Welcome to our guide to Ottawa's top Attractions for 2008. From the historical parliament buildings to world class entertainment at Scotiabank Place, home of the Ottawa Senators NHL Hockey team to the scenic historic rideau canal, there are plenty of attractions for the whole family to enjoy while visiting ottawa as a local our visiting tourist. Ottawa offers many attractions in both ottawa and across the ottawa river in the gatineau region.

Ottawa Attractions

Parliament Hill
Welcome to the nations capital, home of the Parliament buildings where parliamentarians gather to make the laws of our country. The parliament buildings constructed in 1859, are a great example of Gothic Revival architecture in North America. Every day during the summer months at 10:00am the changing of the guard, a ceremonial event featuring the Ceremonial guard of the Canadian Forces occurs on parliament hill bringing a military drill and entertainment, is a crowd favorite for visiting tourists. Don't miss the most popular event of the year, Canada Day (July 1st) each year for live canadian cultural entertainment throughout the day as canada celebrates it's birthday!
Location: Parliament Hill
Guided Tours: Guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more and are free of charge
Tel: 1-800-465-1867 or (613) 239-5000
website: www.parl.gc.ca/vis

Scotiabank Place home of the Ottawa Senators Hockey team and Live World Class Entertainmet
Scotiabank Place is a world class entertainment venue featuring the home of the Ottawa Senators NHL Hockey team and hosts many live concerts and performances from major international acts such as U2, Avril Lavigne, Disney on Ice, The Harlem Globetrotters and more for adults, family and children. There are a number of restaurants to visit and enjoy some great food and beverages.
Restaurants: Marshy's bar B-Q, Local Hereos Hockey Country Lodge, Frank Finnigan's Road House, Senate Club and Buffet and Club Restaurant and Lounge. Also find food concessions in the arena serving draught beer, Pizza Pizza, Tim Hortons, Lone Star Texas Grill, Chicken, Deli Sandwiches and more.
Location: 1000 Palladium Drive, Kanata
Parking: Rates vary by event but expect to pay at least $8.00 for parking
Check their websites listed below for current events and performances. Also visit our blog for Ottawa Senators Hockey game day highligt videos...
website: www.scotiabankplace.com and www.ottawasenators.com

Historic Rideau Canal
The historic rideau canal is the jewel of the city of ottawa and offers breathtaking scenery along both sides of the canal starting at the downtown canal locks at parliament hill along the route to dows lake and further up to the locks at mooneys bay. Double decker bus tours are available along with boat tours and if you like bicycling you can rent a bicycle for the whole family and enjoy a scenic bike ride as well.
Location: Rideau canal parkway

Canada Day Events and attractions July 1st
The best day of the year to visit Ottawa is on Canada day when the country celebrates it's birthday. Find events and attractions throughout the day including the official launch by the prime minister of canada, flypast at noon, or the ongoing entertainment at the main stage on parliament hill throughout the day featuring some of canada's top artists and entertainers. Take the kids on the free bus across to the hull sector of gatineau at jacques cartier park and have fun on the midway fun for kids in the park. Take a walk down to the byward market and shop, have a drink at one of the local outdoor cafes, or sample food at one of ottawa's many restaurants or check out one of ottawa's nightclubs or sample the local outdoor entertainment venues throught the day at various locations. Don't forget to get to parliament hill by 8:00pm to get a view of the upcoming spectacular fireworks display as the day comes to an end.
Location: Parliament hill, Sparks street mall, majors hill park, jacques cartier park hull sector (gatineau)
Prices: Free

Changing of the Gaurd Parliament Hill daily in June and July
Each day in June and July the changing of the guard is featured at approximately 10:00 am daily or you can get an earlier glimpse of the changing of the gaurd by walking down elgin street at the beginning to where the parade starts it's way at the drill hall next to city hall. Bring you camera as the parade starts it's way to parliament hill where the changing of the guard ceremony is held on the front lawn of the parliament buildings. The ceremony itself lasts for about half an hour and then makes it's way back to the drill hall where it ends.
Location: Parliament hill rideau street ottawa
Prices: Free

Casino du Lac Leamy

Rideau Carlton Raceway Rideau carlton raceway has been recently renovated and offers ottawa local and visiting tourists harness horse racing and now the new addition of over 1,250 slot machines ranging from 1 cent to $5.00 for legal gaming in the capital, must be 19 years of age or older participate. Shuttle services are available from local hotels and transitway. Restaurants: Enjoy a panoramic view of the racetrack in their 650 seat dining room featuring an all you can eat buffet or a la carte menu and Sunday Brunch Parking: Free Location: 4837 Albion Road Tel: 1-888-942-6224 or (613) 822-8668 website: www.rcentertainmentcentre.ca/

The RCMP Musical Ride

Members of the Musical Ride are RCMP police officers who after at least two years of active police work volunteer for duty with the Musical Ride. A sea of crimson - astride trained horses executing a variety of intricate figures and cavalry drills choreographed to music. Demanding utmost control, timing and coordination, these movements are formed by individual horses and riders, in pairs, fours and eights at the trot and at the canter. The troop of 32 horses and riders will perform a variety of cavalry drills choreographed to music.

Rain or shine, this event runs nightly from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. between June 25th and June 29th, at the home of the Musical Ride - the RCMP Stables at the Canadian Police College. Bring a blanket or lawn chair , your digital camera and enjoy the show!

