Beautiful building inside and out. So much history and paintings inside of past prime ministers…read moreand their cabinet members. The Parliament has several artifacts and memorabilia and the fallen soldiers memorials with an eternal flame outside the building. There's also a River cruise beside to go around it.

Parliament Hill in Ottawa is an amazing place full of national history, gorgeous architecture,…read morepleasant walkways, numerous statues and monuments, well-maintained landscaping, and incredible views of the Ottawa River and beyond. I really enjoyed walking around to see this beautiful place in person. I would have stayed longer but it was getting dark. I did not enter any of the buildings and am unsure how many are open to the public. If any are, I would assume there is some kind of security protocol for safety. The Parliament Building itself is currently under renovations, so much of the outside is covered with a temporary facade. Next time, I need to schedule a longer stay to enjoy and appreciate more of what Ottawa has to offer.

The Ottawa River Pathway is a pedestrian and bicycle path along the Ottawa River. The scenery is…read morevery beautiful year-round, but especially in the autumn. The pathway is about 30km, but you can get on and off at certain points, so you definitely don't have to do the entire length. It's fully paved and not particularly hilly. Just watch out for goose poop along certain parts of the path during certain times of the year, lol. Goose poop aside, the Ottawa River Pathway is beautiful. It's great for getting some exercise, be it cycling, rollerblading, jogging, Nordic walking, power walking, or even taking a leisurely stroll, while admiring nature. Sunsets along certain parts of the Pathway are especially breathtaking.

This is a great little escape for the government workers in Tunney's pasture, to break away from…read moretheir computers for a few minutes of fresh air and R&R while they come outside for lunch or a walk or bike ride along the river. Be careful of the goose droppings on the grass, though. The cyclists using this path would rather the pedestrians walked on the grass, and the walkers would prefer if the cyclists used the grass! All of us are avoiding the droppings left by the Canada Geese that frequent this area. Also, look for the man who builds Inukshuk (if I've spelled that right?) For many years now, a man has been building amazing statues out of the rocks at the shoreline - they rocks balance on each other at seemingly impossible angles, threatening to drop at any moment, but seem to keep their balance! There was an article about him several years ago in the Canadian Geographic. It's been a pleasure to watch him work, and he's become something of a tourist attraction. It's May now, and I haven't seen him there yet this year, but maybe the water's too cold yet. Maybe he begins this work after the Victoria Day weekend.

The current location is the old Ottawa train station across the street from the Chateau Laurier…read moreuntil the nearly decade long renovations of parliament are complete. Me, my wife, and our friend who was a Canadian government employee living in Ottawa but has yet to tour this temporary location went on the tour and really enjoyed it. They did an amazing job accommodating my disabilities and even provided a wheelchair and opened doors for me as I spent a great deal walking and standing around the art museum earlier in the day.

Because the Canadian Centre Block Parliament is under rehabilitation, the senate was moved not to…read morethe East Block, but to the former Ottawa Union Station on Rideau Street, right on the canal. Whereas the parliament buildings are in the new gothic design, the Senate building is in the Beaux-Arts design I associate more with industrial and commercial buildings built in the 19th to early 20th century. The pillars at the entrance with the narrow windows imbue a fortified sense to the building, with marble floors inside the building. The high ceilings makes for a large open space, with plaster cieling patterns. New renovations within the building have allowed the senate the space needed to work, with the main senate floor, committee rooms, and offices. The main hall of the former terminal has adjacent committee rooms which provide additional 2nd floor space, with plenty of open space to spare. Since the welcome center is on Parliament hill underneath the West Block, you need to go there first for tickets. Tickets are free, but they are to limit and organize tours. The security checkpoint is not a terrible hastle, however you should arrive 15 minutes early. The staff were very knowledgeable and polite, providing a fascinating lesson on the structure on this branch of government in Canada. I was intrigued by the three chairs taking center stage. The first seat is for the speaker of the senate, whereas the two rear seats are thrones (yes thrones) for the Governor General, and for the monarch (at the time of this writing, Queen Elizabeth whom herself hadn't addressed the senate since 1977). There are little things peppered throughout the building to symbolize everything, well, Canadian.

