Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival
(http://chamberfest.com/) in summer, one of the largest in the world
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Gatineau - Right accross the Ottawa river. World-class Canadian Museum of Civilization is worth a visit. The nightlife in the Old Hull neighbourhood is often considered superior to Ottawa's, with a handful of loud clubs but also a decent offering of artistic cafés with good local live music.
Bluesfest
(http://ottawa-bluesfest.c...), also in summer: the largest blues festival in canada, and featuring as well rock, pop and world music. many visitors come to ottawa from atlantic canada and new england specifically for bluesfest.
The Tulip Festival
(http://tulipfestival.ca/), a spring bonanza of flowering bulbs, given annually by the dutch government, as well as a concert series featuring well-known canadian rock and other popular music groups.
Aventure Laflèche
819 457-4033 (http://http://aventurelaf...) a superb destination for those interested in outdoor activies in the gatineau hills year round. a community-owned non-profit company that offers beautiful nature trails, tours of the historical laflã¨che caves, and the province's largest aerial park for the adventurous includes several ziplines. calling ahead for reservations is highly recommended.
The National Arts Centre
Also provides a major venue for dance and orchestral performance (http://nac-cna.ca/splash.htm).
The Federal Government is the region's largest employer with the high-tech sector firmly in second place. Unless you are a Canadian resident, you will need a work visa to work in Ottawa, and some Federal Government jobs require Canadian citizenship.
The two best known universities in the city are Carleton University (http://carleton.ca) and the major bilingual and research-intensive University of Ottawa (http://uottawa.ca). Bilingual St. Paul's University (http://ustpaul.ca) is a Catholic university with ties to the University of Ottawa, offering various degrees in theology and social sciences. Dominican University College (http://collegedominicain.ca/) is a Dominican university where theology and philosophy can be studied at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, also in English or French. There is also Algonquin College (http://algonquincollege.com) and the francophone Cité Collégiale (http://lacitec.on.ca).
Eco-Odyssée
819 459-2551 (http://http://www.eco-ody...) another great option for nature lovers close to wakefield. a water maze that's great for learning about the local marsh environments.
Explore the Nation's Capital as it was meant to be seen-up close and on foot. There are a number of great walking tours to introduce you to the capital area. Ottawa Walking Tours (http://www.ottawawalkingt...) offers historical guided walks of Ottawa's downtown core with special stops at areas of historical signifigance. Tours acquaint guests with the history and charm of the city and allow visitors to learn more about Ottawaâs history, architecture, colourful political characters, as well as snap some outstanding photographs. Tours are offered year-round and reservations are required. For more information, call 613-799-1774. The Haunted Walk of Ottawa (http://hauntedwalk.com) offers tours focusing on Ottawa's infamous haunts and darker history. Hear tales of hauntings at some of Ottawa's most well known locations, including the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Bytown Museum and the Ottawa Jail Hostel. Cloaked guides lead guests through the city streets by lantern light-the perfect atmosphere for a good ghost story. Tours run year-round, rain or shine. Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information, call 613-232-0344. (http://hauntedwalk.com)
If you enjoy the outdoors, especially if you are a cyclist, you should definitely visit Gatineau Park just across the river from Ottawa. Bicycles can be rented during the summer months at the northeast corner of the Chateau Laurier. Ottawa and the surrounding area boasts over 170km of public paved trails on which you can run, bike, walk or rollerblade. If you are looking for a place to start, head to the nearest waterway: paved trails line both sides of the Ottawa River, the Rideau Canal, and the Rideau River. The Trans Canada Trail (http://www.tctrail.ca) enters Ottawa through the outskirt communities of Carleton Place and Stittsville, then joins up with the Ottawa River at Brittania Bay near Carling Avenue at Bayshore Drive. It follows the river 13 kilometers east to Parliament Hill, then crosses over to the Quebec side, extending into and beyond Gatineau Park.
In winter, go skating on the largest outdoor skating rink in the world, the Rideau canal (http://canadascapital.gc....). Skates can be rented, and refreshments purchased, from vendors right on the ice. This is also a great place to enjoy a "beaver tail" which is a local specialty - a bit like funnel cake, often enjoyed with lemon and sugar. It is very similar to, fried dough. The city's trail system serves as an excellent cross-country ski trail system, as do the nearly 200km of groomed ski trails in Gatineau Park. Downhill skiing is available across the river in three near-by sites: Camp Fortune 180 m vertical, Edelweiss 200 m vertical and Mont Cascades 165 m vertical.
In early spring typically March, when the daytime temperatures are above freezing and night temperatures are below freezing, consider visiting a sugarbush for fresh maple syrup. There are many to choose from in the region if you have a car to drive out of the city.
Day trips to Québec
Being located right on the provincial border, daytrips to neighbouring Québec can be made easily.
Film theatres and cinemas
Ottawa has many movie theatres to choose from, but there are also a few that specialize in "foreign" films, early releases, old returning films and specialty films. The Bytowne Cinema is on Rideau Street near King Edward and has a detailed online schedule (http://bytowne.ca/). The Mayfair Theatre is found at 1074 Bank St. near Sunnyside (http://mayfairtheatre.ca/). In addition, the Canadian Film Institute screens films at the National Library and Archives building on Wellington and is a favourite of the specialist film crowd (http://cfi-icf.ca/cfi_2.html).
Jazz and Blues lovers can find what they are looking for in these Ottawa music calendars: (http://ottawajazz.com/eve...) and (http://ottawa-blues-jazz....). Venues include Zoe's at the Chateau Laurier, Vineyards and Chez Lucien in the Market, and the Royal Oak in Kanata. Find Blues at the Rainbow in the Market, and at Tucson's in Ottawa South on Bank St. at Hunt Club.
Ottawa is host to over 60 festivals and events per year, including:
Wakefield - Picturesque artist town on the side of the Gatineau river. Rich with cultural offerings and beautiful natural surroundings especially in autumn.
live theatre entertainment
Ottawa has lots of live theatre entertainment. That includes at the National Arts Centre English (http://nac.ca/en/theatre/index.cfm and French (http://nac.ca/fr/theatref...), the Great Canadian Theatre Company (http://gctc.ca/), the Ottawa Little Theatre (http://ottawalittletheatr...), and Tara Players Irish theatre (http://taraplayers.ncf.ca/).