-
6 Cultural Activities in Ottawa
Have you been missing something lately? How about a little culture? Here are six activities that are sure to fill a day (while secretly educating).
-
Upper Canada Village
Check out the showcase of 19th century-style entertainment at Upper Canada Village (about 90 minutes from Ottawa). With artisans, peddlers and vendors, a musical circus equestrian show, illusions and magic, and games galore, there should be something interesting for the whole family. Make sure you don't forget to buy a bag of their stone-milled flour while you're there—it's amazing. Don't forget about them during the colder months, either. Their award-winning fall event Pumpkinferno is a must-see, and the whole village sparkles and glows during the holiday season.
-
Parliament Hill
Head downtown to Parliament Hill to watch the ceremonial parade and changing of the guard every morning at 10 am from June through August. You can explore the grounds, meet a Mountie, tour Parliament Hill with help from site interpreters, and check out the view from the Peace Tower.
-
Museum of Nature
Visit the Museum of Nature. Admission is free on Thursday nights, and kids up to age two are free at all times. Exhibits are at kid height—it's easy for them to pop their head up through the 'hole in the ice' in the polar bear diorama to get a seal's eye view of the situation, for example—and they're allowed, even encouraged, to touch many specimens, samples and tools of the trade.
-
RCMP Musical Ride Centre
Visit the RCMP Musical Ride Centre, where you can meet the horses, tour their stables, visit the Farrier Station, walk through the Tack Room, and see the stately carriages once used in royal escorts of the Queen.
-
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Discover the fun side of science at the Canada Science and Technology Museum and take advantage of free admission for kids under three. This hands-on experience can be appreciated by all ages. The largest museum of its kind in Canada, it is host to a variety of exhibits that change throughout the year while the permanent artifacts collection can be enjoyed at any time.
-
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
Free admission between 4 pm and 5 pm every day at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum makes this a 'can't miss it' kind of institution. Weekends are for families and children's tours run all day, with events like ejection seat demonstrations and cockpit interpretation that are sure to entertain for hours.