing a little French won’t hurt, as the attractions that await are worth the hassle. Thousands of immigrants now call it home, so there’s an incredible mix of culture going on. You’ll find plenty of attractions such as the National Library and Archives, Parliament Hill, and a collection of museums. There are plenty of transportation options, but the best way to make the most out of your trip is riding a boat via the Rideau Canal. This magnificent strip has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A ride can lead you to Ottawa’s bustling downtown area, where a strip of high-tech businesses can be found.
Families will love Ottawa’s list of festivals that lend high-spirits year round. In summer tourists look forward to the Fringe Festival, the Blues Fest, the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, and the Ottawa Jazz Festival. For the rest of the year there are the likes of the Ferrari Festival, The Tulip Festival, and the Winterlude to keep tourists entertained. From June to October families should bring the kids for a day at Pirate Adventures, which features a cruise and an interactive theater. The swashbuckling crew makes sure every little visitor gets entertained with face paints, crew hunts, and treasure quests. Shopping is not at all forgotten with downtown’s ByWard Market, Sparks Street, Westboro Village, and Bank Street Promenade. There’s a great deluge of stores at the latter, ranging from upscale shops to cheap thrills. The larger shopping malls of Bayshore Shopping Centre, Carlingwood Mall, Place D’Orleans, and St. Laurent Shopping Centre are no match for the Great Glebe Garage Sale, which offers the craziest deals. You’ll find everything from clothing to electronics and other household knick-knacks.
There’s no need to worry about overspending as the accommodations can range from cheap to dirt-cheap, without sacrificing the quality, of course. You’ll get a great deal at 455 Cumberland’s Barefoot Hotel, which offers clean and updated hostel rooms. For $29 per night rooms come with back patios, lounge chairs, and mini-kitchens. There’s a common area with free Wi-Fi, computers, and huge HDTVs. For mid-range options there‘s the Auberge King Edward bed and Breakfast, a property boasting of restored Victorian architecture. For $90 a night you’ll get perks like free internet access, parking spaces, and rooms that look like they’re worth a lot more.
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