Don’t Miss Paul’s Boat
Just when you think you’ve seen it all and done it all in the capital, Paul’s Boat Lines can give you a whole new’and cool’perspective on the city with a boat tour of the Ottawa River.
Half the fun is getting down to the dock, which requires a short walk along Rideau Canal. If it’s the weekend, you’re sure to see the locks in action, and if you have time, you can even pop into the Bytown Museum on the way.
Once at the dock, it’s time for boarding. There are two levels to the boat’a shaded upper level that enjoys a lovely river breeze, and an enclosed downstairs with booths. Upstairs, you’ll be treated to great views, funny and informative trivia from the guide and the opportunity to have a king-of-the-world moment at the front of the ship. We’ve never seen the Parliament Buildings look so beautiful before, and we got closer than we’ve ever been to 24 Sussex. Meanwhile, our kids were enthralled at the close-up stop we made at Rideau Falls.
Downstairs is perfect for kids who want to break for a card game or a snack’there’s a small tuck shop on board, and we’ve been told that chips and lemonade taste much better when you’re at sea. At an hour and a half, it’s the perfect length for a different kind of downtown outing’and we were sad when it was time to turn the boat around.
Good to Know: Tickets for Paul’s Boat Lines can be purchased at the kiosk downtown, on the south side of Rideau Street, where it meets Elgin. Unless it’s a holiday weekend, you can just drop by the kiosk to get same-day tickets. Tours leave at 11 am, 2 pm, 4 pm and 7:30 pm.
We’re just enjoying another sunny day in our nation’s capital. Here are a few more ways you can too with these 11 Reasons to Love Ottawa in the summer.
Tested by Lynn J., Ottawa
