Travelodge Thriftlodge Canada

The Gothic Revival-style buildings of Parliament Hill overlook the Ottawa River and are a popular Ottawa attraction. The Hill, as it is referred to by the locals, serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural elements of national symbolic importance. Guided tours take visitors through the public galleries to the Senate and House of Commons to the top of the Peace Tower, where an observation deck provides a spectacular 360° view. Every morning during the summer months visitors can enjoy the Changing of the Guard ceremony, and each evening offers an awe-inspiring Sound and Light show. 

An historic waterway, the Rideau Canal winds through the heart of Ottawa Canada and connects to the Ottawa River through impressive stepped locks adjacent to Parliament Hill. The Canal opened in 1832 and is the oldest continuously operated canal in North America and inscribed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. May through early October the canal is open to sightseeing cruises, pleasure craft, paddle boats, canoes and kayaks – which can be rented at the Dow’s Lake Pavilion. In the winter months, the waterway turns into the Rideau Canal Skateway, the world’s largest skating rink at 7.8 kilometres long. The scenic skating rink stretches to Dows Lake, and all along are warm up rest areas with toasty fires, hot drinks and savoury snacks.

Established in 1826, the ByWard Market is one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets, and is located just east of Parliament Hill. Farmers and craft merchants from across Ottawa gather to merchandise their wares daily. Within an area approximately four square blocks, you'll find museums, cafés, specialty food shops, boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. At night, “The Market", as it is known to locals, offers more upscale dining and a buzzing night life. The Market is the setting for many popular annual Ottawa events, including the culinary Tastes of ByWard, the Winterlude Stew Cook-Off, and ByWard Market Mardi Gras. Easily accessible on foot, by transit or by car, the ByWard Market offers a unique experience for all and is a popular Ottawa attraction.

Created in 1880, The National Gallery of Canada is one of the world’s most respected art institutions. It is a showcase of the visual arts and a magnificent architectural landmark in Ottawa, Canada. The Canadian Galleries display some of the country’s largest collections of Canadian art, with works by Emily Carr, Tom Thompson, Alex Colville and the Group of Seven. The museum is housed in a grand, light-filled structure of glass and granite, in which visitors can find a sheltered garden courtyard, a glass-bottomed pool, and a reconstructed 19th-century chapel. In front of the gallery you will find one of its most famous works of art – Maman – a 9.25 metre tall bronze sculpture of a giant spider carrying a sac of 26 pure white marble eggs under her belly, sculpted by Louise Bourgeois. 

The Canada Aviation and Space Museum, located east of downtown Ottawa, houses one of the world's finest collections of military and civilian aircraft inside its giant hangar-like walls. The Museum displays a collection of over 155 aircraft from around the world covering the entire history of aviation. Particularly noteworthy is the collection of vintage bushplanes from the 1920s to the 1940s. A fabulous new exhibition, Canadian Wings: A Remarkable Century of Flight opened in early 2009 to celebrate 100 years of aviation in Canada. In spring and summer, visitors to the Ottawa attraction can take flying tours of the Capital in an open cockpit Waco UPF-7 biplane circa 1939. Helicopter rides are also available. The Museum's Hang Glider Studio offers aviation-themed activities and crafts for kids.

Not only a beautiful Ottawa attraction, the Park is an important nature preserve, measuring 36,131 hectares and is located to the northwest of Ottawa, Ontario. It is home to over 100 endangered plant species and provides habitat for many species of birds. Gatineau Park is a perfect recreational destination that includes beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas, trails, and parkways. There are 165 km of hiking trails and 90 km of trails for mountain bikes. All three lakes are open to canoeists, and gas motor boats are allowed at Meech Lake. Cross-country skiing is one of the park's main recreational activities with nearly 200 km of cross-country trails. Downhill skiing and snowboarding are popular activities at Camp Fortune during the winter, and in summer months the camp offers an aerial experience including ziplines and treetop obstacles.