Saigon Square is a tiny little park at the south west corner of Preston St and Somerset St West, in…read morefront of the Plant Recreation Centre, which is also the western edge of Chinatown. It was named in 2018 "in recognition of the contributions to the City of Ottawa by the Vietnamese refugees who came to Canada in search of freedom." There is a sizeable Vietnamese population in Ottawa, in part due to Project 4000, which was created by then-mayor, Marion Dewar, who in 1979 welcomed 4000 Vietnamese refugees to Ottawa through private sponsorship. There is also a monument in the square that is "in memory of those who have lost their lives in the quest for freedom." The monument was erected in 1995, before the square was named. I sometimes see fresh flowers at the monument and I sometimes see people praying at the monument. Since those who died fleeing persecution were often lost at sea or buried near former displaced persons camps throughout Southeast Asia, visiting their graves may not be possible, so I think this monument serves as a substitute for the family members of these people. I am always in support of things that provide solace and peace to those who need it. I see a lot of meaning and significance in this Square. The monument is a reminder of the innocent victims of war (the statue is of a woman running barefoot while carrying a child). The plaque acknowledges the positive contributions that the refugees have made to the place that received them. The benevolence of those who helped the refugees is implied. And the monument and square symbolize both realism and hope, two things that I think are vital, both in times of war and times of peace.

Saigon Square is located at the west part of Chinatown. To officially have me walk the entire…read morestretch of Chinatown, we walked over here and found this little park. Even though it's a small park, it's significant when you take the time to read everything. First, there is a plaque that recognizes Vietnamese refugees who left their home to come to Canada, and start fresh by finding freedom. The plaque is in English, French, and Vietnamese. It is classy. Second, the statue of a mom, holding her child tightly in her right arm, as she flees, smack in the middle of this park, is powerful. This tribute is meaningful, especially to folks like me who didn't know that there is a huge Vietnamese population until I strolled through Chinatown to notice the positive mark that they have made in Ottawa. This park is pretty and quaint. It was also fitting to see the greenery and growth, which is symbolic on so many levels. Well done! (269)

This monument was erected in 1992 and is dedicated to Canada's Peacekeeping Forces. It commemorates…read moreand honours the soldiers who have participated or are currently participating in peacekeeping efforts. There is an inscription on the monument that is a quote from former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. Many photos of this monument on other websites capture only the 3 peacemaking figures but there's another part of the monument that is also significant. It's the part that's all rough and looks a bit like rubble. That part symbolizes the destruction of war. It's a beautiful and meaningful monument and is located at the corner of Sussex Drive and St. Patrick St.

Reconciliation: The Peacekeeping Monument is a monument in Ottawa, the capital of Canada,…read morecommemorating Canada's role in international peacekeeping and the soldiers who have participated and are currently participating, both living and dead. It's a beautiful if not somber monument located at the base of Majors Hill Park. (This park features some of the best lookouts in Ottawa, offering stunning views of the Ottawa Locks on the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa River and the Parliament Buildings) Together these two spaces can make for an outstanding day outside learning about the history of Canada.

Commenting as a tourist, I was able to go there even though it's being renovated (will be complete…read moreby 2032, apparently). You can even go into a legislative session (need to bring a governmental ID and pass a security check) to see parliamentary procedures and democracy in action. Definitely worth checking out!

The place that runs Canada. The parliament building, modeled after the Big Ben in London, has an…read moreamazing site. Currently it's going through some renovations, so two gigantic cranes are towering over the building. Very popular site with tourists. There are huge boards that provide details of the building and the government. Visitors can the building too but we saw a long line. Lots of law enforcement officers in the area to keep everything safe and in order.

I visited with family during one of their Free Thursday evenings (5-8pm) over the summer last year…read more I was a bit shocked that it was not as busy as I thought, especially during their free Thrusday evenings. The museum is pretty large. There was a lot of beautiful art and exhibits. A few exhibits had some sort of interactive function (like interactive screens and screens to flip through info). Depending on your vacation schedule and free time, you may not be able to see everything in a couple of hours.

Amazing art museum! From the spider outside to the massive amounts of artwork especially Canadian,…read moreQuebecois, Native, and First Nations artwork and the historic Catholic chapel inside it is totally with a visit.

This a nice wooden bridge over the Ottawa river. Has lots of signs around explaining the history…read moreand build process. There's a walkway along the water where many people chill or have picnic. The parking lot is across the street, a minute walk from the spot. But there are no signs for the guests to know.

The original Wakefield Bridge was built over a century ago, in 1915 and was one of the first…read morebridges to link the two shores of the Gatineau River. The bridge was completely destroyed by fire 70 years later. Ten years later, the new covered bridge was built and a few original pieces were kept from the original bridge-like the pillars that support it. We made a mistake and drove all the way down to the bridge. Luckily we stayed only short time, so we didn't bother anyone, but you should probably park on Chemin Du Vieux-Pont and walk downhill towards the bridge. The bridge is around 90 metres long and its main structure is made of Douglas fir logs, while the exterior and the floor are covered with pine planks. It is closed to traffic, only pedestrians and bicycles can cross it. It was breathtaking.