By TODD WESSELL
Journal Travel Editor
Ever considered a short trip to Ottawa, Canada?
If not, why not? There are many reasons why visiting this beautiful capital city can become a thrilling experience.
Ottawa offers a beautiful setting along the Ottawa River that has dozens of shops, restaurants, museums and wide walking areas within a relatively compact downtown area. This Outaouais Region of eastern Canada, which Ottawa is part of, lies between Toronto in the province of Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. Ottawa actually is in Ontario, but across the river lies Quebec. Roughly 70% of the local residents are of English descent and nearly everyone is bi-lingual in French and English. On the map, this famed city is surrounded by unspoiled rivers, streams and wooded areas. It's about an hour's drive north of the U.S.-Canadian border. From Chicago, the plane ride lasts about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The round-trip cost is around $250 to $300 per person. And remember, passports will be necessary starting in early 2007.
Our two-night stay was in the famed Fairmont Chateau Laurier, one of Ottawa's premier hotels located along one the city's main drags, Rideau Street. Only a few steps from the Fairmont's front door stand many of the federal government buildings including Parliament, which is perched on Parliament Hill. Tours to the top of the Gothic-style structure are offered almost every day. While the building may resemble, to a degree, Britain's Parliament building, it actually was constructed at about the time Canada formally became an independent nation in 1867.
From that point in the center of the city, visitors have their choice of many other places to visit. A 20 minute walk from Parliament Hill stands the new Canadian War Museum, a stirring, world-class setting where visitors can see and learn about Canada's military history including its involvement in World War I, II and Vietnam. Also close by is the National Gallery of Canada, where many grand masterpieces are displayed in an uncrowded, three level structure that houses everything from Contemporary Art to Canadian and Aboriginal Art.
On the other side of our headquarters at the Fairmont lies one of the city's most popular spots‹Byward Market. This roughly four block by five block area is the day in and day out heart of Ottawa where people of all shapes, sizes and nationalities come together. Friendly outdoor vendors line streets and sidewalks selling everything from cantaloupe to jewelry. Numerous small, quaint shops intermingled with a variety of small to large restaurants also make up a big part of Byward Market. In all, there are more than 100 places to eat and drink in the Market area. Many of the restaurants offer for sale locally-brewed beer, such as the mild Keith's or Heritage. On the walls are photographs of many celebrities who have visited the city, especially ice hockey legends like Maurice "the Rocket" Richard.
May is considered one of the most pleasant months to visit Ottawa and to dip your toes into the Byward Market waters. However, fall and spring also present pleasant temperatures and weather.
Getting around Ottawa is easy with plenty of taxi cabs scurrying about and an easy to use popular metro bus service.
Special events are staged in Ottawa year-round. One of the most popular is Winterlude in February where hundreds of thousands of people don ice skates and glide along the 4.8 miles of frozen Rideau Canal. One of the city's biggest attractions is the Canadian Tulip Festival held in May. The festival was inspired by Queen Juliana of the Netherlands who took refuge in Canada during World War II. In 1945, out of gratitude to the nation that gave her a temporary home during a troubled era, the Queen gave to Canada 100,000 tulip bulbs. To this day, the Netherlands gives Canada 20,000 tulip bulbs annually.
A trip to Byward Market must include a moment or two at Beaver Tails Pastry. This small shop is a popular stop for tourists as well as locals interested in snarfing down a light pastry while on the way to work or a day of sightseeing. Just walk up to the front window, order the flavor you want and within a minute, you're ready to roll‹literally.
One other noteworthy tidbit: In Ottawa, the currency is the Canadian dollar. Prices are in Canadian money and that's what you pay with. Hotels offer exchange services and there are many banks in the central areas where you can exchange your U.S. money for Canadian.
For more information about Ottawa, call its tourism office at 1-800-363-4465 or 1-613-237-5150. It's website is www.ottawatourism.ca.
Scene from near Parliament Hill in Canadian capital shows the meandering Ottawa River with the province of Quebec in background. Photo by Dan Wessell