The McIntosh Country Inn is only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the City of Ottawa. Drive 90-minutes West on Highway 31 to discover all that our Nation’s Capital has to offer.
The McIntosh Country Inn is in a fantastic location, only a short drive away from major city centers and tourist attracts like Canada’s Capital, the hopping City of Ottawa! The action never stops in Ottawa – no matter what time of year you come to visit, there’s always something interesting to discover.
Take a tour of Parliament Hill and learn about Canada’s history and politics or groove along with the hundreds of thousands of spectators at Bluefest, the Summer annual outdoor music festival that features top talent from musicians and bands around the world. Check out the ByWard Market and enjoy the fresh market fare and the multitude of incredible restaurants and pubs. Visiting in the Spring or Winter? Enjoy the incredible Canadian Tulip Festival in May and Winterlude, Ottawa’s February festival with all its wintery wonderland delights.
7 Things to Do and See in Ottawa, Ontario
Parliament Hill
Discover the heart of Canada’s government and take a free guided tour of the Parliament Buildings. Admire the stunning architecture, symbolic decorations, and historic paintings. You can also experience Parliament Hill’s magnificent grounds and many monuments on your own or with a guided tour.
Throughout the year, Parliament Hills hosts free concerts, multimedia shows, and other exciting events. Visit https://ottawatourism.ca/en/see-and-do/guided-tours-parliament to see what’s happening now!
Canadian Tulip Festival
Held every May, the Canadian Tulip Festival is the world’s largest public tulip exhibit, displaying 300,000 tulips and 130 different breeds! Tulips have been gifted to Canada by the Netherlands since 1953 in remembrance of Canada’s role in the Liberation of the Netherlands in WWII. It also commemorates the birth of Dutch Princess Margriet in Ottawa during the War.
Come marvel at the sea of tulips in 30 different displays and learn more about the history of Canada and the Netherland’s friendship. For more information, visit https://tulipfestival.ca/
Canada Day
Ottawa’s Canada Day party on July 1st is the biggest party in the country. Enjoy dazzling fireworks, live entertainment from top and emerging Canadian artists, appearances by dignitaries and other notable visitors, and other exciting family activities.
Don your red and white clothes and join the fun in downtown Ottawa and in nearby Gatineau. It’s a party of epic proportions…and it’s all free! Visit https://ottawatourism.ca/en/see-and-do/canada-day to learn more about Ottawa’s Canada Day celebrations.
Bluesfest
Ottawa’s 2-week Bluesfest musical festival is ranked among the world’s top-10 outdoor music festivals! Come join the 300,000 music fans and enjoy more than 200 performances showcasing not just blues and jazz music but other genres as well. Past performances have included Sting, Kanye West, the Dixie Chicks, Lady Gaga, and Canadian artists like The Tragically Hip.
Come for the dance party at LeBreton Flats just outside of downtown Ottawa next to the Canadian War Museum. On top of hundreds of exciting concerts, you can enjoy food and beverages from the many vendors and explore other on-site events. Don’t miss this 2-week July event! To learn more, visit https://ottawatourism.ca/en/see-and-do/rbc-bluesfest
Winterlude
Ottawa’s annual Winterlude event happens in February and transforms Canada’s Capital Region into a dreamy winter wonderland. Discover the ice sculptures, ice-slides, and of course ice skating on the Rideau Canal.
The Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its impressive 7.8 km route through downtown Ottawa makes it the largest natural outdoor ice rink in the world. And the best part is it’s FREE! Skate and sleigh rentals are available if you need them. Don’t forget to experience the famous cinnamon sugar BeaverTail pastries while you’re there!
Visit https://ottawatourism.ca/en/see-and-do/winterlude for more information.
Byward Market
Don’t visit the City of Ottawa without stopping by the ByWard Market, one of Canada’s oldest farmers’ markets. Established in 1826, the ByWard Market Square hosts indoor food vendors and interesting shops as well as outdoor vendors with seasonal produce and flowers and handcrafted artistry.
Enjoy a wide variety of incredible restaurants from gourmet dining to international flavours in a casual or high-end setting. There’s also a multitude of bars, clubs, and pubs and places with live music, dancing, and other excitement! Don’t forget to stop by the many boutiques and galleries. There’s so much to see in the ByWard Market!
For more information, visit https://ottawatourism.ca/en/about-ottawa/neighbourhoods/byward-market
Ottawa Museums
The City of Ottawa is home to 7 of Canada’s 9 national museums. Whether you’re into history, culture, or technology, stopping by one of these incredible centres is definitely a must!
Some of these fascinating museums include The National Gallery of Canada, The Canadian Museum of History, The Canada Science and Technology Museum, and The Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
For more information about Ottawa’s museums, visit https://ottawatourism.ca/en/ottawa-insider/ottawa-s-seven-national-museums
