Ottawa, the perfect Canadian vacation
Posted on 06/29/2021
If you've never been to Ottawa, our nation's Capital City, consider it this summer. It's the perfect year to explore our own History and Heritage.
Four years ago my sister and I decided to be tourists in our own Country. We booked three nights in a hotel in downtown Ottawa, and planned a little sightseeing.
I'm a little embarrassed to say that I have lived most of my adult life within 3 hours of Ottawa and never visited. Now, I'm so glad that I did. What fun, to be a tourist in my own Capital. I learned so much about this Country that I love and the history that brought us here. The visit inspired me to buy an old text book on Canadian history and learn what I was too lazy to comprehend when I was in school.
Hotel
We stayed at the Cartier Place Suites Hotel. We like a Suites hotel with a kitchenette. It's nice to have a kitchen to make breakfast or have a cup of tea. This hotel is small but perfect for our needs with underground parking, a pool and close to public transit.
Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint's headquarters occupy the historic building in central Ottawa where the Mint was founded in 1908. Today, the Ottawa facility produces hand-crafted collector and commemorative coins, gold bullion coins, medals and medallions. This is where the master tooling is done to create the dies that strike coin designs for both circulation and commemorative issues. The Mint's gold refining and advanced engineering operations are also located here in Ottawa.
Visit the Ottawa boutique at 320 Sussex Drive to add to your coin collection, find exciting gift ideas and take home some Mint memorabilia or take a guided tour to learn more about the exacting skill that goes into precision coin design. https://www.mint.ca/store/template/home.jsp
Byward Market
THE BYWARD PUBLIC MARKET IS OPEN FOR THE 2021 MARKET SEASON!
7 DAYS A WEEK FROM 9AM - 5PM.
For almost 200 years, ByWard has been home to outdoor vending in Ottawa. Whether you’re popping into the local butcher for the cut of the day, discovering unique fashions, or being inspired by artisans and crafters, there is something new to discover with every visit! The outdoor public market season runs from May to December, but the area is alive all year round with dynamic restaurants, artisan groceries, unique retail, and of course street theatre!
Starting in May vendors wrap around the historic ByWard Market building creating a unique outdoor shopping experience. Over the holidays, the area offers the finest trees and decorations as we help ring in cheer across the City.
Be a part of the tradition this season and stop by the ByWard Public Market! https://ottawamarkets.ca/byward-market
Bytown Museum
Directly below Parliament Hill on the Rideau Canal is the Bytown Museum (temporarily closed).
OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS IN THE MAKING!
The BYTOWN MUSEUM collection can trace it roots back to the drawing room of Mrs. Matilda Edgar on June 3, 1898. Mrs. Edgar hosted thirty-one Ottawa women who would found the Women’s Canadian Historical Society of Ottawa with Adeline Foster as its first president. Their goal was to “encourage the collection and preservation of Canadian historical records and relics.” Today, the BYTOWN MUSEUM builds upon the legacy of the WCHSO. The Museum’s mandate is to collect, preserve, study and make accessible the material and cultural heritage of the Ottawa region’s multicultural and diverse history. Through its important and eclectic collection the Museum strives to tell the stories of an evolving city – from its first inhabitants and the early days of Bytown to present-day Ottawa.
