Canada’s capital city has a lot to offer visitors any time of year, but summer is when Ottawa really seems to shine. Not sure what to do when you get there? Check out some fun summer ideas to get you started.
Wander through the ByWard Market
Established in 1826, Ottawa’s historic ByWard Market is a great place to walk around for a couple of hours. It’s also one of the country’s oldest and biggest public markets. Over roughly four blocks you can find fresh, seasonal produce, specialty food shops, cafes, bakeries and restaurants.
Walk along the Rideau Canal
This UNESCO World Heritage Site runs through the heart of the city before connecting with the Ottawa River. In the summer it’s full of boats and makes for a scenic place to wander. If you happen to be in Ottawa in the winter, you can don a pair of skates and glide along the historic waterway.
Take in a festival
Summer is an ideal time to take advantage of Ottawa’s many festivals. On July 1 you can experience Ottawa’s celebrations for Canada Day, and visitors can also come into town for the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival (June 20 to July 1), Ottawa International Buskerfest (July 31 to Aug. 4), Ottawa Greekfest (Aug. 14 to 24), and the National Capital Craft Beer Festival (Aug. 15 to 17).
Explore a museum or gallery
If you’re craving some culture, Ottawa is full of museums and galleries all worth a visit. While you’re visiting, check out the National Gallery of Canada for world class art, the Canadian Museum of Nature, Canada Science and Technology Museum, and the Canadian War Museum among many others.
Swim or picnic in Gatineau Park
Just 15 minutes from Parliament Hill, if you’re in the mood to embrace the great outdoors you can do it with a visit to Gatineau Park. The Park, which gets around 2.7 million visitors each year boasts five public beaches where you can cool off in the lake. There are also spots to hike, picnic and even camp. The swimming season starts in mid-June and runs until Labour Day.
(Main image: Miguel used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
