13 Best Sights in Ottawa, Ontario

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Three beloved neo-Gothic-style buildings with copper roofs dominate the nation's capital from Parliament Hill, overlooking the Ottawa River. Originally built between 1859 and 1877, they were destroyed by fire in 1916. The Centre Block was rebuilt by 1920 and is where the two houses of Parliament, the Senate, and the House of Commons work to shape the laws of the land. Masterfully carved stone pillars and provincial emblems in stained glass in the House of Commons are all works of the nationally renowned artist Eleanor Milne. If the House is sitting, be sure to watch Question Period, a lively and at times theatrical 45-minute session during which members of the opposition fire current-events questions at the prime minister and members of the cabinet.

Visitors to the central Peace Tower, completed in 1927, often tour the Memorial Chamber's Altars of Sacrifice, with five Books of Remembrance bearing the names of Canadians killed during military service. Also in the Tower is a 53-bell carillon. From September through June, the Dominion Carillonneur gives 15-minute concerts at noon. In July and August there are one-hour concerts at 2. (All concerts are weekdays only.) Outside on the lawn there's plenty of room to observe the colorful Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place daily at 10 [am], late June to late August, weather permitting. The Ceremonial Guard brings together two of Canada's most historic regiments, the Canadian Grenadier Guards and the Governor General's Foot Guards.

North of the Centre Block and reached via its corridors is the Library of Parliament, the only part of the original Parliament Buildings saved from the fire of 1916. A statue of the young Queen Victoria is the centerpiece of the octagonal chamber, which is surrounded by ornately carved pine galleries lined with books, many of them priceless.

In front of and on either side of the Centre Block are the East Block and the West Block. The East Block has four historic rooms restored to the period of 1872 and open to the public from July to early September: the original Governor General's office restored to the period of Lord Dufferin, 1872–78; the offices of Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Georges Étienne Cartier, Fathers of Confederation in 1867; and the Privy Council Chamber. The West Block contains offices for parliamentarians and is not open to the public.

Same-day reservations for 20- to 60-minute tours are available at the Visitor Welcome Centre, inside the entrance to the Centre Block. From mid-May to August, make reservations at the white tent on the lawn. Allow extra time to go through security scanners. A free half-hour Sound and Light Show (early July–early September) with highlights of Canada is offered twice nightly. Parliament Hill is also the place to be on Canada Day, July 1, for concerts, fireworks, cultural exhibitions, and free performances by top Canadian entertainers. Note: visiting hours are limited when Parliament is in session, so call ahead.

Exhibited here is Canada's most comprehensive collection of vintage aircraft, including a replica of the model that made the country's first powered flight, and myriad aeronautical antiques. You can also book a flight over Ottawa in a Cessna 172 or a de Havilland Chipmunk.

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Across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Québec, is one of the area's most architecturally stunning buildings, with striking, curved lines that appear to have been molded more by natural forces than by human design. Exhibits trace Canada's history from prehistoric times to the present. Six west coast longhouses, towering totem poles, and life-size reconstructions of an archaeological dig are in the Grand Hall. Kids can enjoy hands-on activities in the Children's Museum. The Cineplus holds the larger-than-life IMAX and Omnimax.

In a castlelike building, the museum and its exhibits explore the earth's evolution, plus the birds, mammals, and plants of Canada. The High Definition Cinema shows nature documentaries that let you dive with whales and sharks or step back to when woolly mammoths roamed North America.

This Second Empire–style house built in 1878 was once home to two of Canada's most important prime ministers, Wilfred Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King. The original furnishings, including King's crystal ball, give a glimpse into the lives of these two men whose political life spanned the two world wars. A section of the third floor duplicates the basement office in the residence of Lester Pearson. The Nobel Prize winner was prime minister from 1963 to 1968.

The popular canal-side (613/594–5127) spills outside in warm weather. In winter it's a cozy vantage spot from which to watch skaters on the canal.

The archives contain more than 60 million manuscripts and government records, 2 million maps, and about 21 million photographs. Genealogists can visit for the parish registers and census returns from across Canada (call ahead). The library collects, preserves, and promotes the published heritage of Canada and exhibits books, paintings, maps, and photographs. Both the library and archives mount exhibitions regularly.

This complex includes an opera hall, a theater, a studio theater, and a salon for readings and concerts. Inside and outside are sculptures by both Canadian and international artists.

The popular canal-side Le Café (613/594–5127) spills outside in warm weather. In winter it's a cozy vantage spot from which to watch skaters on the canal.

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A magnificent glass-tower structure engineered by Canadian architect Moshe Safdie holds the premier collection of Canadian art in the world. It also houses important European and American art collections and hosts major international traveling exhibits. Inside the National Gallery is the reconstructed Rideau Convent Chapel, a classic example of French-Canadian 19th-century architecture with the continent's only neo-Gothic fan-vaulted ceiling. The building also has two restaurants and a large art-focused bookstore. In the Artissimo area, children can produce their own masterpieces, which are hung along a corridor for several days, using provided arts-and-crafts materials.

The official residence of the Governor General of Canada since 1867 is where the Queen's official representative welcomes visiting heads of state and royalty. The 1838 mansion has a ballroom and, on the grounds, a skating rink and cricket pitch. The Governor General's Foot Guards are posted outside the main gate in summer. Guided and self-guided tours of the public rooms and grounds are available; call ahead for tours of the art collection.

One of the last authentic steam trains still in operation in North America plies its way through the scenic Gatineau Hills from the city of Gatineau (formerly Hull) to the town of Wakefield. As you're pulled along by a locomotive built in 1907, the conductor describes the sites and strolling musicians provide entertainment. Once in Wakefield you have two hours to visit the town, dine in one of the restaurants, and watch the train being turned around manually for the return trip. The Sunset Dinner Train serves a four- or five-course meal featuring French cuisine. During fall foliage season, you travel through a world of marvelous colors.

Here the automobile has been banished, and shoppers and browsers can wander carefree in warm weather among fountains, rock gardens, sculptures, and outdoor cafés.

Established in 1875, this body became Canada's ultimate court of appeal in 1949. The nine judges sit in their stately art deco building for three sessions each year. The 10-foot-high statues of Justice and Truth flanking the entranceway were forgotten for 50 years and then rediscovered in 1969, buried in their original shipping crates under a parking lot.