Top Attractions

One of the continent's most important music festivals hits the Capital in July, and has attracted acts from Van Morrison to the Black Eyed Peas.

For the complete story on the history and construction of the Rideau Canal, head to Bytown Museum, nestled by the Canal locks downtown.

ByWard Market ishistoric farmers' market and shopping district by day, a favourite gathering place of restaurants and clubs by night.

Calypso Waterpark. State-of-the-art water rides, a huge wave pool, a river run, slides galore, a white water experience and Zoo Lagoon.

July 1st is Canada day, the country's biggest annual birthday bash on Parliament Hill and around downtown.

Housing one of North America's finest collections of aircraft, the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum is a sight to behold.

Looking for Dinosaurs? Built inside a stunning stone castle, the Museum of Nature houses a mind-blowing collection of natural wonders.

Canada Science and Technology Museum. Massive locomotives, a kitchen that defies the laws of physics, and a look. at the tech that shapes our world. A truly interactive experience for all ages.

The Canadian War Museum pays tribute to the country's military past, and takes a moving look at the people and the equipment that fueled it.

The Casino du Lac-Leamy welcomes visitors to exciting gaming, entertainment and dining.

Changing the Guard. This summertime ceremony takes place on Parliament Hill and is a sheer spectacle of pomp and pageantry.

Christmas Lights across Canada.Early December through early January, landmark sites across Ottawa are aglow with thousands of Christmas lights.

Diefenbunker. This unique fallout shelter is Canada's Cold War Museum, and presents a look at a chilly time in international relations. Head underground.

Gatineau Park is 361 square kilometres of natural wilderness crisscrossed with cycling and nature trails, forest, lakes and lookouts.

The Laurier House. This Victorian mansion served as the home for two of Canada's most renowned Prime Ministers, and is a preserved showcase to their lifestyles.

The National Arts Centre presents a full lineup of music, dance and theatre, plus popular touring acts and shows.

The stunning National Gallery of Canada presents the country's national art collection and outstanding international exhibitions throughout the year.

Ottawa Chamberfest. Some of the most intimate performances of the year in some of the City's most breathtaking churches and halls.

TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival. Starting at the end of June, some of the world's greatest jazz acts hit the capital for a mellow and grooving start to the summer.

The biggest players in the sport join us at Scotiabank Place for action-packed hockey with the Sens.

No visit to Ottawa is complete without a visit to the Hill, the seat of Canada's national government and the setting for year-round celebration and ceremony.

Rideau Hall is he stately home and gardens of the Governor General, the Queen's representative in Canada.

Fancy holding a solid gold bar in your hands in front of a $1M stack of bullion? The Royal Canadian Mint is your ticket to the big money.

The dramatic Sound and Light Show is a sight to behold, a dramatic and eye-popping experience telling Canada's history through the ages.

It all kicks off with Winterlude, North America's greatest winter festival, the first three weekends of February.

Rideau Canal A 126-mile long waterway connecting Ottawa and Kingston, Ontario, the Rideau Canal was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. In warm weather, couples can rent bicycles and ride alongside it. But it is in winter, after the water freezes to ice, when the magic of this Ottawa attraction becomes most apparent. Enter the canal across from Parliament Hill, rent a pair of skates, and glide arm-in-arm on the world's largest skating rink for 4.8 miles. Patterson Creek, a secluded offshoot of the canal, tempts romantics to twirl away from the crowds. Huts along the frozen waterway sell BeaverTails, a local pastry delicacy that's fried, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, savored while warm, and best when shared.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier Even if you don't overnight at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, the castle-like hotel next door to Parliament Hill, it's still worth stopping by. This landmark has been welcoming celebrities, politicians, and couples in love for close to a century. Pause between your visits to other Ottawa attractions to have a proper afternoon tea in Zoe's lounge or a genuine gourmet meal in Wilfrid's restaurant. Afterwards, linger in the drawing room, where iconic portraits of Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, Georgia O'Keeffe, and other twentieth-century giants shot by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh (a longtime resident of the hotel) hang in gratitude.

Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute If you appreciate fine fare, reserve a table at Signatures, a CAA/AAA Five Diamond-rated restaurant that specializes in classic French cuisine with a modern twist. Couples on a budget in Ottawa can sample the Institute's fare at Bistro Cordon Bleu, run and staffed by students. It's open Thursdays and Fridays for lunch. Visitors who'd like to learn some culinary secrets but have no prior experience can sign up in advance for a one-day course at the school. And those with thoughts of romance spring up the stairs to the Institute's intimate, red-velvet room, a favorite setting for Ottawa proposals.

