OttawaPosted By: on 29 January, 2007Canada's capitol city, Ottawa, is where both rivers and cultures meet. Ottawa is located at the junction of the Ottawa River and Rideou River and borders Quebec, allowing for a unique mix of both French and English cultures. This gives the city a very distinctly European feel. Ottawa is home to twelve different museums and a number of major festivals. The National Gallery of Canada, housed in a towering glass building, is one of Canada's premier art galleries. It features a strong collection of contemporary art, including some of Andy Warhol's most famous works. Other museums in Ottawa include the Canadian War Museum, the Canda Science and Technology Museum, and the Canadian Museum of Nature. Ottawa's extremely varied climate (high of 100 degrees farenheight and low of -33 degrees farenheight) allows for a variety of annual activities. Each year Ottawa hosts 15 festivals which draw in visitors from all around Canada. The selection ranges in everything from an International Children's Festival to a Dragon Boat Festival. Ottawa's large mix of cultures come together often to celebrate and perform traditional music. Ottawa also boasts a number of different theater and dance companies, ranging from traditional to new and experimental. See native Canadian dancers at the Turtle Island Tourism Company, or watch new dance at Le Group Dance Lab. Theater productions in Ottawa can be seen in English, such as at the Ottawa Little Theatre and the Great Canadian Theatre Company; or French (Le Theatre de I'lle and Le Maison de la culture de Gatineau). Since Ottawa does have such varied temperatures, make sure to bring clothing for all climates with you during your trip. Make sure to stay warm while skating across the Rideau Canal, which becomes the world's longest skating rink in winter. Rideau Canal is Ottawa's hub of outdoor activity, ranging from biking, boating and in-line skating. In fact, Rideau Canal is the reason why Ottawa is the big city it is today. |