Location: Take sussex drive and continue as it turns into Rockliffe Parkway East
Tel: Phone: (613) 998-8199 Fax: (613) 993-8649
Admission & Parking: Free

Mont Cascades Water Park in Cantley Quebec
Located about 20 or 30 minutes from downtown ottawa is the Mont Cascades Water park. The park features small water slides for young children all the way up to enclosed water slides for teenagers and adults. Pack a picnic lunch, sunscreen and your swimming suit and towel and head out for a day of fun for the whole family on a hot summer day. Plan on spending the whole day in order to get your money's worth as it tends to be expensive if you are just going for a couple of hours.
Location: 448 Mont Cascades Road, Cantley, Quebec
Prices: Kids 0-2 years free, kids & adults over 48" $23.95, kids under 48" $16.95, season passes available
Tel: 819-827-0301

Whitewater Rafting - Wilderness Tours - Beachburg Ontario
Try rafting the ottawa river while learning how to kayak this summer. Find high adventure white water rafting on the beautiful ottawa river with safe well-trained rafting guides. Find excellent in-house accomodations or scenic outdoor camping on the ground of this facility. They also offer bunjee jumping, rock climbing and mountain biking for more fun.
Location: Beachburg, Ontario
Tel: 613-646-2291 or 1-888-RAFT-NOW
website: www.wildernesstours.com

Papanack Park Zoo - Wendover Ontario
Take this scenic half hour drive east of Orleans on Highway 174 to Wendover / Pendleton ontario and find this zoo filled with exotic animals including african lions, alaskan wolves, siberian tigers, llamas, snow lepoards, wild turkeys and more for a fun and education day.
Tel: 613-673-7275
website: www.papanack.com

Canada Agricultural Museum
The agricultural museum in ottawa is a great place to spend the day with kids and the whole family on the grounds of the NCC agricultural farm just minutes from downtown south along the scenic prince of wales drive. Find all kinds of animals seen on farms in Canada including Cows, Sheep, Chickens, Pigs, horses, goats and rabbits. Take a ride on a horse drawn wagon, or have your kids play in the playground outside the farm buildings.
Location: Prince of Wales drive near baseline road the the rideau canal
Prices: Adults $6.00, Seniors & Students $5.00 and Kids (3-14) $3.00 & Kids under 3 years of age get in Free.
Tel: 613-991-3044 or 1-866-442-4416
website: www.agriculture.technomuses.ca

Little Ray's Reptile Zoo
Located about 30 minutes drive from downtown ottawa south on Bank street which turns into highway #31 is little ray's reptiles. Find an incredible array of creatures and that include snakes, alligators, spiders, lizards, iguanas, tropical frogs and more.
Location: 5305 Bank Street
Prices: General Admission $10.00, Seniors $8.00 and Kids under 2 years of age free.
Tel: 613-822-8924 or 1-877-522-8440
website: www.raysreptiles.com

Midway Family fun park
Midway fun park has indoor and outdoor attractions for the whole family including Jungle Gym structures, an indoor 9 hole mini golf course, bumper cars for kids 2 years or older, bumper boats for outdoor fun, giant inflatable slides, kiddie cars, video games and go carts. This fun location for kids and families includes an outdoor patio an indoor restaurant and packages for kids having birthday parties or private parties.
Location: 2370 Lancaster road at St Laurent Boulevard
Prices: Mini golf $4.50, Go Karts $6.50, Bumper Cars $5.25, Jungle Gym $8.25
Tel: 613-526-0343
website: www.midwayfunpark.com

Cosmic Adventures
Ottawa's indoor adventures begin at cosmic adventures with all kinds of fun things for kids to play on for kids up to 12 years of age. There is the indoor multilevel soft play structures featuring ball pits, tunnels, mazes, obstable courses and more. Also there are indoor slides for kids, a video games area, and a restaurant offering snacks, nachos, breakfast, salads, chicken and a kids menu.
Location: 1373 Ogilvie Road near St Laurent
Prices: Kids 0-11 months free, 12 to 23 months $7.00, 2-3 years $10.00, 4-12 years $13.00, Adults $3.00
Tel: 613:742-8989
website: www.cosmicadventures.ca

Saunders Farm in Muster Ontario
Saunders farm has a collection of hedge puzzle mazes for kids and the whole family to explore. Find centuries old historic log buildings to explore as well as 25 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, a water spray zone that you can cool off in on a hot day, or the Maze lookout tower that has three stories of climbing.
Location: Munster Ontario
Prices: Kids 3+ $12 kids under 3 years of age Free. Seasons passes available
Tel: 613-838-5440
website: www.saundersfarm.com

Fun Junction
Fun juction at 1399 Triole avenue in ottawa has some great attractions for kids including Laser Tag, rock climbing and mini golf for kids and adults as well.
Prices: Lasertag $6.50 per person, Rock Climbing $3.25 per climb, Arcade Games are $0.50 per token, Glow mini putt is $3.25 per person. Play packages available.
Location: 1399 Triole Avenue
Tel: 613-745-1881
website: www.funjunction.ca

Karters Corner
Karters corner has 48 go-carts on a large paved track in stittsville ontario just about 30 minutes drive west of downtown ottawa off the queensway. Also find two seater go-carts so younger kids can ride with parents or kiddy karts for kids under 54"tall. They also have an 18 hole miniature golf course with a win a free prize game. For teen night you pay $22.00 and get 12 laps on the go-carts, 1 round of mini golf, one hot dog, one soft drink, one bag of chips, and unlimited beach volleyball and basketball. For the golfer they have a golf lessons, and a golf driving range with 25 tee decks, 20 grass tees, and a 1000 feet of fairway.
Location: 6336 Fallowfield road, Stittsvill ontario
Tel: 613-831-2828
website: www.karterskorner.com