National Gallery of Canada Arts lovers will want to include a visit to the National Gallery on their Ottawa itinerary. It's the permanent home of the world's most comprehensive collection of Canadian art, which includes distinctive works by Inuit sculptors. Yet a creation by French-American artist Louise Bourgeois draws the most glances. Positioned on the plaza beside the gallery's front doors, Maman is a bronze spider that stands more than 30 feet tall and holds 26 white marble eggs in a sac beneath her. Astounding art is not the only attraction in this Ottawa landmark. Nepean Point, behind the gallery, provides a breathtaking view of the city -- and a not bad place to kiss.

Gatineau Park A haven for outdoors lovers in every season, Gatineau Park lies north of Ottawa. It's a place where couples can go biking, hiking, canoeing, and even pitch a tent in warm weather. Come winter, it's a major attraction for skiers. Whether you fancy snowshoeing, cross-country or downhill skiing, there's a trail or slope for the two of you.

Canadian Tulip Festival Every May Ottawa celebrates a resplendant spring, when hundreds of thousands of tulips bloom. The attraction is a result of a gift from the people of the Netherlands, grateful to Canada for sheltering its royal family during World War II. The 18-day festival, which traditionally ends on Victoria Day, includes an International Pavillion where visitors to the attraction can sample the food, crafts, culture, and entertainment from other countries. " Celebridé e" presentations enhance the gathering with talks by intellectuals in a festive environment. And, of course, the tulips themselves draw crowds to Ottawa at this time of year to marvel at nature's annual resurrection.

Canada Museum of Civilization Canada's largest and most popular museum is a vast repository of the country's natural and cultural history. The structure itself is an impressive piece of undulating architecture. Not only does this prime Ottawa attraction cover a thousand years of the nation's history; it also invites visitors to walk through a diorama to experience it themselves. (Kid alert: go early or late on weekdays to avoid school trippers, and forgo weekend visits.) If, despite careful planning, you end up surrounded by energetic tykes, head to the on-site Japanese Garden for quiet contemplation. But keep your eyes wide open: Some of the best views of the city are seen from here.

Holtz Spa Across the street from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Holtz Spa is the largest in Ottawa and offers several bridal and romantic packages. If you treasure togetherness, choose a couples treatment that includes a Swedish or hot stone massage in the same room and add on body polishes and pedicures for two.

Lac-Leamy Casino If you like to be where the action is, head for Casino du Lac-Leamy. It's located over the Ottawa border in nearby Quebec and is connected to the Hilton Lac-Leamy hotel. A destination unto itself, this attraction features live entertainment, a smoking lounge where cigar fanciers can legally puff on Cuban stogie, a variety of bars and restaurants — including CAA/AAA Five-Diamond winning Le Baccara, and gaming tables and slot machines where, win or lose, you'll still have fun.

TASKS

I. Practice the pronunciation of the following proper names:

Ottawa, Canada, Southern Ontario, Gatineau, Quebec, National Capital Region, Maman, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Ottawa Drama League, the Ottawa Drama League, World Heritage Site, Culture Magazine, the Black Eyed Peas, Dinosaurs, Calypso Waterpark, Casino du Lac-Leamy, the Laurier House, Patterson Creek.

II. Answer the following questions:

1. What city is the capital of Canada and the fourth largest city in the country?

2. Where is Ottawa situated?

3. When was Ottawa founded?

4. What word is the name " Ottawa" derived from?

5. What is the population of Ottawa?

6. What do you know about the National Gallery of Canada?

7. What is the most visited museum in Canada?

8. How was the Ottawa Little Theatre originally called?

9. What is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America?

10. Who was the National Gallery of Canada formed by?

11. What masterpiece did the Gallery buy in 1990?

12. Does the Gallery organize its own exhibits which travel across Canada or beyond?

13. How has the Gallery's collection been built up?

14. Who was much of the collection donated by?

15. When does one of the continent's most important music festivals hit the Capital?

16. How does Ottawa celebrate the return of warm weather?

17. What do you know about Canada's Cold War Museum?

18. Who did the Laurier house serve as the home for?