THINGS TO DO in and around OTTAWA

Cruiser, "Chuckles", runs with an environmentally friendly electric engine, no exhaust fumes and no noise. You will enjoy a silent ride in the comfort of our vintage electric cruiser. You won't only marvel at the sights, but you will hear the sounds of nature, including the cry of the loons, in this most beautiful section of the Rideau.

DAILY TOURS - May 16 to October 10 $55.00 per person, taxes included.
Children 12 and under, half price.
All tours depart from Chaffey's Lock
Morning Tour: leave at 9 a.m. and return at 1 p.m.
Afternoon Tour: leave at 2 p.m. and return at 6 p.m.
Each tour last for 4 hours (round trip). From Chaffey's Lock through Opinicon Lake, Davis Lock and Sand Lake before stopping for a 45-minute break at the Jones Falls Lockstation. Upon reboarding refreshments are served and "Chuckles" returns to Chaffey's Lock

Website : www.istar.ca/~BoatTour

May 7 to May 24, 2010 OTTAWA: In 2009, the Festival expanded to include more activity and locations along the Tulip Route, at Festival Plaza outside City Hall and at Lansdowne Park, in addition to the traditional activity sites at Major’s Hill Park and at Commissioner’s Park, and Dows Lake.

Major’s Hill Park now hosts an all-new event, the Circus School and Vintage Carnival, which will give young people and adults alike the opportunity to learn circus skills such as juggling, stilt walking, and trapeze techniques. It will also feature a Green Tulip Showcase that showcases a display area of green alternatives, both big and small, from different energy sources to simple choices individuals can make in their daily lives.

The International Pavilion, free to the public, is home to 25 participating embassies and local cultural groups located on the grounds of Lansdowne Park. Visitors will be able to enjoy a variety of international entertainment daily on the Friendship Stage, taste traditional international cuisine, dip into the history of participating countries, explore traditions, shop for souvenirs and discover exotic travel destinations.

Website : www.TulipFestival.ca

Gatineau Park is a wedge of land measuring 361 square kilometres to the northwest of Canada’s Capital Region. In the Park, the NCC protects plants and animals and manages facilities and trails so that the public may enjoy outdoor activities in every season.

Website : www.CanadasCapital.gc.ca

The Canada Aviation Museum presents one of three major collections owned by the Canadian government. THe combined collections now encompass bush flying and early aircraft manufacturers in Canada, military aircraft from the First World War to the 1950's, and the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) military aircraft related to RCAF history.

The internationally renowned collection gives particular, but not exclusive, reference to Canadian achievements. Consequently, more than 130 aircraft and numerous artifacts such as engines, propellers and instruments from many nations are represented in the collection.

The visitor is presented with the story of mankind’s ancient dream of flight celebrating the significant part that aviation has played in affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of Canadians from its beginning in Canada in 1909 to present day.

Website : www.Aviation.Technomuses.ca

Established by Lt-Col. John By in 1826, the ByWard Market is one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets. The legendary builder of the Rideau Canal, Colonel By himself laid out the street plan of the Market, designating George Street and York Street to be extra wide to accommodate the creation of a public market and gathering place.

Within an area roughly four blocks square, you'll find museums, cafés, specialty food shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, pubs, hair & aesthetics salons and more! Easily accessible on foot, by transit or by car, the ByWard Market offers a unique experience for all.

Website: www.Byward-Market.com

The National Gallery of Canada is one of the world's most respected art institutions, renowned for its exceptional collections, revered for its scholarship, and applauded for its unique ability to engage audiences of all ages and all levels of artistic knowledge. Created in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is among the oldest of Canada's national cultural institutions. Its current status as a federal Crown Corporation dates from 1990, when the Museums Act was proclaimed.

Website: www.Gallery.ca

Features: The Canada Garden - A permanent living tribute to Canada's native flora and geography. Canada Hall - Under a 17-metre domed ceiling, experience a remarkable journey through one thousand years of Canada's social history. The Canadian Personalities Hall - Bringing visitors face to face with 27 fascinating people whose decisions, actions and accomplishments shaped Canada. First Peoples Hall - Highlights the cultural, historical and artistic achievements of Canada's First Peoples. Tsimshian Prehistory - A reproduction of archaeological excavations carried out from 1966 to 1978 in the Prince Rupert region on the West Coast. Grand Hall - Six Native houses, connected by a Pacific coast shoreline and boardwalk, portray the rich cultural heritage of Canada. Also includes an IMAX theatre.

Website: www.Civilization.ca

This national museum presents Canada's military past and how it shaped the country. Its outstanding exhibitions explain Canada's rich military history from earliest times to the present, featuring the experiences of people on the battlefields and at home. The Museum's dramatic architecture is a showcase for its vast art collection (some 13,000 pieces) and its extensive artifact collection, including military vehicles and artillery.

Human conflict is explored through personal stories, art, artifacts, photographs and interactive presentations. The panoramic LeBreton Gallery houses a Voodoo jet, nineteenth-century artillery pieces, tanks and a wide range of vehicles. The Memorial Hall is designed for rest and reflection, and contains a single lone artifact: the headstone of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War which is directly illuminated by the sun each Remembrance Day, November 11, at 11 a.m.

With its spectacular location beside the Ottawa River and its stunning architectural design, innovative exhibitions and public programmes, the Canadian War Museum is a military history museum of international stature.

Website: http://www.WarMuseum.ca

The largest of its kind in Canada, this Museum will allow the visitor to push buttons, turn dials, and pull levers to experience science and technology first-hand. You discover artifact-rich exhibits featuring marine and land transportation, astronomy, communications, space, domestic technology and computer technology. The transformation of Canada, from the period of early exploration and settlement to the present, has been marked by achievements in science and technology.

Website: http://www.WarMuseum.ca

Parliament Hill – a symbol of national pride for Canadians and one of the most significant heritage sites in Canada! It is the place where the nation was first created at Confederation, and it continues to shape and define us through the work that happens here.

Website: www.ParliamentHill.gc.ca

Websites: www.Travel.Yahoo.com  and  www.TripAdvisor.co.uk